Capacitive tactile sensor array and method for sensing pressure with the array
First Claim
1. A tactile capacitive sensor array comprising a substrate having a first surface, an integrated electronic circuit formed on said first surface, said circuit having a plurality of spaced apart first capacitor electrodes, output and input terminals, and active electronic elements separately coupling said capacitor electrodes to said input and output conductors, and second capacitor electrode means spaced from said surface, said second capacitor electrode means having conductive regions aligned with a plurality of said first capacitor electrodes to form a plurality of sensor capacitors therewith, and a potential applying arrangement connected to said second capacitor electrode means.
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Abstract
A capacitive tactile sensor array is formed of capacitive plates formed on a dielectric substrate, on which large area electronics is also deposited. A conductive film is spaced from the capacitive plates, to form the other plates of the sensor capacitors. This conductive film may be grounded. The large area electronics includes a circuit that provides outputs corresponding to the pressure applied to each of the sensor capacitors. A method is also disclosed for controlling the circuit to provide an output corresponding to the pressure applied to the conductive film.
146 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A tactile capacitive sensor array comprising a substrate having a first surface, an integrated electronic circuit formed on said first surface, said circuit having a plurality of spaced apart first capacitor electrodes, output and input terminals, and active electronic elements separately coupling said capacitor electrodes to said input and output conductors, and second capacitor electrode means spaced from said surface, said second capacitor electrode means having conductive regions aligned with a plurality of said first capacitor electrodes to form a plurality of sensor capacitors therewith, and a potential applying arrangement connected to said second capacitor electrode means.
- 6. A tactile capacitive sensor array comprising a plurality of capacitor sensors each having a first electrode and a second electrode, integrating amplifier means, a source of a charging voltage, means for selectively connecting said sensor electrodes to said source and said integrating amplifier means and means connecting said second electrodes in common to a point of fixed potential.
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13. A method for sensing pressure on sensor capacitors of a tactile array having a matrix of a plurality of first capacitor plates arranged in rows and columns, said first capacitor plates forming sensing capacitor electrodes in combination with at least one other capacitor plate, said method comprising:
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charging a given row of said sensor capacitors; then selectively discharging said sensor capacitors to integrating amplifier means, whereby the outputs of said amplifier means correspond to the pressure applied to the sensor capacitors of the respective rows of capacitors. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification