Polymeric foam deformation gauge
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a deformation sensor that includes at least two conductive elements disposed in a polymeric foam, a portion of each of the at least two conductive elements extending beyond an outer wall of the polymeric foam; and
a voltage detector coupled to the at least two conductive elements for detecting a charge generated by the deformation sensor in response to an impact to the polymeric foam within a sensing radius of the respective conductive element, wherein a charge generated by an impact to the polymeric foam is a function of the surface area of the conductive element that is disposed in the polymeric foam, and wherein the at least two conductive elements are adjacently spaced in the polymeric foam so that the respective sensing radii of the at least two conductive elements overlap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one general aspect, an apparatus includes at least two conductive elements disposed in a polymeric foam and at least two voltage detectors. Each voltage detector is coupled to a respective conductive element and configured to detect a charge generated by an impact to the polymeric foam within a sensing radius of the respective conductive element. In another general aspect, an apparatus includes a deformation sensor and a voltage detector. The deformation sensor includes a conductive element disposed in a polymeric foam, a portion of the conductive element extending beyond an outer wall of the polymeric foam. The voltage detector is coupled to the portion of the conductive element and detects a charge generated by the deformation sensor responsive to an impact to the polymeric foam.
141 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a deformation sensor that includes at least two conductive elements disposed in a polymeric foam, a portion of each of the at least two conductive elements extending beyond an outer wall of the polymeric foam; and a voltage detector coupled to the at least two conductive elements for detecting a charge generated by the deformation sensor in response to an impact to the polymeric foam within a sensing radius of the respective conductive element, wherein a charge generated by an impact to the polymeric foam is a function of the surface area of the conductive element that is disposed in the polymeric foam, and wherein the at least two conductive elements are adjacently spaced in the polymeric foam so that the respective sensing radii of the at least two conductive elements overlap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus, comprising:
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at least two conductive elements disposed in a polymeric foam; and at least two voltage detectors, each voltage detector being coupled to a respective conductive element, the voltage detector configured to detect a charge generated by an impact to the polymeric foam within a sensing radius of the respective conductive element, wherein the at least two conductive elements are adjacently spaced in the polymeric foam so that the sensing radii overlap. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for measuring compression strain, the method comprising:
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detecting, along a first axis, a charge generated in response to an impact to a polymeric foam having at least one conductive element disposed therein, the impact being along a second axis different from the first axis; and determining a deformation of the impact based on the charge, the polymeric foam measuring up to 80% strain without permanent deformation of the foam. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus, comprising:
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a deformation sensor that includes a conductive element disposed on a polymeric foam, the conductive element including conductive ink or conductive paint; and a voltage detector, coupled to the conductive element, for detecting a charge generated by the deformation sensor responsive to an impact within a sensing radius of the conductive element. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification