Membrane isolated, gel-filled force sensor
First Claim
1. A force sensor assembly comprising:
- a sense element;
an isolation medium, wherein the isolation medium is configured to transfer a force to the sense element;
a thin membrane, wherein the thin membrane is located adjacent to the isolation medium and is configured to provide a shield between an external medium and the isolation medium and transfer a force from the external medium to the isolation medium; and
a substrate comprising electrical traces, wherein the sense element is electrically connected to the electrical traces on the substrate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments generally relate to assembly and methods for detecting force. A force sensor assembly may comprise a sense element, an isolation medium, a thin membrane, and a substrate. Typically, the sense element may be located adjacent to the substrate, the isolation medium may be located adjacent to the sense element, and the thin membrane may be located adjacent to the isolation medium. Generally, the thin membrane may be configured to provide a shield between an external medium and the isolation medium and transfer a force from the external medium to the isolation medium. In this manner, the isolation medium may be configured to transfer the detected force to the sense element. The sense element may electrically communicate the force data as output signals to the electrical traces on the substrate.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A force sensor assembly comprising:
-
a sense element; an isolation medium, wherein the isolation medium is configured to transfer a force to the sense element; a thin membrane, wherein the thin membrane is located adjacent to the isolation medium and is configured to provide a shield between an external medium and the isolation medium and transfer a force from the external medium to the isolation medium; and a substrate comprising electrical traces, wherein the sense element is electrically connected to the electrical traces on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of sensing force comprising:
-
applying a force to a thin membrane of a force sensor assembly; transmitting the force through the thin membrane to an isolation medium in contact with the thin membrane; retaining the thin membrane in position relative to the isolation medium using a support structure; transferring the force from the isolation medium to a sense element of a force sensor; deflecting at least a portion of the sense element due to the force; generating an output signal from the sense element in response to the deflection of the sense element; and shielding the isolation medium from an environment using the thin membrane during the applying of the force. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification