Dielectric textured elastomer in a pressure mapping system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pressure mapping system comprising:
- a plurality of electrode columns,a plurality of electrode rows,a solid elastomer dielectric separating the electrode columns and electrode rows, wherein said solid elastomer dielectric comprises at least one planar sheet having two major surfaces, wherein at least one major surface comprises a pattern of projections, each projection being spaced from adjacent projections so as to be deformable under compression from an applied force, the projections providing more resistance to compression as the applied force is increased,a two-dimensional matrix of sensor cells, wherein each sensor cell is defined by the intersection of an electrode column, an electrode row and at least one projection, andan electronics module coupled to the matrix of sensor cells, the electronics module determining a pressure at each sensor cell based on the compression of the sensor cell, the determined pressures defining a two-dimensional pressure distribution based on the compressions of the two-dimensional matrix of sensor cells.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitance pressure mapping system includes a plurality of sensor cells created by the intersection of electrode columns and rows, and a solid elastomer dielectric separating the electrode columns and rows. The elastomer is at least one planar sheet having a surface comprising a pattern of projections. There may be two sheets having opposing patterns of projections. The opposing patterns may be interlocking or corresponding.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A pressure mapping system comprising:
-
a plurality of electrode columns, a plurality of electrode rows, a solid elastomer dielectric separating the electrode columns and electrode rows, wherein said solid elastomer dielectric comprises at least one planar sheet having two major surfaces, wherein at least one major surface comprises a pattern of projections, each projection being spaced from adjacent projections so as to be deformable under compression from an applied force, the projections providing more resistance to compression as the applied force is increased, a two-dimensional matrix of sensor cells, wherein each sensor cell is defined by the intersection of an electrode column, an electrode row and at least one projection, and an electronics module coupled to the matrix of sensor cells, the electronics module determining a pressure at each sensor cell based on the compression of the sensor cell, the determined pressures defining a two-dimensional pressure distribution based on the compressions of the two-dimensional matrix of sensor cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification