Method of operating data-processing system for monitoringand maintaining desired temperature inside the footwear

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a smart footwear that is capable to maintain the temperature within the set range using Peltier modules (10.i), that are additionally used for energy harvesting. The footwear is equipped with plurality of inner temperature sensors (20.j). Outer temperature is recorded by one or more sensors (30.k). Data processing unit (70) executes a program for heating/cooling and energy harvesting, where only i-th Peltier module is used in time for heating/cooling and other modules (10.1) where i≠l for energy harvesting. In the preferred embodiment, the index i is changed consecutively to be 1->2->3-> . . . ->(N−1)->N with time period D that defines a duty cycle of each i-th Peltier module, and with the adjustable time period D1 before each new cycle 1->2->3-> . . . ->(N−1)->N, while all Peltier modules are in energy harvesting mode. Time periods D and D1 are used to regulate delivered power for heating/cooling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating data-processing system for monitoring and maintaining desired temperature inside the footwear ( 100 ) by using a smart device ( 300 ) which is operated by a user ( 200 ),
 where the said footwear ( 100 ) is equipped with:
 a data processing unit ( 70 ) for executing the said method, and controlling switch S 1  that regulates working regime heating/cooling, and where the data processing unit ( 70 ) additionally controls a driving module ( 71 ) and collects footwear's inner and outer temperature data, 
 plurality of Peltier modules ( 10 . i ), distributed over the footwear ( 100 ) surface, for heating, cooling, and energy harvesting, and connected with the corresponding power cables ( 11 . i ) to the power busbar ( 40 ), 
 one or more temperature sensors ( 20 . j ), distributed over the inner footwear ( 100 ) surface, and connected with the corresponding data cables ( 21 . j ) to the sensors' busbar ( 50 ), where said sensors ( 20 . j ) are used for measuring inner temperature Ti for each sensor location j, 
 a battery module ( 90 ) equipped with the power management system ( 91 ) for powering the said Peltier modules ( 10 . i ) through a power busbar ( 40 ), for charging the battery module ( 90 ) in the energy harvesting regime, and for powering the data processing unit ( 70 ) and joint circuits, 
 a driving module ( 71 ), executing the data processing unit commands to switch between energy harvesting condition or heating/cooling condition for each Peltier module ( 10 . i ) via the set of corresponding switches [Q 1 , Q 2 , . . . Qi, . . . , QN], 
 a wireless low energy module ( 80 ) for establishing the communication with smart device ( 300 ) for controlling parameters of the said method of operation, and, optionally, to communicate with one or more outer temperature sensors ( 30 . k ), and 
 optionally, an inductive charging device ( 92 ) connected to the power management system ( 91 ) to enable additional contactless charging of the battery module ( 90 ), 
   wherein one or more outer temperature sensors ( 30 . k ) are connected via a data cable ( 31 ) or a wireless connection ( 51 ) with the data processing unit ( 70 ), for sending measured outer temperatures data to the data processing unit ( 70 ),   wherein the said method is characterized by the following steps:
 A. loading the user ( 200 ) pre-defined high temperature threshold THi, and low temperature threshold TLo, entered via the smart device ( 300 ) and transmitted via the wireless low energy module ( 80 ) into the data processing unit ( 70 ), 
 B. loading of inner temperature sensors ( 20 . j ) set of values for j=1, 2, . . . M, [Ti 1 , Ti 2 , Ti 3 , . . . , TiM] and calculating the average inner temperature <Ti> from the said values, 
 C. loading of outer temperature sensors ( 30 . k ) set of values for k=1, 2, . . . P, [To 1 , To 2 , To 3 , . . . , TiP] via the wireless low energy module ( 80 ) or directly via data cables, 
 D. if temperature <Ti> is within the range [TLo, THi], then all Peltier modules ( 10 . i ), i=1, 2, . . . N are used for harvesting energy from the temperature difference between the inner and outer footwear temperature, the data processing unit ( 70 ) sets all Q 1 , Q 2 , . . . QN switches to direct generated current towards the power management unit ( 91 ), or 
 E. if temperature <Ti><TLo, then the data processing unit ( 70 ) sets all Q 1 , Q 2 , . . . Q(i−1), Q(i+1), . . . QN switches for harvesting energy and directs generated currents towards the power management unit ( 91 ), while the data processing unit ( 70 ) sets only Qi switch into heating/cooling condition for i-th Peltier unit ( 10 . i ) and additionally set S 1  switch to heating, or 
 F. if temperature <Ti>>THi, then the data processing unit ( 70 ) sets all Q 1 , Q 2 , . . . Q(i−1), Q(i+1), . . . QN switches for harvesting energy and directs generated currents towards the power management unit ( 91 ), while the data processing unit ( 70 ) sets Qi switch into heating/cooling condition for i-th Peltier unit ( 10 . i ) and additionally set S 1  switch to cooling, 
   where in step E. and step F. the value for the index i is changed consecutively to be 1->2->3-> . . . ->(N−1)->N with a time period D that defines a duty cycle of each i-th Peltier module, and with an adjustable time period D 1  inserted before starting each new cycle 1->2->3-> . . . ->(N−1)->N during which the data processing unit ( 70 ) sets all Q 1 , Q 2 , . . . , QN switches to direct generated currents from the energy harvesting processes from the temperature difference between the inner and outer footwear temperature towards the power management unit ( 91 ),   where said time periods D and D 1  are used to regulate delivered power for heating/cooling regime and to bring the average temperature <Ti> within the set range [TLo, THi], and   where steps A., B. and C. are independently executed to provide the most recent data about the temperatures, for continuously executing loop defined by steps D.->E.->F.->D.   
     
