Device for controlling a circuit
First Claim
1. A pressure detecting device comprisinga circuit,a thin resiliently deformable sheet of semiconductor material having an internal electrical conductivity generally invariable according to applied pressure, the surface of said semiconductor material having microscopic ridges and depressions therein,a first electrode connected to said circuit comprising a flexible sheet of electrically conductive metal foil, selected from the group consisting of copper, steel and aluminum and alloys thereof, in mechanical contact with one side of said resiliently deformable sheet material and electrically connected to said circuit,a second electrode connected to said circuit comprising a flexible sheet of electrically conductive metal foil, selected from the group consisting of copper, steel and aluminum and alloys thereof, in mechanical contact with the other side of said resiliently deformable semiconductor sheet material and electrically connected to said circuit, andsaid circuit being responsive to deforming of said microscopic ridges and depressions in the presence of applied pressure on said first electrode, resiliently deformable semiconductor sheet and second electrode combination for providing an output signal that is a function of said applied pressure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure sensing mat utilizes a thin sheet of semiconductor material that has an electrical conductivity generally invariable as to pressure applied to the mat material. The sheet of semiconductor material is sandwiched between sheets of copper, steel or aluminum foil which are in mechanical contact with the semiconductor sheet to define a pair of electrodes. The electrodes are connected to various circuits including a pressure (voltage) threshold detector, a learning circuit for establishing a learned threshold, a circuit for matching time-pressure patterns and a circuit for detecting pressures between a predetermined maximum and minimum level. A matrix of pressure sensing mats is utilized with various circuits to detect sequential pressure patterns.
32 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A pressure detecting device comprising
a circuit, a thin resiliently deformable sheet of semiconductor material having an internal electrical conductivity generally invariable according to applied pressure, the surface of said semiconductor material having microscopic ridges and depressions therein, a first electrode connected to said circuit comprising a flexible sheet of electrically conductive metal foil, selected from the group consisting of copper, steel and aluminum and alloys thereof, in mechanical contact with one side of said resiliently deformable sheet material and electrically connected to said circuit, a second electrode connected to said circuit comprising a flexible sheet of electrically conductive metal foil, selected from the group consisting of copper, steel and aluminum and alloys thereof, in mechanical contact with the other side of said resiliently deformable semiconductor sheet material and electrically connected to said circuit, and said circuit being responsive to deforming of said microscopic ridges and depressions in the presence of applied pressure on said first electrode, resiliently deformable semiconductor sheet and second electrode combination for providing an output signal that is a function of said applied pressure.
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8. A pressure transducer comprising
a thin resiliently deformable sheet of semiconductor material having an internal electrical conductivity generally invariable according to applied pressure, the surface of said semiconductor material having microsopic ridges and depressions therein, a first electrode comprising a flexible sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in mechanical contact with one side of said resiliently deformable semiconductor sheet material, a second electrode comprising a flexible sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in mechanical contact with the other side of said resiliently deformable semiconductor sheet material, a circuit adapted to provide an output signal, said circuit being responsive to deforming of said microscopic ridges and depressions in the presence of applied pressure on said first electrode, resiliently deformable semiconductor sheet and second electrode combination for providing an output signal that is a function of said applied pressure, and, means for connecting said first and second electrodes to said circuit.
Specification