FORCE SENSOR

• US 20170261388A1
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Published: 09/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Ma, Siyuan, Holbery, James David, Ribeiro, Flavio Protasio
• Granted Patent: US 10,054,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/04 Constructional details of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0252 Load cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02133 by using induced vibration of the blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2287 constructional details of the strain gauges adjustable resistors H01C10/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0134 of stereoscopic type
• 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 2203/04103 : Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 : Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 : Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 : Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 : using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 : Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9625 : using a force resistance transducer

Abstract

Examples of force sensors that may be incorporated into a number of devices or other objects are disclosed. In one example, a sensor comprises a substrate comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced by an insulating gap, and a compliant material with plural conductive pathways disposed over the gap and contacting the first electrode and the second electrode such that a resistance of an electrical path passing through the compliant material between the first electrode and the second electrode changes in response to force of the compliant material against one or more of the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a substrate comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced by an insulating gap; and

a compliant fabric material with plural conductive pathways disposed over the gap and contacting the first electrode and the second electrode such that a resistance of an electrical path passing through the compliant fabric material between the first electrode and the second electrode changes in response to force of the compliant fabric material against one or more of the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is interdigitated with the second electrode.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a flexible material.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are printed on the substrate.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the plural conductive pathways comprise conductive fibers woven into fabric.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the compliant fabric material comprises one or more of an upholstered object and an article of clothing.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the compliant fabric material forms at least a portion of a housing of an electronic device.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode form an electrode pair, the sensor further comprising a spacer positioned between the electrode pair and at least a portion of the compliant fabric material.

9. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive material for adhering the sensor to a surface.

10. A sensor comprising:

a substrate comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced by an insulating gap; and

a fabric disposed over the gap, the fabric material having plural conductive pathways woven into the fabric and contacting the first electrode and the second electrode such that a resistance of an electrical path passing through the fabric material between the first electrode and the second electrode changes in response to force of the fabric material against one or more of the first electrode and the second electrode.

11. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the first electrode is interdigitated with the second electrode.

12. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the substrate is flexible.

13. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are screen printed on the substrate.

14. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the fabric material is included in one or more of an article of clothing, an upholstered object, a band for a wearable device, and at least a portion of a housing of an electronic device.

15. A method of manufacturing a sensor, the method comprising:

forming a first electrode and a second electrode on a substrate, the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced by an insulating gap; and

affixing a compliant fabric material including plural conductive pathways to the substrate such that the plural conductive pathways are disposed over the gap and contact the first electrode and the second electrode to form an electrical path passing through the compliant fabric material between the first electrode and the second electrode, and such that a resistance of the electrical path changes in response to force of the compliant fabric material against one or more of the first electrode and the second electrode, the plural conductive pathways being woven into the compliant fabric material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the first electrode and the second electrode on the substrate comprises screen printing the first electrode and the second electrode in an interdigitated pattern on the substrate.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the substrate comprises a flexible material.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the plural conductive pathways comprise a plurality of flexible conductive wires that are woven into fabric of one or more of an article of clothing, an upholstered object, a band for a wearable device, and at least a portion of a housing of an electronic device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode form an electrode pair, the method further comprising affixing one or more non-conductive spacers to one or more of the electrode pair, the substrate, and the compliant fabric material, the one or more non-conductive spacers separating at least a portion of the electrode pair from at least a portion of the plural conductive pathways.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising affixing an adhesive material to one or more of the substrate and the compliant fabric material.