Footwear With Kinetically Activated Auditory Effects

Abstract

Footwear providing auditory effects based on kinetic events and other sensed conditions includes a power source, an electronic controller coupled to the power source, memory coupled to the controller and operable to store an audio program, an output device coupled to the controller, where the output device includes a speaker, and a sensor coupled to the controller, the sensor being operable to sense a sensed condition comprising a pressure, force, stress, deformation, velocity, acceleration, shock or temperature, or a combination thereof.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . Footwear comprising:
 a power source;   an electronic controller coupled to the power source;   a memory coupled to the controller and operable to store an audio program;   an output device coupled to the controller, the output device including a speaker;   a sensor coupled to the controller, the sensor being operable to sense a sensed condition comprising a pressure, force, stress, deformation, velocity, acceleration, shock or temperature, or a combination thereof;   the sensor being operable to send an activation signal to the controller corresponding to a level the sensed condition;   the controller having an activation mode wherein when the level of the sensed condition is within a predetermined range, the controller is operable to cause the output device to generate a predetermined activation output; and   the activation output including playback of the audio program on the speaker.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensor is disposed in a sole of the footwear.   
     
     
         3 . The footwear of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the sensor is disposed below a heel supporting portion of the sole.   
     
     
         4 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the playback of the audio program occurs for a predetermined length of time.   
     
     
         5 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the footwear includes a pair of left and right footwear and the output device includes a first speaker in the left footwear and a second speaker in the right footwear.   
     
     
         6 . The footwear of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the controller is operable to synchronize output from the first and second speakers.   
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the controller includes a first controller in the left footwear and a second controller in the right footwear and the first and second controllers are operable to intercommunicate wirelessly.   
     
     
         8 . The footwear of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the sensor includes a first sensor in the left footwear and a second sensor in the right footwear; and   each of the first and second sensors are operable to independently sense the sensed condition and to send the activation signal to the controller.   
     
     
         9 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the controller has a controlled mode wherein the controller is operable to cause the speaker to play a user-selected audio program from a plurality of audio programs stored in the memory or an audio program received via the wireless communication device; and   the controller being selectively settable in the activation mode or the controlled mode.   
     
     
         10 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the footwear includes lighting elements; and   the activation output includes illumination of the lighting elements.