Tactile sensors for robotic gripper and the like
First Claim
1. A tactile sensor for sensing the pressure impressed by an object in contact therewith, said sensor comprising a sandwich having:
- (a) a top layer comprised of a first flexible, electrically-insultating material and a plurality of first flexible, electrically-conductive rods disposed in parallel grooves in said first electrically-insulating material;
(b) a bottom layer secured to said top layer, said bottom layer being comprised of a second electrically-insulating material and a plurality of second electrically-conductive rods extending parallel to one another, said bottom layer being disposed relative to said top layer so that said first rods extend across and substantially parallel to said second rods; and
(c) an intermediate layer engaged by said top and bottom layers, said intermediate layer being comprised of a selected material that is both resilient and electrically-insulating and a plurality of mutually-spaced electrically-conductive posts disposed in and extending transversely through said selected material so that the opposite ends of said posts confront said top and bottom layers, said electrically-conductive posts being made of a resilient material and being disposed so that the axis of each post intersects one each of said first and second rods, whereby a matrix of electrically conducting paths is provided by said first and second rods and said posts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tactile sensor for sensing an object in contact therewith. In its preferred form, the sensor comprises a plurality of layers disposed in a sandwich arrangement. A top layer is comprised of a flexible, electrically-insulating material and a plurality of parallel flexible conductive rods. A bottom layer is comprised of an electrically-insulating material and a plurality of parallel conductive rods that extend at right angles to the conductive rods of the top layer, thus forming a sensory array comprising a plurality of superimposed intersection points arranged in a grid pattern. An intermediate layer is comprised of a resilient, electrically-insulating material in which is disposed a plurality of parallel conductive posts that extend perpendicular to the plane of the three layers. These posts are comprised of a resilient conducting material. Each conductive post is disposed at one of the sensor'"'"'s aforementioned intersection points so as to electrically couple one of the conductive rods of the top layer to one of the conductive rods of the bottom layer. The conductive rods are formed with a selected cross-section, in order that changes in the amount of pressure exerted on the sensor will produce corresponding logarithmic exchanges in the contact surface area, and hence electrical contact resistance, established between the conductive rods and those conductive posts disposed beneath the points of pressure.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A tactile sensor for sensing the pressure impressed by an object in contact therewith, said sensor comprising a sandwich having:
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(a) a top layer comprised of a first flexible, electrically-insultating material and a plurality of first flexible, electrically-conductive rods disposed in parallel grooves in said first electrically-insulating material; (b) a bottom layer secured to said top layer, said bottom layer being comprised of a second electrically-insulating material and a plurality of second electrically-conductive rods extending parallel to one another, said bottom layer being disposed relative to said top layer so that said first rods extend across and substantially parallel to said second rods; and (c) an intermediate layer engaged by said top and bottom layers, said intermediate layer being comprised of a selected material that is both resilient and electrically-insulating and a plurality of mutually-spaced electrically-conductive posts disposed in and extending transversely through said selected material so that the opposite ends of said posts confront said top and bottom layers, said electrically-conductive posts being made of a resilient material and being disposed so that the axis of each post intersects one each of said first and second rods, whereby a matrix of electrically conducting paths is provided by said first and second rods and said posts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28)
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8. A tactile sensor for sensing an object in contact therewith, said sensor comprising:
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(a) a top layer made of a first flexible, electrically-insulating material and including a plurality of first conductive rods extending parallel to one another in a first plane, said first conductive rods being flexible along their length and having a cross-sectional profile conforming substantially to the profile illustrated in FIG. 3; (b) a bottom layer made of a second electrically-insulating material and including a plurality of second conductive rods extending parallel to one another in a second plane extending substantially parallel to said first plane, said second conductive rods having a cross-sectional profile conforming substantially to the profile shown in FIG. 3, said bottom layer also being disposed relative to said top layer so that said second conductive rods extend at an angle to said first conductive rods, thus forming a sensory array comprising a plurality of superimposed intersection points arranged in a grid pattern; and (c) an intermediate layer extending in a third parallel plane and disposed between and engaged by said first and second layers, said intermediate layer being made of a resilient material which is electrically-conductive. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 25)
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29. A tactile sensor for sensing the pressure impressed by an object in contact therewith, said sensor comprising:
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(a) a top layer comprised of a first flexible, electrically-insulating material and a first plurality of flexible electrically-conductive rods extending parallel to one another in grooves in said first electrically-insulating material; and (b) a bottom layer comprised of a second electrically-insulating material and a second plurality of electrically-conducting rods extending parallel to one another; said bottom layer being disposed relative to said top layer so that the rods of said first plurality of rods extend across and directly engage the rods of said second plurality of rods, whereby a plurality of electrically-conducting paths is provided by said first and second pluralities of rods; the said rods of at least one of said top and bottom layers (a) each being elastomeric and (b) each having a cross-sectional shape that varies with increasing distance from the other of said top and bottom layers so that the contact areas between the rods of said first and second pluralities of rods will increase non-linearly as portions of said layers are deformed as a consequence of being pressed against one another. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification