Two-dimensional pressure sensor using retro-reflective tape and semi-transparent medium
First Claim
1. A two-dimensional pressure sensor, comprising:
- (a) a light source;
(b) a matrix of light transmitting fiber endings comprising a plurality of fibers for transmitting said light from said light source and a plurality of fibers for receiving reflected light;
(c) a transmitting fiber sub-array comprising endings of said transmitting fibers located a distance from said matrix of light transmitting fiber endings, said endings located to receive light from said light source;
(d) a receiving fiber sub-array, comprising endings of said receiving fibers located a distance from said matrix of light transmitting fiber endings;
(e) a retro-reflective material located a distance above said matrix;
(f) a semi-transparent deformable medium located between said matrix and said retro-reflective material, said semi-transparent deformable medium supporting said retro-reflective material;
(g) a flexible membrane located adjacent said retro-reflective material side farthest from said matrix; and
(h) means located adjacent said receiving fiber sub-array, for detecting said reflected light transmitted by said light fibers from said matrix to said receiving fiber sub-array.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is a two-dimensional pressure sensor which can be used to determine a pressure distribution across a two-dimensional object which comes in contact with the sensor. The sensor includes a light source, a matrix of light transmitting fiber endings which includes an alternate pattern of transmitting and receiving light fibers, a transmitting fiber sub-array located a distance from the matrix and composed of transmitting fibers, a receiving fiber sub-array located a distance from the matrix and composed of receiving fibers, a semi-transparent deformable medium located above the matrix, a retro-reflective material located on top of the deformable medium, a flexible membrane located adjacent said retro-reflective material and positioned to contact an object, and apparatus such as a photodetector array, for detecting light which is reflected by the retro-reflective material and transmitted to the receiving fiber sub-array.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A two-dimensional pressure sensor, comprising:
-
(a) a light source; (b) a matrix of light transmitting fiber endings comprising a plurality of fibers for transmitting said light from said light source and a plurality of fibers for receiving reflected light; (c) a transmitting fiber sub-array comprising endings of said transmitting fibers located a distance from said matrix of light transmitting fiber endings, said endings located to receive light from said light source; (d) a receiving fiber sub-array, comprising endings of said receiving fibers located a distance from said matrix of light transmitting fiber endings; (e) a retro-reflective material located a distance above said matrix; (f) a semi-transparent deformable medium located between said matrix and said retro-reflective material, said semi-transparent deformable medium supporting said retro-reflective material; (g) a flexible membrane located adjacent said retro-reflective material side farthest from said matrix; and (h) means located adjacent said receiving fiber sub-array, for detecting said reflected light transmitted by said light fibers from said matrix to said receiving fiber sub-array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification