Calibration fixture and method of calibrating contact sensors
First Claim
1. A calibration fixture for a contact sensor comprising a first backing sheet having a first plurality of electrodes, a second backing sheet having a second plurality of electrodes confronting said first plurality and being disposed in a crossing pattern to define a plurality of intersections, and resistive material between the electrodes at each intersection to electrically isolate the confronting electrodes at each intersection, said contact sensor providing a variable output representative of the applied force at each intersection as force is applied thereto, and conductors for each of the electrodes terminating in remote contacts from which readings are taken, said fixture comprisinga first plate against which said contact sensor is supported,a second plate confronting said first plate and spaced therefrom,an annular sealing member supported on said second plate,a bladder disposed between said sealing member and said second plate to define a fluid pressure chamber circumscribed by said sealing member,a frame assembly for holding said first and second plates in their confronting relationship, anda pressurized fluid entry passage extending through said second plate and communicating with said pressure chamber,whereby when a contact sensor is disposed between said bladder and said first plate and the pressure chamber is pressurized, a uniform force is applied to each electrode intersection circumscribed by said annular sealing member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A calibration fixture for a contact sensor for applying a uniform pressure to each contact sensor intersection and a method of using the fixture. The fixture includes a first plate against which a contact sensor is supported, a second plate confronting the first plate and spaced therefrom, an annular sealing member supported on the second plate, a bladder disposed between the sealing member and the second plate to define a fluid pressure chamber circumscribed by the sealing member, a frame for holding the first and second plates in their confronting relationship, and a pressurized fluid entry passage extending through the second plate and communicating with the pressure chamber. The fixture is used by positioning a contact sensor between the first plate and the bladder, then pressurizing the fluid pressure chamber by introducing pressurized fluid thereinto to force the bladder into intimate contact with the contact sensor, uniformly to apply force against each electrode intersection circumscribed by the sealing member, and then sensing the outputs for each electrode intersection.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A calibration fixture for a contact sensor comprising a first backing sheet having a first plurality of electrodes, a second backing sheet having a second plurality of electrodes confronting said first plurality and being disposed in a crossing pattern to define a plurality of intersections, and resistive material between the electrodes at each intersection to electrically isolate the confronting electrodes at each intersection, said contact sensor providing a variable output representative of the applied force at each intersection as force is applied thereto, and conductors for each of the electrodes terminating in remote contacts from which readings are taken, said fixture comprising
a first plate against which said contact sensor is supported, a second plate confronting said first plate and spaced therefrom, an annular sealing member supported on said second plate, a bladder disposed between said sealing member and said second plate to define a fluid pressure chamber circumscribed by said sealing member, a frame assembly for holding said first and second plates in their confronting relationship, and a pressurized fluid entry passage extending through said second plate and communicating with said pressure chamber, whereby when a contact sensor is disposed between said bladder and said first plate and the pressure chamber is pressurized, a uniform force is applied to each electrode intersection circumscribed by said annular sealing member.
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9. A calibration fixture for a contact sensor comprising a first backing sheet having a first plurality of electrodes, a second backing sheet having a second plurality of electrodes confronting said first plurality and being disposed in a crossing pattern to define a plurality of intersections, and resistive material between the electrodes a each intersection to electrically isolate the confronting electrodes at each intersection, said contact sensor providing a variable output representative of the applied force at each intersection as force is applied thereto, and conductors for each of the electrodes terminating in remote contacts from which readings are taken, said fixture comprising
a first plate against which said contact sensor is supported, a second plate confronting said first plate and spaced therefrom, an annular sealing member supported on said second plate, a frame assembly for holding said first and second plates in their confronting relationship, and a pressurized fluid entry passage extending through said second plate, whereby when a contact sensor is disposed between said annular sealing member and said first plate and the zone between said second plate and said annular sealing member is pressurized by fluid passing through said fluid entry passage, a uniform force is applied to said contact sensor at each electrode intersection circumscribed by said sealing member.
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14. A method of calibrating a contact sensor in a calibration fixture, said contact sensor comprising a first backing sheet having a first plurality of electrodes, a second backing sheet having a second plurality of electrodes confronting said first plurality in a crossing pattern to define a plurality of intersections, and resistive material between the electrodes at each intersection to electrically isolate the confronting electrodes at each intersection, said contact sensor providing a variable output representative of the applied force at each intersection as force is applied thereto, and conductors for each of the electrodes terminating in remote contacts from which readings are taken, and said fixture comprising
a first plate against which a contact sensor is supported, a second plate confronting said first plate and spaced therefrom, an annular sealing member supported on said second plate, a bladder disposed between said sealing member and said second plate to define a fluid pressure chamber circumscribed by said sealing member, a frame assembly for holding said first and second plates in their confronting relationship, and a pressurized fluid entry passage extending through said second plate and communicating with said pressure chamber, the steps comprising positioning a contact sensor between said first plate and said bladder, pressurizing said fluid pressure chamber by introducing pressurized fluid into said fluid pressure chamber to force said bladder into intimate contact with said contact sensor uniformly to apply force against each electrode intersection circumscribed by said sealing member, and sensing outputs from each electrode intersection.
Specification