Surface pressure distribution sensor

• US 20060075831A1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Okuda, Nobuyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/228,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20060075831A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.46
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence

Abstract

A fluid collecting section is provided beside a measuring section, and an inner space of the fluid collecting section communicates with an inner space of the measuring section. Therefore, when the inner space of the measuring section is collapsed by pressing a measuring surface, fluid can escape toward the fluid collecting section. Consequently, the increase in internal pressure of the inner space of the measuring section is limited, and the upward force applied to an upper substrate in the measuring section is reduced. As a result, measurement sensitivity increases.

Claims

1. A surface pressure distribution sensor comprising:

a lower substrate;

a plurality of lower conductors arranged in parallel on an upper surface of the lower substrate;

a flexible upper substrate provided above the lower substrate with a predetermined space therebetween; and

a plurality of upper conductors arranged in parallel on a lower surface of the upper substrate so as to be orthogonal to the lower conductors,

wherein a measuring section having a first inner space is provided so that the upper conductors and the lower conductors oppose in a thickness direction therein,

wherein a fluid collecting section having a second inner space is disposed beside the measuring section,

wherein the surface pressure distribution is detected on the basis of an electrostatic capacitance changed by the pressing of a measuring surface provided on the upper substrate in the measuring section, and

wherein the first inner space of the measuring section communicates with the second inner space of the fluid collecting section.

2. The surface pressure distribution sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

defining means provided between the lower substrate and the upper substrate; and

a space connecting section for connecting the first inner space of the measuring section and the second inner space of the fluid collecting section,

wherein the defining means defines a side wall of the first inner space, a side wall of the second inner space, and a wall of the space connecting section.

3. The surface pressure distribution sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plastic member provided on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the fluid collecting section,

wherein the fluid collecting section has a pressure adjusting function of artificially adjusting the internal pressure of the first inner space of the measuring section by pressing said at least one of the upper and lower surfaces having the plastic member to collapse the second inner space of the fluid collecting section.

4. The surface pressure distribution sensor according to claim 3, wherein the fluid collecting section includes a plurality of fluid collecting sections, and at least one of the fluid collecting sections has the pressure adjusting function.

5. The surface pressure distribution sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the first and second inner spaces is an air layer.