Patents by Inventor Steven H Walker

Steven H Walker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Sense-enabled apparel
    Patent number: 10701987
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating and using sensor system in articles of apparel are provided. The system may include an apparel piece sized and dimensioned to be worn on a user and a sensor system integrated with the apparel piece. The sensor system may include at least one stretchable capacitive sensor positioned on the apparel piece so as to measure a biometric parameter of the user when the apparel piece is worn, an illumination system configured to provide illumination in a specified illumination area based on the measured biometric parameter of the user, and a control module to control one or more settings of the illumination system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Action Detection and Activity Classification
    Publication number: 20200171371
    Abstract: Activities, actions and events during user performance of physical activity may be detected using various algorithms and templates. Templates may include an arrangement of one or more states that may identify particular event types and timing between events. Templates may be specific to a particular type of activity (e.g., types of sports, drills, events, etc.), user, terrain, time of day and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Jordan M. Rice, Steven H. Walker, Adam Carroll, Corey Dow-Hygelund, Aaron K. Goodwin, James M. Mullin, Tye L. Rattenbury, Joshua M. Rooke-Ley, John M. Schmitt
  • DYNAMIC FIT FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20200077749
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • Motorized shoe with gesture control
    Patent number: 10568381
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • CAPACITIVE FOOT PRESENCE SENSING FOR FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20200046081
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • Action detection and activity classification
    Patent number: 10525322
    Abstract: Activities, actions and events during user performance of physical activity may be detected using various algorithms and templates. Templates may include an arrangement of one or more states that may identify particular event types and timing between events. Templates may be specific to a particular type of activity (e.g., types of sports, drills, events, etc.), user, terrain, time of day and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Jordan M. Rice, Steven H. Walker, Adam S. Carroll, Corey C. Dow-Hygelund, Aaron K. Goodwin, James M. Mullin, Tye L. Rattenbury, Joshua M. Rooke-Ley, John M. Schmitt
  • FOOT PRESENCE SIGNAL PROCESSING USING VELOCITY
    Publication number: 20190387840
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. Information about the sensed proximity can be used to determine a foot velocity characteristic, which in turn can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot, about an activity, or about the footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • CAPACITIVE FOOT PRESENCE SENSING FOR FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20190373986
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • Capacitive foot presence sensing for footwear
    Patent number: 10499711
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. A capacitive sensor, such as disposed within or upon the sensor housing, can be configured to provide the foot presence indication. In an example, foot presence can be detected using time-varying characteristics of a signal from the capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • Sole structure for an article of footwear with longitudinal tension member and non-linear bending stiffness
    Patent number: 10485295
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that includes a foot-facing surface with a forefoot portion, and a ground-facing surface opposite from the foot-receiving surface. A tension member is operatively secured to the ground-facing surface and has a portion configured to move relative to the sole plate during dorsiflexion of the sole structure in a first portion of a flexion range, and interfere with the sole plate during dorsiflexion of the sole structure in a second portion of the flexion range greater than the first portion altering the rate of the resultant torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Summer L. Schneider, Alison Sheets-Singer, Steven H. Walker
  • Detector system for use with footwear
    Patent number: 10477923
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • Footwear Having Sensor System
    Publication number: 20190335844
    Abstract: A sensor system is adapted for use with an article of footwear and includes an insert member including a first layer and a second layer, a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module, a plurality of force and/or pressure sensors on the insert member, and a plurality of leads connecting the sensors to the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Michael S. Amos, Andrew A. Owings, Jordan M. Rice, Allan M. Schrock, Steven H. Walker, Jeffrey J. Hebert, Martine W. Stillman, Mark A. Tempel, Dane Weitmann, Andreas Heinrich Steier, Ndikum Protus Atang
  • Action Detection and Activity Classification
    Publication number: 20190329118
    Abstract: Activities, actions and events during user performance of physical activity may be detected using various algorithms and templates. Templates may include an arrangement of one or more states that may identify particular event types and timing between events. Templates may be specific to a particular type of activity (e.g., types of sports, drills, events, etc.), user, terrain, time of day and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Jordan M. Rice, Steven H. Walker, Adam S. Carroll, Corey C. Dow-Hygelund, Aaron K. Goodwin, James M. Mullin, Tye L. Rattenbury, Joshua M. Rooke-Ley, John M. Schmitt
  • Capacitive foot presence sensing for footwear
    Patent number: 10448707
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • System and method for analyzing athletic activity
    Patent number: 10408693
    Abstract: Various sensor systems are described herein, including inserts having sensors thereon, which are configured to be received in an article of footwear. The inserts may be connected to a sole member of the footwear, or may function as a sole member. The sensors may be bonded to an outer surface of the insert, or positioned within the insert, in some configurations. The system may also include an electronic module that is overmolded into the sole structure and includes a connector for external access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Amos, Frederick J. Dojan, Daniel Johnson, James C. Meschter, Matthew A. Nurse, Andrew A. Owings, Jeffrey C. Pisciotta, Allan M. Schrock, Steven H. Walker
  • Action detection and activity classification
    Patent number: 10384113
    Abstract: Activities, actions and events during user performance of physical activity may be detected using various algorithms and templates. Templates may include an arrangement of one or more states that may identify particular event types and timing between events. Templates may be specific to a particular type of activity (e.g., types of sports, drills, events, etc.), user, terrain, time of day and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Jordan M. Rice, Steven H. Walker, Adam S. Carroll, Corey C. Dow-Hygelund, Aaron K. Goodwin, James M. Mullin, Tye L. Rattenbury, Joshua M. Rooke-Ley, John M. Schmitt
  • Footwear having sensor system
    Patent number: 10357078
    Abstract: A sensor system is adapted for use with an article of footwear and includes an insert member including a first layer and a second layer, a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module, a plurality of force and/or pressure sensors on the insert member, and a plurality of leads connecting the sensors to the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan M. Rice, Allan M. Schrock, Steven H. Walker, Kate Richmond, Andreas Heinrich Steier, Ndikum Protus Atang
  • ACTIVE FOOTWEAR SENSOR CALIBRATION
    Publication number: 20190208865
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. A baseline or reference condition for the capacitive sensor can be updated to accommodate different use conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • DETECTOR SYSTEM FOR USE WITH FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20190174871
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • SENSING DEVICE FOR FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20190166954
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau