ELECTRONIC PRESSURE-SENSITIVE DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE MAGNITUDE OF LOAD AS ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE

• US 20020056918A1
• Filed: 12/04/2000
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Saito, Mitsuru
• Granted Patent: US 6,373,373 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/773
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/12 wherein the weighing element is in the form of a solid body stressed by pressure or tension during weighing

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic pressure-sensitive device which has a long service life and which is capable of detecting with high accuracy loads of various magnitudes including values in proximity to zero. In the electronic pressure-sensitive device, first and second resistive element layers 2b and 6b are formed on the outermost surfaces of first and second contact portions 2 and 6, and the first and second resistive element layers 2b and 6b are constantly maintained in an electrical contact state, the force bringing the first and second resistive element layers 2b and 6b into press contact with each other being detected as the electrical resistance between the first and second contact portions 2 and 6.

Claims

1. An electronic pressure-sensitive device comprising a first substrate consisting of an insulating material, a first contact portion formed on the first substrate, a first resistive element consisting of a high-resistance material, constituting the first contact portion and provided on the outermost surface of the first contact portion, a second substrate consisting of an insulating material and opposed to the first substrate, a second contact portion formed on the second substrate and opposed to the first contact portion, a second resistive element consisting of a high-resistance material, constituting the second contact portion and provided on the outermost surface of the second contact portion, and an adhesive member provided between the first and second substrates and gluing the first and second substrates to each other, wherein the first and second resistive elements are constantly maintained in an electrical contact state, and wherein a press contact force acting between the first and second resistive elements by pressurizing the first and second contact portions;

from at least one side is detected as the electrical resistance between the first and second contact portions.

2. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive member is formed at a position spaced apart from the first and second resistive elements so as to surround the first and second resistive elements.

3. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second substrates is flexible, wherein the adhesive member consists of an insulating sheet-like member, and wherein the distance between the first and second substrates is larger where the first and second contact portions are formed than where the adhesive member is provided.

4. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 3, wherein both the first and second substrates are flexible.

5. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 3, wherein an opening is provided in the adhesive member consisting of a sheet-like member, and the first and second resistive elements are held in an electrical contact state inside the opening, wherein the sum total of the thicknesses of the first and second contact portions is larger than the width dimension of the distance between the first and second substrates at the position where the adhesive member is provided.

6. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive member consists of a sheet like base member on either side of which an adhesive layer is formed.

7. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second contact portions has a conductor electrically connected to the first and second resistive elements.

8. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 7, wherein the first and second contact portions respectively have first and second conductors, the first and second conductors being opposed to each other through the intermediation of the first and second resistive elements and formed substantially in the entire area where the first and second resistive elements are opposed to each other.

9. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 7, wherein the first and second resistive elements are formed on the surfaces of the first and second conductors, and wherein the surface area of the resistive elements differs from the surface area of the conductors.

10. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 9, wherein the resistive elements cover the entire surfaces of the conductors.

11. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second resistive elements are formed of the same material.

12. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second resistive elements are formed of a material whose specific resistance ranges from 10² to 10⁶ (Ω

·

cm).

13. An electronic pressure-sensitive device according to claim 1, wherein a wiring pattern consisting of a conductive material is formed on at least one of the first and second substrates, the wiring pattern being electrically connected to the first and second contact portions.