FLEXIBLE STRETCHABLE CAPACITIVE SENSOR
First Claim
1. A flexible stretchable sensor comprising:
- a plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers in close proximity to one another, wherein each of the flexible fibers comprises a hollow electrically insulating elastomeric fiber at least partially filled with a flexible and stretchable conductive material and an electrical connector in electrical communication with the flexible and stretchable conductive material,wherein a change in an electrical parameter of at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers is used to sense an event associated with the at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible stretchable sensor, methods of use, and methods of forming the same are disclosed herein. In one implementation, the flexible stretchable sensor comprises a plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers in close proximity to one another, wherein each of the flexible fibers comprises a hollow electrically insulating elastomeric fiber at least partially filled with a flexible and stretchable conductive material and an electrical connector in electrical communication with the flexible and stretchable conductive material, wherein a change in an electrical parameter of at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers is used to sense an event associated with the at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A flexible stretchable sensor comprising:
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a plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers in close proximity to one another, wherein each of the flexible fibers comprises a hollow electrically insulating elastomeric fiber at least partially filled with a flexible and stretchable conductive material and an electrical connector in electrical communication with the flexible and stretchable conductive material, wherein a change in an electrical parameter of at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers is used to sense an event associated with the at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A flexible stretchable sensor comprising:
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at least two flexible and stretchable fibers having a length, said fibers helically twisted together substantially throughout the length, wherein each of the flexible fibers comprises; a hollow electrically insulating elastomeric fiber at least partially filled with a flexible and stretchable conductive material; and an electrical connector in electrical communication with the flexible and stretchable conductive material, wherein a change in capacitance can be measured at the electrical connector of each of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers, said change in capacitance caused by a change in strain or torsion to at least a portion of the length of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 19)
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17. (canceled)
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18. (canceled)
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20. A flexible stretchable touch sensor comprising:
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at least two flexible and stretchable fibers having a length helically twisted together substantially throughout the length, wherein each of the flexible fibers comprises; a hollow electrically insulating elastomeric fiber at least partially filled with a flexible and stretchable conductive material; and an electrical connector in electrical communication with the flexible and stretchable conductive material, wherein said length is divided into at least two sections, wherein a first of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers twisted together has the flexible and stretchable conductive material in a first and a second section of the at least two sections and a second of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers twisted together has the flexible and stretchable conductive material in only a first section of the at least two sections and wherein a touch can be sensed and determined to be in the first section by a change in capacitance of the first and the second of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers twisted together as measured at the electrical connectors of the first and the second of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers and a touch can be detected and determined to be in the second section by a change in capacitance of the first of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers twisted together as measured at the electrical connector of the first of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of capacitive sensing, comprising:
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providing a plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers in close proximity to one another, said plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers having a length, wherein each of the flexible fibers comprises a hollow electrically insulating elastomeric fiber at least partially filled with a flexible and stretchable conductive material and an electrical connector in electrical communication with the flexible and stretchable conductive material; and sensing a change in capacitance of at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers in close proximity to one another, wherein the change in capacitance is cause by at least one of a change in torsion to at least a portion of the length of the at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers, a change in strain to at least a portion of the length of the at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers, or at touch to at least one of the plurality of flexible and stretchable fibers.
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23. A method of sensing using a flexible stretchable strain sensor, comprising:
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providing at least two flexible and stretchable fibers having a length; helically twisting the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers together substantially throughout the length, wherein each of the flexible fibers comprises a hollow electrically insulating elastomeric fiber at least partially filled with a flexible and stretchable conductive material, and an electrical connector in electrical communication with the flexible and stretchable conductive material; and detecting, at the electrical connectors of each of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers, a change in capacitance caused by a change in strain or torsion to at least a portion of the length of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 29)
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27. (canceled)
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28. (canceled)
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30. A method of sensing touch using a flexible stretchable touch sensor, comprising:
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providing at least two flexible and stretchable fibers having a length in close proximity substantially throughout the length, wherein each of the flexible fibers comprises a hollow electrically insulating elastomeric fiber at least partially filled with a flexible and stretchable conductive material, and an electrical connector in electrical communication with the flexible and stretchable conductive material; dividing said length into at least two sections, wherein a first of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers has the flexible and stretchable conductive material in a first and a second section of the at least two sections and a second of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers has the flexible and stretchable conductive material in only a first section of the at least two sections; and sensing a touch and determining the touch is in the first section by measuring a change in capacitance of both the first and the second of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers;
orsensing the touch and determining the touch is in the second section by measuring a change in capacitance of only the first of the at least two flexible and stretchable fibers.
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31. (canceled)
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32. (canceled)
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33. (canceled)
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34. (canceled)
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35. (canceled)
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36. (canceled)
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37. (canceled)
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38. (canceled)
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39. (canceled)
Specification