Abstract: An apparatus to be secured to a person or an article of clothing includes a housing, at least one retaining member, and an elastic member. The housing is adapted to house at least one item. The at least one retaining member is supported by the housing. The elastic member is releasably engageable with the at least one retaining member and is adapted to stretchably encompass at least a portion of the person or article of clothing and to secure the housing to the person or article of clothing when engaged with the at least one retaining member. A method for securing a housing to a person or an article of clothing involves providing a housing and an elastic member, the housing having at least one retaining member supported thereby. The elastic member is wrapped about at least a portion of the person or article of clothing and is stretched.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a mount, a housing, and a sensor. The mount is adapted to be disposed at least partially underneath a shoelace of a shoe, and the housing is adapted to be releasably attached to the mount. There is a tongue on one of the mount and the housing and a groove on the other of the mount and the housing, wherein the tongue is adapted to releasably engage the groove when the housing is attached to the mount. The apparatus further comprises a sensor, that senses motion of the shoe, disposed within the housing such that the sensor remains disposed within the housing when the housing is separated from the mount. In another embodiment, a method involves providing a housing that houses a sensor that senses motion of a shoe, and attaching a mount to an instep portion of the shoe such that at least a portion of the mount is disposed underneath at least a portion of a shoelace of the shoe.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method involves, in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user, generating a signal that experiences changes during a time period that the foot is airborne during the at least one footstep. At least one change in the signal generated after the foot has become airborne and before the foot contacts a surface is identified that is indicative of the foot being airborne during the at least one footstep. In another embodiment, a method involves generating a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user. The signal is monitored to determine when the signal has experienced a minimum degree of smoothness for at least a given period of time. In response to determining that the signal has experienced the minimum degree of smoothness for at least the given period of time, it is identified that the foot of the user is airborne.

Abstract: An apparatus is mounted to an object, and a signal from the apparatus is used to monitor the acceleration of the object. The apparatus includes a structure that flexes in response to acceleration of the object, and a transducer supported by the structure so as to generate a signal responsive to flexing of the structure. The structure and the transducer may be constructed and arranged such that a neutral axis passes through the structure when the structure flexes, and such that the neutral axis would still pass through the structure when the structure flexes if the first transducer was removed from the structure. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a multi-layer, piezoceramic capacitor disposed on a circuit board. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a disk-shaped, piezoceramic element of the type typically used in microphones or speakers.

Abstract: Various methods for monitoring movement of a person involve using a sensor to generate a signal in response to movement of a person. In one embodiment, a characteristic in the signal is identified that indicates the person is walking or running and, in response to identifying the characteristic, a timer is started. In another embodiment, after the person has begun walking or running, a characteristic in the signal is identified that indicates the person has ceased walking or running and, in response to identifying the characteristic, an action is taken. In another embodiment, a characteristic in the signal is identified that is indicative of a foot of the person being in motion and, in response to identifying the characteristic, a timer is started. In another embodiment, after a foot of the person has been in motion, a characteristic in the signal is identified that is indicative of the foot ceasing to be in motion and, in response to identifying the characteristic, an action is taken.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for monitoring locomotion of a person that can be secured to the person's shoe includes a mounting unit, a housing unit, and a motion-sensing device. The mounting unit is adapted to be secured to an outer surface of the shoe. The housing unit is adapted to releasably attach to the mounting unit. The motion-sensing device is attached to the housing unit such that, when the housing unit is detached from the mounting unit, the motion-sensing device remains attached to the housing unit. In another embodiment, a motion-sensing apparatus includes a circuit board and an accelerometer. The accelerometer has an acceleration-sensing axis, and is mounted on the circuit board such that the acceleration-sensing axis is oriented at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the circuit board. In yet another embodiment, a motion-sensing apparatus includes a housing unit and an accelerometer. The housing unit is adapted to be secured to an instep portion of a shoe.

Abstract: The time period that a foot is in contact with the ground during a stride taken by a user, and the period that the foot is not in contact with the ground between strides taken by the user are determined by processing and analyzing the output signal of an accelerometer. The accelerometer is mounted on the user such that its acceleration sensing axis senses acceleration in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom of the user's foot. The output of the accelerometer is high-pass filtered, amplified, and fed to the input of a micro-controller, which monitors the signal for positive and negative signal spikes that are indicative, respectively, of the moment that the foot of the user leaves the ground and the moment that the foot impacts with the ground. By measuring time intervals between these positive and negative spikes, average "foot contact times" and "foot loft times" of the user may be calculated.

Abstract: The time period that a foot is in contact with the ground during a stride taken by a user, and the period that the foot is not in contact with the ground between strides taken by the user are determined by processing and analyzing the output signal of an accelerometer. The accelerometer is mounted on the user such that its acceleration sensing axis senses acceleration in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom of the user's foot. The output of the accelerometer is high-pass filtered, amplified, and fed to the input of a micro-controller, which monitors the signal for positive and negative signal spikes that are indicative, respectively, of the moment that the foot of the user leaves the ground and the moment that the foot impacts with the ground. By measuring time intervals between these positive and negative spikes, average "foot contact times" and "foot loft times" of the user may be calculated.