Multiplexing detector constructed from fabric

• US 6,492,980 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Eleksen Limited (Peratech Limited)
• Inventors: Sandbach, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US09/907,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.08
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/01 Woven wire screen
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/141 Cushion or mat switches

Abstract

A position detector is constructed from fabric and has electrically conductive elements. The detector is configured to produce electrical outputs in response to mechanical interactions, and is divided into several regions. Each of the regions includes a first conducting plane and a second conducting plane configured such that, in use, a mechanical interaction results in conducting planes of at least one of said regions being brought closer together. A potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of said mechanical interaction.

Claims

1. A detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements and configured to produce electrical outputs in response to mechanical interactions, wherein

said detector is divided into a plurality of regions;

each of said regions includes a first conducting plane and a second conducting plane configured such that, in use, a mechanical interaction results in conducting planes of at least one of said regions being brought closer together; and

a potential is applied across at least one of said planes to identify said at least one region and to determine a position of mechanical interaction within said region.

2. A detector as in claim 1, wherein a first conducting plane is unique to a region and a second co-operating conducting plane is shared with a plurality of regions.

3. A detector as in claim 2, wherein the second conducting plane is a single co-operating conducting plane which is shared with all of said regions.

4. A detector as in claim 1, wherein signals are derived independently from a plurality of regions by a time division multiplexing operation.

5. A detector according to claim 1, wherein, in use, a potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of the mechanical interaction and a second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of said mechanical interactions.

6. A detector as in claim 5 configured to measure current or resistance as said second electrical property.

7. A detector as in claim 5 configured to determine applied force, applied pressure, area of contact or orientation of an object as the additional property of said mechanical interactions.

8. A detector as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said planes includes first portions and second portions, said first portions have a higher resistance than said second portions and said first higher resistance portions are more flexible than said second portions.

9. A detector as in claim 8 wherein said higher resistance portions are configured as flexible portions to facilitate rotational movement about similar portions in a co-operating conductive plane.

10. A detector as in claim 8 wherein said second portions are further supported by solid portions.

11. A detector as in claim 10 wherein said solid portions are constructed from rubber, silicon or plastics.

12. A method of constructing a detector from fabric having electrically conductive elements and configured to produce electrical outputs in response to mechanical interactions, said method comprising:

dividing the detector into a plurality of regions;

providing a first conductive plane and a second conductive plane for each of said regions and configuring said planes such that, in use, at least one of said regions of said first and second conductive planes are brought together in response to a mechanical interaction and a potential is applied across at least one of said planes to identify said at least one region and to determine a position of mechanical interaction within said region.

13. A method of constructing a detector as in claim 12 wherein a first conducting plane is unique to a region and a second co-operating conducting plane is shared with a plurality of regions.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein the second conducting planes is a single co-operating conducting plane which is shared with all of said regions.

15. A method as in claim 12 wherein at least one of said planes includes first portions and second portions, said portions have a higher resistance than said second portions and said first higher resistance portions are more flexible than said second portions.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said higher resistance portions are configured as flexible portions to facilitate rotational movement about similar portions in a co-operating conductive plane.

17. A method as in claim 12 wherein said second portions are further supported by solid portions.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said solid portions are constructed from rubber, silicon or plastics.

19. A method of determining the position of a mechanical interaction using a detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements configured to produce outputs in response to mechanical interactions, and said detector is divided into a plurality of regions, each of said regions including a first and second conducting plane such that, in use, a mechanical interaction results in conducting planes of at least one of said regions being brought closer together, wherein said method includes:

applying a potential across at least one of said planes to identify said at least one region and to determine a position of mechanical interaction.

20. A method of determining the position of a mechanical interaction as in claim 19 wherein a second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of said mechanical interactions.

21. A method of determining the position of a mechanical interaction as in claim 19 wherein signals are derived independently from a plurality of regions by a time division multiplexing operation.