Pressure sensing apparatuses and methods
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a dielectric structure including a plurality of elastomeric regions separated from one another by space regions, the elastomeric regions being configured and arranged, in response to pressure, to compress and thereby exhibit a changed effective dielectric constant corresponding to a state of compression of the elastomeric regions, wherein the respective elastomeric regions are configured and arranged to exhibit a different effective dielectric constant, relative to other ones of the elastomeric regions, in response to different pressures being applied to the respective elastomeric regions; and
a sense circuit including a plurality of impedance-based sensors and including at least one electrode adjacent the dielectric structure, each impedance-based sensor including a portion of the dielectric structure and configured and arranged to respond to the change in dielectric constant by providing an indication of the pressure applied to the dielectric structure adjacent each sensor, wherein the elastomeric regions are configured and arranged to compress in response to applied pressure including pressure of 1 kPa or a change in the applied pressure of 1 kPa and arranged with the space regions and the sense circuit to provide respective outputs from each elastomeric region, wherein the elastomeric regions have width and thickness dimensions and including at least one of the plurality of elastomeric regions having a cross-section with a width dimension being less than 50 microns, and the elastomeric regions are configured and arranged to, relative to one another and a distance between the elastomeric regions, reversibly store and release energy via elastic deformation of the respective elastomeric regions, and wherein during the state of compression, the plurality of elastomeric regions are located between the at least one electrode and another electrode adjacent the dielectric structure.
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Abstract
Sensors, sensing arrangements and devices, and related methods are provided. In accordance with an example embodiment, an impedance-based sensor includes a flexible dielectric material and generates an output based on pressure applied to the dielectric material and a resulting compression thereof. In certain embodiments, the dielectric material includes a plurality of regions separated by gaps and configured to elastically deform and recover in response to applied pressure.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a dielectric structure including a plurality of elastomeric regions separated from one another by space regions, the elastomeric regions being configured and arranged, in response to pressure, to compress and thereby exhibit a changed effective dielectric constant corresponding to a state of compression of the elastomeric regions, wherein the respective elastomeric regions are configured and arranged to exhibit a different effective dielectric constant, relative to other ones of the elastomeric regions, in response to different pressures being applied to the respective elastomeric regions; and a sense circuit including a plurality of impedance-based sensors and including at least one electrode adjacent the dielectric structure, each impedance-based sensor including a portion of the dielectric structure and configured and arranged to respond to the change in dielectric constant by providing an indication of the pressure applied to the dielectric structure adjacent each sensor, wherein the elastomeric regions are configured and arranged to compress in response to applied pressure including pressure of 1 kPa or a change in the applied pressure of 1 kPa and arranged with the space regions and the sense circuit to provide respective outputs from each elastomeric region, wherein the elastomeric regions have width and thickness dimensions and including at least one of the plurality of elastomeric regions having a cross-section with a width dimension being less than 50 microns, and the elastomeric regions are configured and arranged to, relative to one another and a distance between the elastomeric regions, reversibly store and release energy via elastic deformation of the respective elastomeric regions, and wherein during the state of compression, the plurality of elastomeric regions are located between the at least one electrode and another electrode adjacent the dielectric structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, comprising:
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forming a plurality of sensors in an array, each sensor respectively including an impedance-based sensor having a dielectric material and opposing electrodes separated by the dielectric material by a distance of less than 100 um in an uncompressed state, each sensor configured and arranged to compress in response to applied pressure including pressure of 1 kPa or a change in the applied pressure of 1 kPa and generate an output from at least one of the opposing electrodes based on pressure applied to the dielectric material and changes, responsive to the applied pressure, in a dielectric property of an elastomeric material in the dielectric material, wherein the elastomeric material is configured and arranged with a plurality of elastomeric regions; and coupling the sensors with interconnecting circuits configured and arranged to provide an output indicative of, for each sensor, both the pressure applied to the dielectric material and a location of the applied pressure that is distinct relative to locations of other sensors in the array, wherein the elastomeric regions have width and thickness dimensions and including at least one of the plurality of elastomeric regions having a cross-section with a width dimension being less than 50 microns, and the elastomeric regions are configured and arranged to, relative to one another and a distance between the elastomeric regions, reversibly store and release energy via elastic deformation of the respective elastomeric regions, and wherein during the state of compression. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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an elastomer including a plurality of elastomeric regions separated from one another by space regions, each of the elastomeric regions being configured and arranged to compress in response to applied pressure including pressure of 1 kPa or a change in the applied pressure of 1 kPa and thereby exhibit a changed dielectric constant corresponding to a state of compression of the elastomer regions; and a sense circuit including a plurality of impedance-based sensors, each impedance-based sensor including a portion of the elastomer and having opposing electrodes separated by the portion of the elastomer by a distance of less than 100 um before the state of compression, each sensor configured and arranged to respond to the changed dielectric constant by providing an indication of the pressure applied to the portion of the elastomer between the opposing electrodes of the respective sensor, wherein the elastomeric regions have width and thickness dimensions and including at least one of the plurality of elastomeric regions having a cross-section with a width dimension being less than 50 microns, and the elastomeric regions are configured and arranged to, relative to one another and a distance between the elastomeric regions, reversibly store and release energy via elastic deformation of the respective elastomeric regions, and wherein during the state of compression. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification