Pressure-responsive position sensor
First Claim
1. A device which comprises two conductor assemblies in a facing relationship,said assemblies being spaced one from the other by matter comprising a body of a composite medium,said medium comprising magnetically aligned electrically conductive magnetic particles in a relatively nonconductive matrix material,said aligned particles forming a plurality of paths spaced one from the other by a region of relatively nonconductive matter,each path including at least two particles and having direction from one assembly to the other, andsaid paths comprising conductive particles and at least one region of relatively nonconductive matter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Electrical signals are produced by a pressure-responsive device, such signals being indicative of the position of locally applied pressure. The device comprises a position sensor assembly which comprises a composite layer medium including electrically conductive magnetic particles in a nonconductive matrix material. The particles are aligned into chains extending across the thickness of the layer, and chains include a non-conductive gap which is bridged upon application of sufficient pressure. The medium is sandwiched between sheet electrodes, and the resulting assembly may be transparent as is advantageous in writing pad and touch-sensitive screen applications. The pressure-responsive device is suitable, e.g., as an input device in graphics information systems, in combination with transmission and display facilities.
173 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device which comprises two conductor assemblies in a facing relationship,
said assemblies being spaced one from the other by matter comprising a body of a composite medium, said medium comprising magnetically aligned electrically conductive magnetic particles in a relatively nonconductive matrix material, said aligned particles forming a plurality of paths spaced one from the other by a region of relatively nonconductive matter, each path including at least two particles and having direction from one assembly to the other, and said paths comprising conductive particles and at least one region of relatively nonconductive matter.
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14. Composite sheet medium comprising magnetically aligned conductive magnetic particles in a relatively nonconductive matrix material,
said aligned particles forming a plurality of paths spaced one from the other by a region of relatively nonconductive matter, each path including at least two particles and having direction from one surface of said sheet medium to the other, and said paths comprising conductive particles and at least one region of relatively nonconductive matter.
Specification