Imagine a sneaker that reacts to music and lights up in fascinating patterns. While that may sound futuristic, adidas AG and Infineon Technologies AG have created just such a shoe.

The Infineon Lighting Shoe features Infineon’s high-end sensor technology, this innovative adidas originals NMD S1 shoe has microphones and microcontrollers that convert audio into colorful LED effects on the shoe. Essentially, it combines state-of-the-art semiconductor technology and fashion product.

“When we create innovations, they must be mind-blowing, go beyond the normal, surprise and above all: be fun,” said Burkhard Dümler, director innovation at adidas. “With the Lighting Shoe prototype, we have succeeded in this in our collaboration with Infineon. We show that technology and style complement each other to create a digital product.”

“The Infineon Lighting Shoe is based on high-tech effects – the combination of microphones, microcontrollers and LEDs – it is the only shoe that can ‘hear’ music and react with light effects according to the beats,” Manuel Hollfelder, senior manager solution & applications synergies, Infineon Technologies AG, said. “With this prototype, we illustrate how technology is combined with style.”

“With the Lighting Shoe prototype, we show that technology and style complement each other to create a digital product,” added Alexander Wisgickl, director of global partnership and ecosystem management, Infineon. “And we are proud to have worked with adidas to implement this innovation collaboration.”

Hollfelder noted that Infineon has been in contact with adidas for more than two years for the Infineon Lighting Shoe.

“It was a true collaboration, defining the use case and then implementing it,” Hollfelder said. “Innovation and performance are core drivers at adidas and for Infineon. adidas supported the technological development of the Infineon Lighting Shoe with the adidas originals Model NMD S1. It offered the perfect shape for this prototype to integrate high quality components to create a true innovation.”

Hollfelder said that Infineon overcame some unique challenges with the Lighting Shoe, beginning with the shoe itself, which has to remain comfortable.

“A shoe is a very special setting for technology, e.g. space for electronics, battery, and the power supply, required flexibility of PCBs, weight pressure on electronics, and bending of material,” Hollfelder noted.

“We solved the challenges through true co-engineering by selecting the right shoe model, iteratively ideating on the perfect concept for electronics as well as how to solve the physical design limitations, and eventually prototyping the final assembly,” added Hollfelder. “The Adidas Originals Model NMD S1 offered the perfect shape for this prototype to integrate high quality components to create a true innovation.”

Additional Infineon components used to create these special effects are XENSIV™ MEMS microphones with intuitive sensing capabilities; PSoC™ 63 MCU with AIROC™ Bluetooth® LE for data processing and connectivity; EZ-PD™ Barrel Connector Replacement (BCR) USB-C Power Delivery (PD) for power input and charging; and highly efficient OptiMOS™ power discretes for power management.

“Thanks to the high-quality XENSIV™ MEMS microphones, the shoe can hear finest acoustic signals,” said Hollfelder. “The audio input is processed by an integrated PSoC™ microcontroller.”

For people who might wish to buy the Infineon Lighting Shoe, they will have to wait for at least a bit.

“The shoe is a prototype, so it is not for sale,” Hollfelder said. “We are showcasing it at different events or tradeshow. The shoe has already travelled from Germany to Singapore to the States and back to Infineon headquarters in Munich.”