Pressure Sensing Apparatuses and Methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a dielectric structure including a plurality of elastomeric regions separated from one another by space regions, the elastomeric regions being configured and arranged, in response to pressure, to compress and thereby exhibit a changed effective dielectric constant corresponding to a state of compression of the elastomeric regions; and
a sense circuit including a plurality of impedance-based sensors, each impedance-based sensor including a portion of the dielectric structure and configured and arranged to respond to the change in dielectric constant by providing an indication of the pressure applied to the dielectric structure adjacent each sensor.
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Abstract
Sensors, sensing arrangements and devices, and related methods are provided. In accordance with an example embodiment, an impedance-based sensor includes a flexible dielectric material and generates an output based on pressure applied to the dielectric material and a resulting compression thereof. In certain embodiments, the dielectric material includes a plurality of regions separated by gaps and configured to elastically deform and recover in response to applied pressure.
87 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a dielectric structure including a plurality of elastomeric regions separated from one another by space regions, the elastomeric regions being configured and arranged, in response to pressure, to compress and thereby exhibit a changed effective dielectric constant corresponding to a state of compression of the elastomeric regions; and a sense circuit including a plurality of impedance-based sensors, each impedance-based sensor including a portion of the dielectric structure and configured and arranged to respond to the change in dielectric constant by providing an indication of the pressure applied to the dielectric structure adjacent each sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A pressure sensor comprising:
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a flexible dielectric layer including a plurality of dielectric material regions separated from one another by a gap region, the flexible dielectric layer being configured and arranged to exhibit dielectric characteristics that vary in response to a pressure applied to the flexible dielectric layer; and first and second electrodes separated by the flexible dielectric layer, the electrodes being configured and arranged to provide an electrical output indicative of the dielectric characteristic of the flexible dielectric layer, therein providing an indication of pressure applied to the flexible dielectric layer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A circuit comprising:
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an organic semiconductor substrate; a plurality of pressure sensors at different locations on the substrate, each sensor including source and drain electrodes coupled by a channel region that is in the substrate and adjacent the gate dielectric, a gate configured and arranged to apply a bias to the channel region, an elastic dielectric layer between the gate and the channel region, the dielectric layer including a plurality of patterned dielectric regions separated from one another by a space, the dielectric regions being configured and arranged to elastically deform in response to pressure and to exhibit a dielectric characteristic that changes in response to the elastic deformation of the dielectric region; and interconnecting conductors configured and arranged to couple a signal from each of the sensors for detecting an electrical response of the sensors to pressure applied to the dielectric regions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device comprising:
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a sensor substrate configured and arranged for insertion into a cavity; a dielectric material on the sensor substrate and having a plurality of dielectric material regions separated by a space, the dielectric material being configured and arranged, with the substrate, to exhibit different dielectric characteristics based upon pressure applied to the dielectric material via a material within the cavity; first and second electrodes on the dielectric material and configured and arranged to generate an output based on the dielectric characteristic of the dielectric material; and a circuit connected to the electrode and configured and arranged to provide an output from the first and second electrodes for access outside of the cavity, while the sensor substrate is inserted within the cavity.
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20. A method of manufacturing sensor device, the method comprising:
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forming a plurality of sensors respectively including an impedance-based device having a dielectric material and an electrode, each sensor configured and arranged to generate an output at the electrode based on pressure applied to the dielectric material; and coupling the sensors with interconnecting circuits configured and arranged to provide an output indicative of, for each sensor, both the pressure applied to the dielectric material and the location of the applied pressure.
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Specification