SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SENSORS

• US 20130271159A1
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Inventors: Santos, Veronica J., Posner, Jonathan, Ponce Wong, Ruben
• Granted Patent: US 9,239,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/661
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2417 by varying separation
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 25/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring force, torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24

Abstract

Systems for providing electro-mechanical sensors are provided. In some embodiments, a system for providing an electro-mechanical sensor comprising: a flexible material forming at least a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel includes a first plate region and the second channel forms a second plate region that is substantially aligned with the first plate region; and an electrically conductive fluid that fills the first channel and the second channel.

Claims

1. A system for providing an electro-mechanical sensor comprising:

a flexible material forming at least a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel includes a first plate region and the second channel forms a second plate region that is substantially aligned with the first plate region; and

an electrically conductive fluid that fills the first channel and the second channel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first plate region and the second plate region are arranged so that the first plate region and the second plate region move relative to one another when a force is applied to the flexible material.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible material forms a compressible region between the first plate region and the second plate region.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the compressible region is filled with a softer substance than the flexible material.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the softer substance is air.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first channel and the second channel form a five by five array of taxels.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a circuit that is responsive to a capacitance formed by the first plate region and the second plate region.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the circuit determines an output voltage corresponding to the capacitance formed by the first plate region and the second plate region.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the output voltage is converted to a digital signal by an analog-to-digital-converter.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive fluid is Galinstan.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is polydimethylsiloxane.

12. A system for providing an electro-mechanical sensor comprising:

a means for forming a flexible material with at least a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel includes a first plate region and the second channel forms a second plate region that is substantially aligned with the first plate region; and

a means for filling the first channel and the second channel with an electrically conductive fluid.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first plate region and the second plate region are arranged so that the first plate region and the second plate region become closer when a force is applied to the flexible material.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for forming a flexible material forms a compressible region between the first plate region and the second plate region.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the compressible region is filled with a softer substance than the flexible material.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the softer substance is air.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first channel and the second channel form a five by five array of taxels.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising a means for generating an output that is responsive to a capacitance formed by the first plate region and the second plate region.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for generating an output determines an output voltage corresponding to the capacitance formed by the first plate region and the second plate region.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a means for converting the output voltage to a digital signal.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the electrically conductive fluid is Galinstan.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the flexible material is polydimethylsiloxane.