Flexible force sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor comprising a member of dielectric material defined by inner and outer faces,electrical contact means on said member with a portion of said contact means substantially aligned with said inner face of said dielectric member, said electrical contact means being substantially non-compressible and of fixed conductivity, anda flexible conductive member defined by inner and outer faces, the inner one of which is attached to the face of said dielectric member to cover said electrical contact means such that, when a compressive load is applied to the sensor, the load induces an increase in the surface area of contact between facing portions of said conductive member and said contact means to effect a change in the electrical resistance thereacross in proportion to the extent of the applied load and independent of the location over the electrical contact means at which the load is applied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The flexible force sensor having an electrical conductor releasably attachable to a test site and a plurality of relatively spaced electrical contacts supported for varying contact with the conductor such that when a force is applied to the force sensor, the electrical contacts and electrical conductor move into and out of varying areas of electrical contact to produce electrical resistances therebetween corresponding to the extent of such contact and as a function of the applied force.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising a member of dielectric material defined by inner and outer faces,
electrical contact means on said member with a portion of said contact means substantially aligned with said inner face of said dielectric member, said electrical contact means being substantially non-compressible and of fixed conductivity, and a flexible conductive member defined by inner and outer faces, the inner one of which is attached to the face of said dielectric member to cover said electrical contact means such that, when a compressive load is applied to the sensor, the load induces an increase in the surface area of contact between facing portions of said conductive member and said contact means to effect a change in the electrical resistance thereacross in proportion to the extent of the applied load and independent of the location over the electrical contact means at which the load is applied.
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7. A force sensor comprising a disposable flexible relatively thin planar electrically conductive member,
a relatively thin flexible permanent member of dielectric material having one face of which is substantially planar and adapted to be detachably affixed to one planar face of said conductive member, means on said permanent member positioning said electrical contact means and facing one planar face of said disposable conductive member such that the extent of electrical contact between said contact means and conductive member varies in accordance with the extent of a compressive load applied to said sensor to produce a corresponding electrical resistance therebetween, and means joining said disposable and permanent members together and being releasable to permit their separation and the disposal of said disposable member.
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10. A force comprising a thin flexible permanent electrode having a plurality of spaced electrical contacts supported thereon,
a thin flexible conductive sensor pad defined by two faces, adhesive means applied to one face of said sensor pad and by which the same is electrically joined to a test site, adhesive means applied to the other face of said sensor pad to releasably affix the same to said permanent electrode and to define a non-adhesive zone thereon, said permanent electrode being oriented with respect to said other face of said sensor pad so as to place the electrical contacts in facing opposition to said zone such that when a compressive load is applied across the sensor, the load induces a change in the surface area of contact between facing portions of said zone of said sensor pad and said electrical contacts to correspondingly vary the electrical resistance thereacross.
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12. A pressure transducer comprising a dielectric electrode platform,
electrical contact means on said platform, said contact means being substantially non-compressible and of fixed conductivity, a flexible conductive member facing said contact means so that the same move into varying extents of engagement in accordance with a pressure applied to the same to effect an electrical resistance that is a function of the pressure applied to the same and independent of the location over the contact means at which the pressure is applied, and electrical leads connected with said transducer to permit the transmission of said electrical resistance.
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17. A sensor comprising a member of dielectric material defined by inner and outer faces,
electrical contact means on said member with a portion of said contact means substantially aligned with said inner face of said dielectric member, a flexible conductive member defined by inner and outer faces, the inner one of which is attached to the face of said dielectric member to cover said electrical contact means such that, when a compressive load is applied to the sensor, the load induces an increase in the surface area of contact between facing portions of said conductive member and said contact means to effect a change in the electrical resistance thereacross in proportion to the extent of the applied load, and releasable adhesive means between said dielectric and conductive members to releasably attach said conductive member to said dielectric member.
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21. A pressure transducer comprising a dielectric electrode platform,
electrical contact means on said platform, a flexible conductive member facing said contact means so that the same move into varying extents of engagement in accordance with a pressure applied to the same to effect an electrical resistance that is a function of the pressure applied to the same, electrical leads connected with said transducer to permit the transmission of said electrical resistance, and means releasably connecting together said conductive member and dielectric electrode platform to enable their separation and the disposal of said conductive member.
Specification