Thin deflectable resistor
First Claim
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1. A deflectable resistor comprising:
- a substrate formed of a deflectable electrical insulating material having a top surface, a first end, a second end, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said substrate being bendable in at least a first direction;
a first layer of conductive material having a first end proximate said first end of said substrate, a second end proximate said second end of said substrate, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said first layer of conductive material disposed on said top surface of said substrate, said first layer of conductive material having a resistance, measured between said first end and said second end of said first layer of conductive material, that changes predictably when bent, said change of resistance of said first layer of conductive material reflects the amount of deflection in said first direction;
a second layer of conductive material formed of an electrically conductive material disposed on said substrate, said second layer of conductive material being electrically connected to said second end of said first layer of conductive material;
a first layer of dielectric material disposed on said top surface of said substrate and over said first layer of conductive material and said second layer of conductive material, said first layer of dielectric material configured for providing an electrical insulating barrier between said first layer of conductive material and a conductive material disposed on said first layer of dielectric material; and
a third layer of layer of conductive material formed of an electrically conductive material disposed on said layer of dielectric material, said third layer of conductive material being electrically connected to said first end of said first layer of conductive material.
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Abstract
A system and method for a deflectable resistor. The deflectable resistor has a first layer of conductive material and a second layer of conductive material on a top surface of a substrate, said first layer of conductive material having a resistance that changes predictably. The change of resistance of the first layer of conductive material reflects an amount of deflection of the respective layer. A dielectric is placed over the first and second layers of conductive material. A third layer of conductive material is placed thereon. The dielectric material electrically insulates the first and second layers from the third layer.
34 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A deflectable resistor comprising:
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a substrate formed of a deflectable electrical insulating material having a top surface, a first end, a second end, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said substrate being bendable in at least a first direction; a first layer of conductive material having a first end proximate said first end of said substrate, a second end proximate said second end of said substrate, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said first layer of conductive material disposed on said top surface of said substrate, said first layer of conductive material having a resistance, measured between said first end and said second end of said first layer of conductive material, that changes predictably when bent, said change of resistance of said first layer of conductive material reflects the amount of deflection in said first direction; a second layer of conductive material formed of an electrically conductive material disposed on said substrate, said second layer of conductive material being electrically connected to said second end of said first layer of conductive material; a first layer of dielectric material disposed on said top surface of said substrate and over said first layer of conductive material and said second layer of conductive material, said first layer of dielectric material configured for providing an electrical insulating barrier between said first layer of conductive material and a conductive material disposed on said first layer of dielectric material; and a third layer of layer of conductive material formed of an electrically conductive material disposed on said layer of dielectric material, said third layer of conductive material being electrically connected to said first end of said first layer of conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A deflectable resistor comprising:
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a substrate formed of a deflectable electrical insulating material having a first end, a second end, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said substrate being bendable between a first configuration and a second configuration; a layer of electrically conductive ink having a first end proximate said first end of said substrate, a second end proximate said second end of said substrate, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said layer of electrically conductive ink disposed on a surface of said substrate, said length and said width of said layer of electrically conductive ink being less than said length and said width of said substrate, said layer of electrically conductive ink having a resistance that changes predictably when bent, said resistance measured between said first end and said second end of said layer of electrically conductive ink, said change of resistance of said layer of electrically conductive ink reflects an amount of deflection between said first configuration and said second configuration; a first layer of conductive material disposed on the surface of said substrate, said first layer of conductive material electrically connected to said first end of said layer of electrically conductive ink; a first layer of dielectric material disposed on said surface of said substrate having said layer of electrically conductive ink disposed thereon, said layer of dielectric material disposed over at least said layer of electrically conductive ink, said layer of dielectric material configured for providing an electrical insulating barrier between said layer of electrically conductive ink and conductive material disposed on said layer of dielectric material; and a second layer of conductive material disposed on the surface of said layer of dielectric material, said second layer of conductive material electrically connected to said second end of said layer of electrically conductive ink. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A deflectable resistor comprising:
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a substrate formed of a deflectable electrical insulating material having a top surface, a first end, a second end, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said substrate being bendable in at least a first direction; a first layer of conductive material having a first end proximate said first end of said substrate, a second end proximate said second end of said substrate, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said first layer of conductive material disposed on said top surface of said substrate, said first layer of conductive material having a resistance, measured between said first end and said second end of said first layer of conductive material, that changes predictably when bent, said change of resistance of said first layer of conductive material reflects the amount of deflection in said first direction; a first layer of dielectric material disposed on said top surface of said substrate and over said first layer of conductive material, said first layer of dielectric material configured for providing an electrical insulating barrier between said first layer of conductive material and a conductive material disposed on said first layer of dielectric material; and a second layer of layer of conductive material formed of an electrically conductive material disposed on said layer of dielectric material, said second layer of conductive material being electrically connected to said first end of said first layer of conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method for varying the resistance in an electrical circuit comprising:
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providing a substrate formed of a deflectable electrical insulating material having a top surface, a first end, a second end, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said substrate being bendable in a first direction; forming a first layer of conductive material having a first end proximate said first end of said substrate, a second end proximate said second end of said substrate, a width and a length between said first end and said second end, said first layer of conductive material disposed on said top surface of said substrate, said first layer of conductive material having a resistance measured between said first end and said second end of said first layer of conductive material that changes predictably when an electrical signal is applied thereto, said change of resistance of said first layer of conductive material reflects the amount of deflection in said first direction; forming a second layer of conductive material disposed on the surface of said substrate, said second layer of conductive material being electrically connected to said first end of said first layer of conductive material; forming a layer of dielectric material disposed on said top surface of said substrate and over said first layer of conductive material and said second layer of electrically conductive material, said layer of dielectric material configured for providing an electrical insulating barrier between said first layer of conductive material, said second layer of conductive material and a conductive material disposed on said layer of dielectric material; and forming a third layer of an electrically conductive material disposed on the surface of said layer of dielectric material, said first conductor being electrically connected to said second end of said first layer of conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification