Tactile instrument

• US 7,698,961 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novineon Healthcare Technology Partners GmbH
• Original Assignee: Novineon Healthcare Technology Partners GmbH
• Inventors: Ho, Chi-Nghia, Schostek, Sebastian, Kalanovic, Daniel, Schurr, Marc Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Punam
• Application Number:
  US11/142,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 738/626.21, 73862625-862628, 738/626.29, 738/625.2, 738/625.3, 324/421, 324/660, 324/663, 324/691, 338/47, 338/99
• US Class Current: 73/862.621
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/228 using tactile array force sensors

Abstract

The ability of a person to grasp an object and at the same time to feel, as well as to determine mechanical and geometric parameters of the comprehended object, makes him or her irreplaceable for many tasks, i.e. in production or in surgery. The translation of this ability into a technological system has often failed up to now due to lack of special adjusted sensors. The object of this invention is a sensory device, which fulfills the requirements for a tactile sensor system and at the same time affords a cost-effective and simple manufacturing alternative to other sensor principles. The layer structure of the sensor element is so constructed that by effect of an external force of the current by a resistive layer a path is disposed to narrowing or enlargement. The voltage drop over this resistive layer is dependent upon the acting external force and serves as signal sensor.

Claims

1. Device for a measurement by contact and a local classification of mechanical and geometric properties of an object comprising at least two sensor elements, each of said sensor elements having a first conductive layer, a second resistive layer and a third conductive layer, wherein the first and the third conductive layer exhibit a higher electrical conductivity than the second resistive layer, wherein

also in an unloaded state of the device, a direct electrically conductive mechanical connection exists between the first conductive layer and the second resistive layer as well as between the second resistive layer and the third conductive layer, wherein

when an electric potential difference between the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer is applied, electric current is flowing from the first conductive layer through the second resistive layer to the third conductive layer, wherein

when an external force acts onto the device, the size of the contact surface between the first conductive layer and the second resistive layer and/or between the second resistive layer and the third conductive layer is changed thereby changing the size of a pathway for electric current, and wherein

the magnitude of the external force is determined according to the magnitude of electric current flowing through the second resistive layer

characterized in that

the first and the third conductive layers mechanically deform, in case a force acts vertical to the plane of the position of at least one of the layers.

3. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the layers has a different geometric form, such that either between the first conductive layer and the second resistive layer or the second resistive layer and the third conductive layer or also between the first conductive layer and the second resistive layer as well as between the second resistive layer and the third conductive layer a space is present.

4. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that in case a force acts vertical to the plane of the position of at least one of the layers, the size of a contact surface between the first conductive layer and the second resistive layer or between the second resistive layer and the third conductive layer or also between the first conductive layer and the second resistive layer as well as between the second resistive layer and third conductive layer changes.

5. The device according to claims 1 or 2, further comprising a fourth electrically isolated layer being in mechanical contact with the first conductive layer.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the fourth electrically isolated layer has a first geometric structure.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the first geometric structure exhibits a direct mechanical contact with the second resistive layer.

8. The device according to claims 1 or 2, further comprising a fifth electrically isolated layer being in mechanical contact with the third conductive layer.

9. The device according to claim 8 characterized in that the fifth electrically isolated layer has a geometric structure.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the second geometric structure has a direct mechanical contact with the first conductive layer.

11. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the second geometric structure is in direct mechanical contact with the second resistive layer.

12. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first conductive layer deforms in case a force acts vertical to the plane of the position of at least one of the layers.

13. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second resistive layer mechanically deforms, in case a force acts vertical to the plane of the position of at least one of the layers.

14. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first conductive layer and the second resistive layer mechanically deforms, in case a force acts vertical to the plane of the position of at least one of the layers.

15. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first conductive layer as well as the second resistive layer exhibit no curvature and the third conductive layer exhibits at least one curvature.

16. The device according to claims 1 or 2, thereby characterized, in that the first conductive layer as well as the third conductive layer have no curvature and the second resistive layer has at least one curvature.

17. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first conductive layer has no curvature and at least the second resistive layer as well as the third conductive layer in each case exhibits curvature.

18. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first conductive layer at least has a curvature and the second resistive layer as well as the third conductive layer have no curvature.

19. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first conductive layer as well as the third conductive layer in each case have curvature and the second resistive layer has no curvature.

20. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first conductive layer and also the second resistive layer at least in any case exhibit curvature, and the third conductive layer has no curvature.

21. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least two sensor elements have different sizes.

22. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least two sensor elements have different geometric forms.

23. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized, in that the at least two sensor elements have an eight-cornered form.

24. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that there is no direct electrically conductive connection between the third conductive layer of the one sensor element and the third conductive layer of the at least one other sensor element.

25. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that there is a direct electrically conductive connection between the first layer of the one sensor element and the first conductive layer of the at least one other sensor element.

26. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that there is no direct electrically conductive connection between the second resistive layer of the one sensor element and the second resistive layer of the at least one other sensor element.

27. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first conductive layer comprises an electrically conducting supply lead.

28. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the third conductive layer comprises an electrically conducting supply lead.

29. The device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer have no direct mechanical connection with one another.

30. The device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the third conductive layer has a convex curvature such that a space is formed between the third conductive layer and the second resistive layer.

31. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that there is a direct electrically conductive connection the third conductive layer of the one sensor element and the third conductive layer of the at least one other sensor element.

32. The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second resistive layer exhibits an electrical conductivity.

2. Device for a measurement by contact and a local classification of mechanical and geometric properties of an object comprising at least two sensor elements, each of said sensor elements having a first conductive layer, a second resistive layer and a third conductive layer, wherein the first and the third conductive layer exhibit a higher electrical conductivity than the second resistive layer, wherein

also in an unloaded state of the device, a direct electrically conductive mechanical connection exists between the first conductive layer and the second resistive layer as well as between the second resistive layer and the third conductive layer, wherein

when an electric potential difference between the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer is applied, electric current is flowing from the first conductive layer through the second resistive layer to the third conductive layer, wherein

when an external force acts onto the device, the size of the contact surface between the first conductive layer and the second resistive layer and/or between the second resistive layer and the third conductive layer is changed thereby changing the size of a pathway for electric current, and wherein

the magnitude of the external force is determined according to the magnitude of electric current flowing through the second resistive layer

characterized in that

the first conductive layer, the second resistive layer and the third conductive layer mechanically deform, in case a force acts vertical to the plane of the position of at least one of the layers.