Flexible capacitive sensor

• US 7,395,717 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Original Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Inventors: DeAngelis, Alfred R., Mazzeo, Brian A., Wilson, D. Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J
• Application Number:
  US11/351,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20070248799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 737/18, 737/24, 737/56
• US Class Current: 73/728
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96076 with spring electrode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible, resilient capacitive sensor suitable for large-scale manufacturing. The sensor comprises a dielectric, an electrically conductive layer on the first side of the dielectric layer, an electrically conductive layer on a second side of the dielectric layer, and a capacitance meter electrically connected to the two conductive layers to detect changes in capacitance upon application of a force to the detector. The conductive layers are configured to determine the position of the applied force. The sensor may be shielded to reduce the effects of outside interference.

Claims

1. A flexible capacitive sensor comprising:

a flexible, resilient dielectric layer having a first and a second side;

a first conductive layer on the first side of the dielectric layer comprising at least one first conductive element;

a second conductive layer on the second side of the dielectric layer;

wherein the first conductive elements overlap at least partially the second conductive layer; and

,

a capacitance meter electrically connected to the conductive elements, wherein the capacitance meter measures change in capacitance between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and wherein the capacitance meter determines the position of a point of user interaction along the first conductive element of the first conductive layer.

2. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein capacitance meters comprises applying an alternating current that has a frequency greater than 10 KHz to the conductive elements.

3. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein each of the conductive elements each have a resistance of 1 kiloohm or more.

4. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 3, wherein each of the conductive elements each have a resistance of 1 megaohm or less.

5. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the capacitance meter determines position in one direction.

6. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the capacitance meter determines position in at least 2 directions.

7. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the capacitance meter separately applies voltages to 2 or more distinct locations on the first conductive element or the second conductive layer and determines the position of the user interaction from the values of the signals from each applied voltage.

8. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the first conductive element has a serpentine shape.

9. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 8, wherein the first conductive element further comprises a second serpentine shape electrically isolated from the first serpentine shape.

10. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the first conductive element has a spiral shape.

11. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the first conductive layer comprises two or more first conductive elements.

12. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the width of the first conductive element changes over the length of the element.

13. The flexible capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises a second resilient, dielectric layer attached on its first side to the first conductive layer opposite the first dielectric layer and a third conductive layer comprising at least a third conductive element on the second side of the second resilient dielectric layer.