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).

  • 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
  • Action detection and activity classification
    Patent number: 10293239
    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: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 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
  • Athletic Performance Monitoring System Utilizing Heart Rate Information
    Publication number: 20190133458
    Abstract: An illumination source may be configured to illuminate the skin of the user. An illumination detector may detect electromagnetic radiation reflected of the skin of the user. A compensation module may be configured to determine the position of the skin of the user relative to the illumination detector. A processor may be configured to determine a heart rate of the user by analyzing information corresponding to an amount of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the illumination detector. The processor may also determine the heart rate of the user by compensating for the position of the skin of the user as determined by the compensation module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Footwear Midsole with Electrorheological Fluid Housing
    Publication number: 20190110551
    Abstract: A midsole may include an electrorheological (ER) fluid housing. The ER fluid housing may be located between top bottom surfaces of the midsole in at least a forefoot region of the midsole. The midsole may include a plate located over the ER fluid housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Fitness Training System for Merging Energy Expenditure Calculations from Multiple Devices
    Publication number: 20190090782
    Abstract: Systems and methods for prompting a user to perform an exercise and monitoring the exercise are provided. Multiple independent sensors or sensor systems may be used to calculate energy expenditure. Various criteria may be used to manually or automatically select the independent sensor or sensor system or combination that will be used with the energy expenditure calculations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Adriana Guerrero, Steven H. Walker, Aaron B. Weast
  • INPUT ASSEMBLY FOR AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE
    Publication number: 20190090588
    Abstract: An article of footwear, an article of apparel or protective gear can include a tensioning apparatus for tightening, for example, laces, cables or strings or other devices that secure the article to a wearer. The tensioning apparatus receives signals from an input assembly that is in communication with the tensioning apparatus. The input assembly may include pairs of wires that have twisted loops or other curvilinear segments that allow the input assembly to accommodate to different actions by the wearer of the footwear. The input assembly may also include a flexible epoxy cover that protects the connections between the wires and a printed circuit board that includes input devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings, Steven H. Walker
  • Incline Adjuster with Multiple Discrete Chambers
    Publication number: 20190059514
    Abstract: A sole structure may include chambers and a transfer channel containing an electrorheological fluid. Electrodes may be positioned to create, in response to a voltage across the electrodes, an electrical field in at least a portion of the electrorheological fluid in the transfer channel. The sole structure may further include a controller including a processor and memory. At least one of the processor and memory may store instructions executable by the processor to perform operations that include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-inhibiting levels at which flow of the electrorheological fluid the through the transfer channel is blocked, and that further include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-enabling levels permitting flow of the electrorheological fluid through the transfer channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Raymond L. Nicoli, Rolando Pausal
  • Sense-Enabled Apparel
    Publication number: 20190059461
    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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Footwear Including an Incline Adjuster
    Publication number: 20190059511
    Abstract: A sole structure may include chambers and a transfer channel containing an electrorheological fluid. Electrodes may be positioned to create, in response to a voltage across the electrodes, an electrical field in at least a portion of the electrorheological fluid in the transfer channel. The sole structure may further include a controller including a processor and memory. At least one of the processor and memory may store instructions executable by the processor to perform operations that include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-inhibiting levels at which flow of the electrorheological fluid the through the transfer channel is blocked, and that further include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-enabling levels permitting flow of the electrorheological fluid through the transfer channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Raymond L. Nicoli, Rolando Pausal
  • Degassing Electrorheological Fluid
    Publication number: 20190060790
    Abstract: A system may include an output manifold that may be in fluid communication with a reservoir and that may include multiple discharge ports. Each of the discharge ports may be configured to discharge electrorheological fluid into a housing. A recovery manifold may be in fluid communication with the reservoir and include multiple recovery ports. Each of the recovery ports may be configured to receive the electrorheological fluid from a housing. A gas remover may be positioned to extract gas from the electrorheological fluid received from the recovery ports. A housing may be connected to the system, and electrorheological fluid from the system may be pumped through the housing and the gas remover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Raymond L. Nicoli, Katherine Stegner
  • Athletic performance monitoring system utilizing heart rate information
    Patent number: 10206589
    Abstract: An illumination source may be configured to illuminate the skin of the user. An illumination detector may detect electromagnetic radiation reflected of the skin of the user. A compensation module may be configured to determine the position of the skin of the user relative to the illumination detector. A processor may be configured to determine a heart rate of the user by analyzing information corresponding to an amount of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the illumination detector. The processor may also determine the heart rate of the user by compensating for the position of the skin of the user as determined by the compensation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Motorized Shoe With Gesture Control
    Publication number: 20190045877
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Steven H. Walker
  • Capacitive foot presence sensing devices for footwear
    Patent number: 10172423
    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: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • Footwear having sensor system
    Patent number: 10151648
    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 compression sensors on the insert member, and a plurality of leads connecting the sensors to the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Fitness training system for merging energy expenditure calculations from multiple devices
    Patent number: 10136840
    Abstract: Systems and methods for prompting a user to perform an exercise and monitoring the exercise are provided. Multiple independent sensors or sensor systems may be used to calculate energy expenditure. Various criteria may be used to manually or automatically select the independent sensor or sensor system or combination that will be used with the energy expenditure calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adriana Guerrero, Steven H. Walker, Aaron B. Weast
  • Action Detection and Activity Classification
    Publication number: 20180333611
    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: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    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
  • Input assembly for an article of manufacture
    Patent number: 10104937
    Abstract: An article of footwear, an article of apparel or protective gear can include a tensioning apparatus for tightening, for example, laces, cables or strings or other devices that secure the article to a wearer. The tensioning apparatus receives signals from an input assembly that is in communication with the tensioning apparatus. The input assembly may include pairs of wires that have twisted loops or other curvilinear segments that allow the input assembly to accommodate to different actions by the wearer of the footwear. The input assembly may also include a flexible epoxy cover that protects the connections between the wires and a printed circuit board that includes input devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings, Steven H. Walker
  • System and Method for Analyzing Athletic Activity
    Publication number: 20180274996
    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 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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jordan M. Rice, Steven H. Walker
  • FOOT PRESENCE SIGNAL PROCESSING USING VELOCITY
    Publication number: 20180199674
    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: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • System and method for analyzing athletic activity
    Patent number: 10024740
    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 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: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan M. Rice, Steven H. Walker