     
         2 . The method of operating data-processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein in steps E. and F. additional time period D 2  is inserted between each switching from i-th to (i+1)-th Peltier module, where time period D 2  is again used in the process of power regulation together with time periods D 1  and D, and where during the said period D 2  all Peltier modules ( 10 . i ) are used for harvesting energy from the temperature difference between the inner and outer footwear temperature and the data processing unit ( 70 ) sets all Q 1 , Q 2 , . . . QN switches to direct generated currents towards the power management unit ( 91 ). 
     
     
         3 . The method of operating data-processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein time period D for each Peltier module ( 10 . i ) is adjustable and depends on a used Peltier module ( 10 . i ) position and the inner sensor temperature that is most closely situated to the said Peltier module ( 10 . i ). 
     
     
         4 . A footwear ( 100 ), that is equipped with:
 a data processing unit ( 70 ) for controlling switch S 1  that regulates working regime heating/cooling, and controlling a driving module ( 71 ),   plurality of Peltier modules ( 10 . i ), distributed over the footwear ( 100 ) surface, for heating, cooling, and energy harvesting, and connected with the corresponding power cables ( 11 . i ) to the power busbar ( 40 ),   one or more temperature sensors ( 20 . j ), distributed over the footwear ( 100 ) surface, and connected with the corresponding data cables ( 21 . j ) to the sensors' busbar ( 50 ), where said sensors ( 20 . j ) are used for measuring inner temperature Ti for each sensor j,   a battery module ( 90 ) equipped with the power management system ( 91 ) for powering the said Peltier modules ( 10 . i ), for charging the battery module ( 90 ) in the energy harvesting regime, and for powering the data processing unit ( 70 ) and joint circuits,   a driving module ( 71 ), executing the data processing unit commands to switch between energy harvesting condition or heating/cooling condition for said Peltier modules ( 10 . i ) via the set of corresponding switches [Q 1 , Q 2 , . . . Qi, . . . , QN]   a wireless low energy module ( 80 ) for establishing the communication with smart device ( 300 ) for controlling parameters of the said method of operation, and, optionally, to communicate with one or more outer temperature sensors ( 30 . k ), and   optionally, an inductive charging device ( 92 ) connected to the power management system ( 91 ) to enable additional contactless charging of the battery module ( 90 ),   
       wherein said footwear's data processing unit ( 70 ) is used to perform the method of operating the data-processing system defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . The footwear ( 100 ), according to  claim 4 , that is a sock. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear ( 100 ), according to  claim 4 , wherein the charging is performed via an inductive charger formed as the carpet or similar 2D device. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear ( 100 ), according to  claim 4 , wherein one or more outer temperature sensors ( 30 . k ) are connected via the data cable ( 31 ) with the data processing unit ( 70 ). 
     
     
         8 . The footwear ( 100 ), according to  claim 4 , wherein one or more outer temperature sensors ( 30 . k ) are connected via the wireless low energy module ( 80 ) with the data processing unit ( 70 ). 
     
     
         9 . The footwear ( 100 ), according to  claim 4 , wherein the meta-data of the conducted method of operation, occurred in the data processing unit ( 70 ), are transmitted via the smart device ( 300 ) to the cloud ( 500 ), together with the accompanied smart device ( 300 ) data. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear ( 100 ), according to  claim 9 , wherein an artificial intelligence unit ( 400 ) is used to improve footwear's thermograph of heating/cooling abilities, based on transmitted meta-data. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear ( 100 ), according to  claim 9 , wherein the doctor ( 600 ) or other authorized data scientist can access the meta-data in order to establish biological circles and patient's behavior, especially when combined with the smart device ( 300 ) data. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear ( 100 ), according to  claim 9 , wherein the doctor ( 600 ) or other authorized data scientist can access the meta-data for an artificial intelligence unit ( 400 ) supported diagnostic, especially for signaling potential user's diabetes mellitus disease.