CAPACITIVE PRESSURE SENSOR

• US 20110120228A1
• Filed: 11/26/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xsensor Technology Corp
• Original Assignee: Xsensor Technology Corp
• Inventors: JACK, David, MAIN, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 8,544,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/724
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence

Abstract

A capacitive pressure sensor array is made of two conductive layers, wherein each conductive layer is formed with a plurality of elongated conductors disposed in a substantially parallel manner between an upper and a lower insulating sheet, wherein the upper and lower insulating sheets are bonded to each other between adjacent conductors.

Claims

1. A capacitive pressure sensor array comprising two conductive layers, wherein each conductive layer comprises a plurality of elongated conductors disposed in a substantially parallel manner between an upper and a lower insulating sheet, wherein the upper and lower insulating sheets are bonded to each other between adjacent conductors.

2. The sensor array of claim 1 wherein the conductors are not bonded to one of the upper and lower insulating sheets.

3. The sensor array of claim 2 wherein the conductors are not bonded to either of the upper and lower insulating sheets.

4. The sensor array of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the upper and lower insulating sheets are bonded to each other by a heat or other bonding technique.

5. The sensor array of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of dielectric strips, wherein each dielectric strip is disposed above or below a conductor between the upper and lower insulating sheets, and is not bonded to the conductor or either insulating sheet.

6. The sensor array of claim 1 further comprising a dielectric sheet between the two conductive layers.

7. The sensor array of any preceding claim, wherein the insulating sheet is comprised of an elastomer.

8. A capacitive pressure sensor array comprising two conductive layers, wherein each conductive layer comprises a plurality of parallel elongated sleeves formed between an upper and a lower insulating sheet by bonding the upper and lower insulating sheets together, and a plurality of elongated conductors disposed within the sleeves.

9. The sensor array of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of dielectric strips, wherein each dielectric strip is disposed above or below a conductor between the upper and lower insulating sheets, and is not bonded to the conductor or either insulating sheet.

10. The sensor array of claim 8 further comprising a dielectric sheet between the two conductive layers.

11. The sensor array of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the insulating sheet is comprised of an elastomer.