DIELECTRIC TEXTURED ELASTOMER IN A PRESSURE MAPPING SYSTEM

• US 20100282000A1
• Filed: 05/06/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xsensor Technology Corp
• Original Assignee: Xsensor Technology Corp
• Inventors: GORJANC, Timothy Carl, MAIN, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.046
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence

Abstract

A capacitance pressure mapping system includes a plurality of sensor cells created by the intersection of electrode columns and rows, and a solid elastomer dielectric separating the electrode columns and rows. The elastomer is at least one planar sheet having a surface comprising a pattern of projections. There may be two sheets having opposing patterns of projections. The opposing patterns may be interlocking or corresponding.

Claims

1. A pressure mapping system comprising a plurality of sensor cells created by the intersection of electrode columns and rows, and a solid elastomer dielectric separating the electrode columns and rows and comprising at least one planar sheet having two major surfaces, wherein at least one major surface comprises a pattern of projections.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the projections comprise single point projections and the pattern of projections comprises a plurality of rows or columns.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the projections comprise a line.

4. The system of claim 2 or 3 comprising two planar sheets disposed such that the pattern of projections are opposing.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the opposing pattern of projections are interlocking.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the opposing pattern of projections are corresponding.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the opposing patterns of projections are each a plurality of substantially parallel lines, and the opposing patterns are at an angle to each other.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the angle is about 90°

.

9. The system of claim 7 or 8 wherein at least one pattern of projections is parallel to an electrode column or an electrode row.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein each single point projection has a planar cross-sectional shape comprising a circle, an oval, a quadrilateral, a triangle, or an irregular shape.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein each single point projection has a vertical cross-sectional shape comprising a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a semi-circle, a semi-oval, a triangle or an irregular shape.

12. The system of claim 3 wherein each line projection has a vertical cross-sectional shape comprising a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a semi-circle, a semi-oval, a triangle or an irregular shape.