DEFORMABLE TOUCH AND STRAIN SENSOR

• US 20170249041A1
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Moller, Christian N., Holbery, James David, Fassler, Andrew L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,891,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer

Abstract

Various examples of deformable sensors are disclosed. In one example, a deformable sensor comprises a ground electrode comprising a plurality of spatially separated lines, and a set of individually-indexed signal channels interdigitated with the spatially separated lines, each individually-indexed signal channel comprising a stretchable conductive path encapsulated in an elastomeric material.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

a ground electrode comprising a plurality of spatially separated lines; and

a set of individually-indexed signal channels alternately interdigitated with the spatially separated lines of the ground electrode, each signal channel comprising a stretchable conductive path encapsulated in an elastomeric material.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the stretchable conductive path comprises eutectic gallium indium.

3. The sensor of claim 2, further comprising a conductor extending from an exterior of the elastomeric material of a first signal channel of the set of individually-indexed signal channels, through the elastomeric material of the first signal channel, and contacting the eutectic gallium indium.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the conductor comprises one or more of silver nanowires and copper wire.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material comprises one or more of a silicone elastomer and a latex elastomer.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the stretchable conductive path comprises a solid conductive portion and a liquid conductive portion.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, and further comprising a second sensor positioned vertically above the first sensor and comprising a second set of individually-indexed signal channels.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is incorporated into a wearable computing device.

9. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is incorporated into a hand-held computing device.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is incorporated into a fabric article.

11. A stretchable wearable article, comprising:

a sensor coupled with the stretchable, wearable article, the sensor including a ground electrode comprising a plurality of spatially separated lines, and a set of individually-indexed signal channels alternately interdigitated with the spatially separated lines of the ground electrode, each signal channel comprising a stretchable conductive path encapsulated in an elastomeric material.

12. The article of claim 11, wherein the article comprises fabric, and wherein the sensor is incorporated in the fabric.

13. The article of claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured to output information usable by an operatively-coupled computing device to determine a condition of a body part of a wearer of the article.

14. The article of claim 11, wherein the stretchable conductive path comprises eutectic gallium indium, and wherein the elastomeric material comprises silicone.

15. A computing device, comprising:

a soft, exterior surface; and

a sensor positioned relative to the soft, exterior surface such that deformation pressure on the soft, exterior surface is detectable by the sensor, the sensor comprising a plurality of spatially separated lines, and a set of individually-indexed signal channels alternately interdigitated with the spatially separated lines, each signal channel comprising a stretchable conductive path encapsulated in an elastomeric material.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the stretchable conductive path comprises eutectic gallium indium, and wherein the elastomeric material comprises silicone.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a controller and a display device, wherein the soft, exterior surface is a surface of an adjustable band configured to mount the controller and display device, and wherein the sensor is located in the soft, exterior surface.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to receive output from the sensor and output a notification to a wearer of the device when a tension of the adjustable band reaches a designated level of tension, the tension of the adjustable band determined based on the output from the sensor.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the computing device is a hand-held computing device, and wherein the soft, exterior surface is a back surface of the hand-held computing device.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising a processor and storage comprising stored instructions executable by the processor to perform an action on the hand-held computing device responsive to touch input detected by the sensor.