Footmark, Inc.

Signtel, Inc.

James M Dabbs

Algie C Brown

Henry G Williams

David M Williams

Carl T Welty

Robert S Bundy

S Tom Smith

An apparatus and methods for analyzing feet which utilize matrixes of pressures sensors and optical sensors connected to a controller and a monitor. An apparatus of the invention includes a housing which houses a controller and a monitor and defines left and right foot wells for receiving left and right feet, respectively. The floor of each foot well includes a pressure pad assembly which includes a matrix of pressure sensor contacts covered by a variably resistive pressure pad to form pressure sensor matrixes. A digital signal processor normalizes and smoothes the pressure data for display on the monitor. Infrared LED's and phototransistors are located around the perimeter of each foot well and are utilized to measure the length, width, and heights of a foot. A microprocessor addresses each LED and phototransistor separately. The controller reads data created by the DSP and IR microprocessor, calculates additional data, and displays the resulting data on the monitor. According to one method, the pressure sensors and optical sensors are utilized to determine, among others, foot length, foot width, shoe size, foot volume, foot shape, force distribution, pronation, arch type, and recommended last type. In other methods, the DSP and IR microprocessors provide data which enable the controller to perform calculations and comparisons to display orthotic prescriptions or insole selection information, as well as medical information related to center of pressure and postural sway analysis which is useful in diagnosing and treating a large variety of medical problems.

Foot analyzer

A method and apparatus for measuring feet for fitting shoes which utilizes matrixes of pressures sensors and optical sensors connected to a controller and a monitor. An apparatus of the invention includes a housing which houses a controller and a monitor and defines left and right foot wells for receiving left and right feet, respectively. The floor of each foot well includes a pressure pad assembly which includes a matrix of pressure sensor contacts covered by a variably resistive pressure pad to form pressure sensor matrixes. A digital signal processor normalizes and smooths the pressure data for display on the monitor. Infrared LED's and phototransistors are located around the perimeter of each foot well and are utilized to measure the length, width, and heights of a foot. A microprocessor addresses each LED and phototransistor separately. The controller reads data created by the DSP and IR microprocessor, calculates additional data, and displays the resulting data on the monitor. The pressure sensors and optical sensors are utilized to determine, among others, foot length, foot width, shoe size, foot volume, foot shape, force distribution, pronation, arch type, and recommended last type. Such determinations, along with intended use information obtained from the customer, are compared to a database of available shoes to determine recommended best fits for each customer. Such data can also be stored or transferred to an external system for storage with reference to each particular customer.

Method and apparatus for analyzing feet

An advanced telecommunication system is provided for central control of electronic signs. A display development kit is provided to create binary display programs which create visual activity on one or more electronic signs. These display programs are stored on the disk drive of a system control computer which periodically runs a system control program to upload display programs to the electronic signs using radiopaging signals. The system control program employs a telephone modem to connect through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to a paging terminal. In accordance with the system control program, the system control computer divides each display program into multiple packets which are transmitted to the paging terminal as alphanumeric radiopages. The paging terminal encodes the packets into radiopaging format, frequency shift key modulates the data, and transmits the pages on a radio frequency channel. Electronic signs decode the radiopages into data packets. A receiver subsystem in the electronic sign reconstructs the original display programs using the data packets. Data provided in a display program can span across more than one page. The system control program creates packets containing display program data such that blocks of display program data that are greater than one page are transmitted transparently to a paging terminal from the central computer, and from the paging terminal to a paging receiver without requiring hardware or software modification of existing paging terminals and paging central offices.

Method and apparatus for controlling electronics signs using radiopaging

Growing community of inventors

Duluth, GA, United States of America

James M Dabbs