METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND INITIATION OF A PRESSURE DETECTION MAT

• US 20140373594A1
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enhanced Surface Dynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enhanced Surface Dynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Shalom, Amir Ben, Remez, Tal Natan, Averbuch, Gusti Yoram
• Granted Patent: US 9,671,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/16 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. by resistance strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/142 using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 25/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring force, torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

A method for manufacture of a pressure sensing mat comprising the steps of: (a) preparing two conductive layers, each conductive layer comprising an array of conducting strips mounted upon a substrate arranged in a parallel fashion, wherein the conducting strips of the first conductive layer are oriented perpendicularly in relation to the conducting strips of the second conductive layer; (b) for each conductive layer, connecting each of the conducting strips to a communication line; (c) sandwiching a compressible layer between the two conductive layers; and (d) performing a pressure reading standardization test to the mat.

Claims

1. A method for manufacture of a pressure sensing mat, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) preparing two conductive layers, each conductive layer comprising an array of conducting strips mounted upon a substrate arranged in a parallel fashion, wherein the conducting strips of the first conductive layer are oriented perpendicularly in relation to the conducting strips of the second conductive layer;

(b) for each conductive layer, connecting each of said conducting strips to a communication line;

(c) sandwiching a compressible layer between said two conductive layers; and

(d) performing a pressure reading standardization test to said mat.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said conductive strips are laminated with an insulating material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein preparing said conductive layers further comprises the steps of:

(i) affixing said conductive strips to a substrate in a parallel orientation; and

(ii) measuring the resistance between at least one pair of adjacent conductive strips.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein each of said conductive strips is connected to a test monitor through a test probe.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein two of said conductive strips are connected to a test monitor through a test probe and the test probe is moved sequentially from one pair of adjacent conductive strips to the next until all the strips have been tested.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein following the connecting of each of said conducting strips to said communication line further applying a testing procedure comprising the steps of:

(i) placing a conducting plate across said conducting strips;

(ii) applying an alternating potential to said conducting plate; and

(iii) measuring voltage between each of the conducting strips and ground.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein following the connecting of each of said conducting strips to said communication line further applying a testing procedure comprising the steps of:

(i) placing a conducting plate across said conducting strips;

(ii) applying an alternating potential to each of said conducting strips; and

(iii) for each conducting strip measuring voltage between the conducting plate and ground.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein following the connecting of each of said conducting strips to said communication line further applying a testing procedure comprising the steps of:

(i) placing a conducting plate across said conducting strips;

(ii) applying an alternating potential to all conducting strips except one selected conducting strip; and

(iii) measuring voltage between the selected strip and ground.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein following the connecting of each of said conducting strips to said communication line further applying a testing procedure comprising:

(i) placing a conducting plate across said conducting strips;

(ii) applying an alternating potential to one selected conducting strip; and

(iii) measuring voltage between all conducting strips except the selected strip and ground.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said conducting plate is laminated with an insulating material.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises the steps of:

(i) exerting a known pressure upon at least one region of said pressure detection mat;

(ii) measuring pressure reading recorded by said pressure detection mat; and

(iii) comparing said pressure reading with a look up table.

23. The method of claim 6, wherein said conducting plate is laminated with an insulating material.

24. The method of claim 7, wherein said conducting plate is laminated with an insulating material.

25. The method of claim 8, wherein said conducting plate is laminated with an insulating material.

12. A method for testing a pressure sensing mat comprising a first conductive layer comprising an array of parallel conducting strips, a compressible layer situated upon the first array and a second conductive layer comprising an array of parallel conducting strips situated upon the compressible layer, the conducting strips of each conductive layer being connected to a communication line, the method comprising the step of:

(a) for each conductive layer, measuring the resistance between at least one pair of adjacent conducting strips.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said conductive strips are laminated with an insulating material.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein for step (a), each of said conductive strips is connected to a test monitor through a test probe.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein for step (a), two of said conductive strips are connected to a test monitor through a test probe and the test probe is moved sequentially from one pair of adjacent conductive strips to the next until all the strips have been tested.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

(b) testing the electrical connection between each of said conducting strips and the communication line.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:

(i) placing a conducting plate across said conducting strips;

(ii) applying an alternating potential to said conducting plate; and

(iii) measuring voltage between each of the conducting strips and ground.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:

(i) placing a conducting plate across said conducting strips;

(ii) applying an alternating potential to each of said conducting strips; and

(iii) for each conducting strip measuring voltage between the conducting plate and ground.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:

(i) placing a conducting plate across said conducting strips;

(ii) applying an alternating potential to all conducting strips except one selected conducting strip; and

(iii) measuring voltage between the selected strip and ground.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:

(i) placing a conducting plate across said conducting strips;

(ii) applying an alternating potential to one selected conducting strip; and

(iii) measuring voltage between all conducting strips except the selected strip and ground.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

(c) performing a pressure reading standardization test to said mat.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of:

(i) exerting a known pressure upon at least one region of said pressure detection mat;

(ii) measuring pressure reading recorded by said pressure detection mat; and

(iii) comparing said pressure reading with a look up table.