Contact-Type Sensor of Object

• US 20080237002A1
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zhouxin Zhang
• Original Assignee: Zhouxin Zhang
• Inventors: Zhang, Zhouxin
• Application Number:
  US10/593,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20080237002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/61.42
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/084 Tactile sensors in general G01L5/16, G01L5/22

Abstract

The present invention relates to a contact-type sensor of an object, which is constructed by placing an elastic light material such as a sponge with certain thickness on the surface of the object and plastic membrane switches which are just like the keyboard of a computer are arranged below the sponge. When a robot equipped with the sensors meets a barrier, the sponge on the surface is pressed and the force can be absorbed by the sponge and transferred to the plastic membrane switches, just as the switches are pressed directly, therefore, the robot can perceive the barrier in one direction.

Claims

1. A contact-type sensor of an object, comprising:

a sponge, and at least one jiggle switch arranged thereunder, said jiggle switch is selected from the group consisting of membrane jiggle switches, mechanical jiggle switches, conductive plastic jiggle switches and capacitor jiggle switches.

2. The contact-type sensor of an object of claim 1, wherein said membrane jiggle switch is comprised of three layers of films, namely an input film, an insulating film and an output film, and wherein through holes are arranged in the said insulating film which is arranged between said input film and said output film.

3. The contact-type sensor of an object of claim 2, wherein a conductive film covers each surface of the input film and output film facing said insulating film.

4. The contact-type sensor of an object of claim 2, wherein contacts are arranged on each surface of the input film and the output film facing the insulating film at the locations corresponding to which said through holes are arranged in the insulating film.

5. The contact-type sensor of an object of claim 2, wherein a conductive film is attached to one of the surfaces of the input film and the output film facing the insulating film, and wherein contacts are arranged on the other surface of the input film and output film facing the insulating film at the locations corresponding to which said through holes are arranged in the insulating film.

6. The contact-type sensor of an object of claim 2, wherein the input film is arranged under the sponge, wherein an underside of the input film is covered by conductive film or arranged with contacts at the locations corresponding to which the said through holes are arranged in the insulating film, and wherein two rows of spaced apart, separate, exposed printed circuit contacts are arranged on the upper side of the output film at the locations corresponding to which said through holes are arranged in the insulating film.

7. The contact-type sensor of an object of claim 2, wherein one of the input film and the output film are integral with the sponge to obtain a conductive sponge.

8. The contact-type sensor of an object of claim 2, wherein one of the input film and output film are integral with the surface of the object.

9. The contact-type sensor of an object of claim 2, wherein said input film and output film are metal films.