Pressure-sensitive resistor sensor

• US 20020050173A1
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nishio, Eiichi, Taguchi, Masahiro, Ishiyama, Ichiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,626,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/753
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements

Abstract

It is the objective of this invention to reduce deviation in contact resistance variation between electrodes among pressure-sensitive resistor sensors. The sensor is composed of a pair of films. One film has a plurality of electrode portions extending in a certain direction and the other film has at least one electrode portion that is arranged in a transverse relation with a plural of the electrode portions on the other film. Contact points generated by applied pressure are limited to crossing points between the electrode portions of the pair of films. As a result, variation in contact resistance due to applied pressure shift becomes more constant. Thus, it is possible to reduce deviation of contact resistance between the electrodes among sensors.

Claims

1. A pressure-sensitive resistor sensor comprising:

a first film having a first electrode layer; and

a second film having a second electrode layer, the second electrode layer being spaced apart from the first electrode layer by a predetermined distance and facing the first electrode layer,

wherein the first electrode layer is formed with a plurality of first electrode portions extending in a first direction, and

wherein the second electrode layer is formed with at least one second electrode portion that is arranged in a transverse relation with a plural of the first electrodes.

2. The pressure-sensitive resistor sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

the first electrode portions are arranged in parallel with each other in a comb teeth shape;

the second film has a plurality of second electrode portions arranged in parallel with each other in a comb teeth shape; and

each of the first electrode portions and the second electrode portions are arranged in a transverse relation with the second electrode portions and the first electrode portions at a plurality of points, respectively.

3. The pressure-sensitive resistor sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

the first electrode portions are arranged in parallel with each other in a comb teeth shape;

the second film has a plurality of second electrode portions arranged in parallel with each other in a concentric shape; and

each of the first electrode portions and the second electrode portions are arranged in a transverse relation with the second electrode portions and the first electrode portions at a plurality of points, respectively.

4. The pressure-sensitive resistor sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer includes a positive side base, a negative side base, a positive side electrode portion connected to the positive side base and a negative side electrode portion connected to the negative side base; and

the electrode portion of the other of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer is arranged to contact the positive side electrode portion and the negative side electrode portion upon application of pressure thereto thereby shorting the positive side base and the negative side base.

5. The pressure-sensitive resistor sensor as in claim 4, wherein:

the electrode portion of the other of the electrode layers includes a base and a resistive part formed on the base.

6. The pressure-sensitive resistor sensor as in claim 4, wherein:

the electrode portion of the other of the electrode layers includes a resistive part without a base.

7. The pressure-sensitive resistor sensor as in claim 4, wherein:

the one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer includes a base and a resistive part formed on the base, the base being formed to extend from the positive side base and the negative side base.

8. The pressure-sensitive resistor sensor as in claim 4, wherein:

both the positive side electrode portion and the negative side electrode portion include resistive parts without a base, respectively.