INSOLE-TYPE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INSOLE-TYPE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Provided is an insole-type electronic device that has high communication performance and high reliability. This insole-type electronic device comprises an insole body, an extension part, a first electronic module, a second electronic module, and a wire. The insole body is a sheet-like member placed on the sole of a shoe. The extension part is a sheet-like member which is connected to the insole body and with which the instep of a foot is wrapped from above when the electronic device is worn on the foot. The first electronic module is an electronic circuit embedded in the insole body. The second electronic module is an electronic circuit that is embedded in the extension part and enables at least some of the communication functions. The wire electrically connects the first electronic module and the second electronic module.
The present invention relates to an insole-type electronic device and a method for manufacturing the insole-type electronic device.
BACKGROUND ARTA watching means for preventing an accident by wandering of an elderly person and a lost child includes a method of causing a device that transmits location information wirelessly to be carried. In the method, it is necessary for a person to be watched to surely wear a watching device. However, in a case of a portable device such as a smartphone, there is a risk that the device may be forgotten to be carried or the device may be dropped. Meanwhile, a method of wrapping a device around a body with a band or the like on account of focusing on surely wearing the device may cause discomfort to a person to be watched. Thus, it is an issue to achieve both conditions where a person to be watched surely wear a device and the person to be watched does not need to be aware of wearing the device.
In order to tackle such an issue, a method of mounting a device in an insole placed inside a shoe and allowing the device to be worn simply by putting on the shoe, and a method of attaching a device to an outer upper part of the shoe are devised. For example, PTL 1 discloses a method of incorporating a location information acquisition unit, a storage unit, a transmission unit, a power generation unit, a power storage unit, and a control unit in an insole. Further, PTL 2 discloses a method of incorporating a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a communication unit, a control unit, and a mobile phone in a heel of a shoe. Furthermore, PTL 3 discloses a method of attaching a decorative member capable of storing a GPS positioning device on an outer side of a shoe.
CITATION LIST Patent Literature[PTL 1] Japanese Patent No. 5978477
[PTL 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-028698
[PTL 3] Japanese Registered Utility Model Publication No. 3161137
SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical ProblemHowever, the technique in PTL 1 has a problem that a load is applied to a device due to a weight of a wearer and a load during walking. In addition, when various communication modules are incorporated, there is a problem that an antenna is blocked by a human body (foot) and communication performance deteriorates. Further, the technique in PTL 2 has a problem that a special shoe with a processed heel portion is required. Furthermore, the technique in PTL 3 has a problem that the decorative member may be damaged or fall off due to an external factor.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an insole-type electronic device having high communication performance and high reliability.
Solution to ProblemIn order to solve the above-described problems, an insole-type electronic device according to the present invention includes an insole body, an extension portion, a first electronic module, a second electronic module, and a wiring. The insole body is a sheet-shaped member to be placed on a midsole in a shoe. The extension portion is a sheet-shaped member being connected to the insole body and being wound around an upper side of an instep during wearing the insole-type electronic device. The first electronic module is an electronic circuit being incorporated in the insole body. The second electronic module is an electronic circuit that is incorporated in the extension portion and performs at least a part of a communication function. The wiring electrically connects the first electronic module and the second electronic module to each other.
Advantageous Effects of InventionAn advantageous effect of the present invention is to be able to provide an insole-type electronic device having high communication performance and high reliability.
In the following, example embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The below-described example embodiments include a technically preferred limitation in order to implement the present invention, however, the scope of the invention is not limited to the following. A similar component in each drawing is assigned with a same number, and thereby the description thereof may be omitted.
First Example EmbodimentThe insole body 1 is a sheet-shaped member to be placed on a midsole in a shoe. The extension portion 2 is a sheet-shaped member being connected to the insole body 1 and being wound around an upper side of an instep during wearing the insole-type electronic device. The first electronic module 3 is an electronic circuit being incorporated in the insole body 1. The second electronic module 4 is an electronic circuit that is incorporated in the extension portion 2 and performs at least a part of a communication function. The wiring 5 is a conductor that electrically connects the first electronic module 3 and the second electronic module 4 each other.
With the above configuration, the second electronic module 4 can be placed on an instep during wearing the insole-type electronic device. This configuration can, for example, prevent a communication function of the second electronic module 4 that performs at least a part of the communication function from being disturbed by presence of a foot. Further, the second electronic module can be prevented from being loaded by a foot. As a result, the insole-type electronic device with high communication performance and high reliability can be provided.
Second Example EmbodimentFor the insole body 10, a material having elasticity and flexibility such as rubber, polyurethane, polyester, leather, and wool can be used, for example. The extension portion 20 can also be configured using a similar material.
The location detection unit 41 is a circuit that detects a location by a method such as a GPS, three-point positioning by wireless communication, or pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR).
The communication unit 42 is an electronic circuit that includes an antenna and transmits and receives wireless communication, for example.
The power generation element 43 is an element that generates power from heat, light, a radio wave, pressure, vibration, friction, and the like.
The control unit 31 controls the location detection unit 41, the communication unit 42, and the sensor 33 and performs location detection processing, processing based on data acquired by the sensor 33, control of communication, and the like.
For example, when the insole-type electronic device 100 is used as a watching device, the location detection unit 41 receives a location detection signal, the control unit 31 calculates a current location, and the calculated current location is wirelessly transmitted to an externally provided watching server.
The wiring 50 is a conductor that electrically connects the insole body 10 and the extension portion 20 across a connection portion. A type of the wiring 50 is not particularly limited as long as the wiring 50 has flexibility, however it is preferable to use a flexible flat cable that is small in size and has high durability against repeated bending.
As described above, the present example embodiment is able to provide the insole-type electronic device having high communication performance and high reliability by placing, in the extension portion, a communication module of which communication performance deteriorates due to shielding by a human body and an electronic component being vulnerable to a load.
Third Example EmbodimentAs described according to the second example embodiment, a wiring 50 passes through a connection portion between an insole body 10 and an extension portion 20, however stress is generated at the connection portion between the insole body 10 and the extension portion 20 when a user wears a device and the like. The present example embodiment describes a configuration in which the wiring 50 is less likely to be damaged by the stress.
A purpose of the present example embodiment is to protect a wiring 50 in a connection portion 11 similarly to the fourth example embodiment.
A purpose of the present example embodiment is to protect a wiring 50 in a connection portion 11 similarly to the fourth and fifth example embodiments.
The present example embodiment describes a specific example of an extension portion.
Further, another example of the configuration that prevents an extension portion from hanging down due to the own weight is illustrated in a perspective view of
Further, another example of the configuration that prevents an extension portion from hanging down due to the own weight is illustrated in a perspective view of
As described above, according to the present example embodiment, it is possible to prevent the extension portion from hanging down on the instep portion and reduce displacement of the extension portion during wearing the insole-type electronic device.
Eighth Example EmbodimentThe present example embodiment describes a method for mounting a main module 30 in an insole body 10.
In
Further, when bending force is applied to the insole body 10, stress is applied to a component mounting portion. Thus, the mounting direction of the component is preferably set in such a way that a longitudinal direction of the insole body 10 and a longitudinal direction of the component are perpendicular to each other, and thereby the bending stress in the longitudinal direction of the component mounting portion is reduced when the insole body 10 is bent.
The present example embodiment describes a method for manufacturing an insole-type electronic device. First, from a sheet-shaped material, an insole body is molded according to a shape of a foot. Next, an extension portion is molded in an arch shape covering an instep from one side or both sides of the insole body.
When a cavity is provided as described according to the third example embodiment, it is easy to manufacture the cavity by sticking two pre-molded members together. One example is illustrated in
Next, the lower portion 10b of the insole body and the upper portion 10c of the insole body are joined by a method such as gluing or fixing with a fastener. Then, the completed extension portion 20 is curved to the instep side.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2019-061169, filed on Mar. 27, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
- 1, 10 Insole body
- 2, 20 Extension portion
- 3 First electronic module
- 4 Second electronic module
- 5, 50 Wiring
- 30 Main module
- 40 Extension module
- 51 Redundant portion
- 100 Insole-type electronic device
Claims
1. An insole-type electronic device comprising:
- a sheet-shaped insole body to be placed on a midsole in a shoe;
- a sheet-shaped extension portion being connected to the insole body and being wound around an upper side of an instep during wearing the insole-type electronic device;
- a first electronic module mounted in the insole body;
- a second electronic module incorporated in the extension portion; and
- a wiring that electrically connects the first electronic module and the second electronic module to each other.
2. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising
- a cavity in a connection portion between the insole body and the extension portion, wherein
- the wiring is placed in the cavity.
3. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 2, wherein
- the wiring in the connection portion has a redundant portion to which tension is not applied even when the wiring is extended.
4. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 3, wherein
- the redundant portion is any one of a bellows shape, a spiral shape, or a loose shape.
5. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 2, wherein
- the wiring in the connection portion has a splint like reinforcing member that reinforces the wiring.
6. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 2, wherein
- the wiring in the connection portion is connected via a rigid substrate.
7. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
- the extension portion is an arched shape being connected to both side surfaces of the insole body.
8. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
- the extension portion have two parts which are extending upward from each of both side surfaces of the insole body wherein
- the two parts have fasteners fastening the end portion of the two parts each other.
9. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising
- a core material being incorporated across the insole body and the extension portion.
10. A method for manufacturing an insole-type electronic device, comprising:
- connecting, to a sheet-shaped insole body to be placed on a midsole in a shoe, a sheet-shaped extension portion being wound on an upper side of an instep during wearing the insole body;
- mounting a first electronic module in the insole body;
- incorporating a second electronic module in the extension portion; and
- forming a wiring that electrically connects the first electronic module and the second electronic module to each other.
11. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 3, wherein
- the wiring in the connection portion has a splint like reinforcing member that reinforces the wiring.
12. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 3, wherein
- the wiring in the connection portion is connected via a rigid substrate.
13. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 2, wherein
- the extension portion is an arched shape being connected to both side surfaces of the insole body.
14. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 3, wherein
- the extension portion is an arched shape being connected to both side surfaces of the insole body.
15. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 4, wherein
- the extension portion is an arched shape being connected to both side surfaces of the insole body.
16. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 5, wherein
- the extension portion is an arched shape being connected to both side surfaces of the insole body.
17. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 6, wherein
- the extension portion is an arched shape being connected to both side surfaces of the insole body.
18. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 2, wherein
- the extension portion have two parts which are extending upward from each of both side surfaces of the insole body wherein
- the two parts have fasteners fastening the end portion of the two parts each other.
19. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 3, wherein
- the extension portion have two parts which are extending upward from each of both side surfaces of the insole body wherein
- the two parts have fasteners fastening the end portion of the two parts each other.
20. The insole-type electronic device according to claim 4, wherein
- the extension portion have two parts which are extending upward from each of both side surfaces of the insole body wherein
- the two parts have fasteners fastening the end portion of the two parts each other.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 19, 2020
Publication Date: May 12, 2022
Inventor: Futa NOMURA (Tokyo)
Application Number: 17/439,078