Sensor panel for locating a load

• US 4,208,648 A
• Filed: 08/17/1978
• Issued: 06/17/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Naumann, Karlheinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Albritton, C. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/934,484
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 338/99, 338/100, 338/101, 338/114, 73/172, 73/432 R, 324/65 P
• US Class Current: 338/99
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 41/02 Features relating to transfer of work between machines arrangements for handling work for machine tools coordinated in production lines B23Q7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/081 Touching devices, e.g. pressure-sensitive
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/004 for measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/28 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/64 Three-dimensional objects

Abstract

A sensor panel for sensing the location and/or shape of a load superimposed on one face of the panel includes a plate consisting essentially of an electrically conductive material varying in electric conductivity in response to a pressure applied in the direction of plate thickness. Two groups of transversely spaced conductors elongated in respective common directions perpendicular to each other are secured to the two faces of the plate in electrically conductive contact.

Claims

1. A sensor panel for sensing a load superimposed on one face of said panel, the panel comprising:

(a) a plate member having two faces defining therebetween the thickness of said panel,

(1) each of said faces having a width and length greater than said thickness,

(2) said plate member consisting essentially of an electrically conductive material varying in electric conductivity in response to pressure applied to said plate member in the direction of said thickness;

(b) a first group of conductors elongated in a common first direction and transversely spaced from each other;

(c) a second group of conductors elongated in a common second direction and transversely spaced from each other,

(1) said groups being respectively secured to said faces in electrically conductive contact,

(2) said first a second directions being angularly offset from each other.

2. a panel as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a layer of a resilient, electrically insulating material superimposed on each of said groups.

3. A panel as set forth in claim 2, wherein said layers each have a face engaging the associated face of said plate member in area contact, said conductors of each group being recessed in at least one of the engaged faces of said plate member and of said layer.

4. A panel as set forth in claim 2, wherein said conductors are metallic.

5. A panel as set forth in claim 2, further comprising two frames, the conductors of said groups being secured in respective frames under longitudinal tension.

6. A panel as set forth in claim 2, wherein the conductors of at least one of said groups consist essentially of electrically conductive synthetic resin composition.

7. A panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conductors of each group are substantially parallel to each other and elongated at approximately right angles relative to the conductors of the other group.