METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONFORMAL SENSING OF CHANGE IN MOTION AT AN ARBITRARILY-SHAPED SURFACE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing a change in motion proximate to an arbitrarily-shaped surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a flexible substrate to substantially conform to the arbitrarily-shaped surface so as to facilitate intimate proximity of the apparatus to the arbitrarily-shaped surface; and
a single sensing element disposed on the flexible substrate to sense the change in motion proximate to the arbitrarily-shaped surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sensing a change in motion proximate to an arbitrarily-shaped surface via a single sensing element (e.g., a pressure sensor, an accelerometer) disposed on a flexible substrate having a sufficient mechanical coupling to the arbitrarily-shaped surface. The change in motion may include at least one of an acceleration, an orientation, a vibration shock and a falling process. In one example, the flexible substrate substantially conforms to the arbitrarily-shaped surface so as to facilitate intimate proximity to the arbitrarily-shaped surface. In another example, a coupling mechanism may mechanically couple the sensing element to the arbitrarily-shaped surface. One or more LEDs coupled to the sensing element may provide a visual cue representing impact or trauma to the surface based on different colors respectively corresponding to a degree of the impact or trauma.
109 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing a change in motion proximate to an arbitrarily-shaped surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a flexible substrate to substantially conform to the arbitrarily-shaped surface so as to facilitate intimate proximity of the apparatus to the arbitrarily-shaped surface; and a single sensing element disposed on the flexible substrate to sense the change in motion proximate to the arbitrarily-shaped surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method, comprising:
A) sensing a change in motion proximate to an arbitrarily-shaped surface via a single sensing element disposed on a flexible substrate having a sufficient mechanical coupling to the arbitrarily-shaped surface.
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25. A system, comprising:
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an apparatus for sensing a change in motion proximate to an arbitrarily-shaped surface, the apparatus comprising; a flexible substrate to substantially conform to the arbitrarily-shaped surface so as to facilitate intimate proximity of the apparatus to the arbitrarily-shaped surface; a sensing element disposed on the flexible substrate to sense the change in motion proximate to the arbitrarily-shaped surface, wherein the change in motion includes at least one of an acceleration, an orientation, a vibration shock and a falling process, the sensing element including; an accelerometer; a processor communicatively coupled to the accelerometer; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; a coupling mechanism to mechanically couple the apparatus to the arbitrarily-shaped surface; and a plurality of LEDs coupled to the sensing element to provide at least one visual cue representing impact or trauma based at least in part on at least one output signal generated by the accelerometer, wherein the plurality of LEDs have different colors respectively corresponding to a degree of the impact or trauma.
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Specification