Soft pressure sensing device

• US 8,393,229 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited
• Original Assignee: The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited
• Inventors: Tao, Xiaoming, Wang, Yangyong, Hua, Tao, Zhu, Bo, Li, Qiao
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNLAP, JONATHAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/712,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 73862041-862046, 738/626.21, 738/626.27, 738/626.28, 738/626.32, 738/626.36, 738/626.37
• US Class Current: 73/862.046
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/20 by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A pressure sensing device includes a first conversion layer and a second conversion layer, an electrically conductive element between the first and second conversion layers, and a pair of electrically conductive yarns connected to the electrically conductive element, wherein the first and second conversion layers include at least one deformation member adapted to deform the electrically conductive element and change the resistivity of the electrically conductive element, when pressure exerts on the first and/or the second conversion layer.

Claims

1. A pressure sensing device comprising:

a first conversion layer and a second conversion layer that are made with elastomer having Young'"'"'s Modulus of 0.1 MPa to 1.0 GPa;

an electrically conductive element between the first and second conversion layers; and

a pair of electrically conductive yarns, attached to a surface of the electrically conductive element, adapted to detect resistivity change of the electrically conductive element in between the pair of electrically conductive yarns,

wherein the first and second conversion layers include at least one deformation member adapted to deform the electrically conductive element and change the resistivity of the electrically conductive element, when pressure exerts on the first and/or the second conversion layer.

2. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second conversion layers are made of elastomers with predetermined rigidity.

3. The pressure sensing device of claim 2, wherein the elastomers are natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, polyurethanes, silicone rubbers, fluorine rubbers, copolymers of styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene, polyisobutylenes, or a combination thereof.

4. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, further comprises modulating blocks that are adapted to adjust pressure ranges, the modulating blocks are inserted between the first conversion layer or the second conversion layer and the electrically conductive element.

5. The pressure sensing device of claim 4, wherein the modulating blocks having rigidity different than the first conversion layer or the second conversion layer.

6. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing device is adapted to incorporate into garments or footwears.

7. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, further comprises a measurement device configured to measure resistance between the pair of conductive yarns.

8. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the deformation member includes peaks and valleys, the peaks of the first conversion layer are aligned with the valleys of the second conversion layer, and the valleys of the second conversion layer are aligned with the peaks of the first conversion layer.

9. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the deformation member includes peaks and valleys on the first conversion layer or the second conversion layer.

10. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the pressure sensing devices are electronically connected in a matrix structure.

11. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive element is a piece of electrically conductive fabric, a piece of electrically conductive polymer film or fiber.

12. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the pair of electrically conductive yarns are embedded in the first or second conversion layer.

13. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the pair of electrically conductive yarns are not embedded in the first or second conversion layer.

14. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the first conversion layer, the second conversion layer, and the electrically conductive element are attached by adhesives or thermal bonding.

15. The pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing device can be used as a weight sensor, a plantar pressure distribution measuring device, or a step counter.

16. A pressure sensing device comprising:

a first conversion layer and a second conversion layer that are made with elastomer having Young'"'"'s Modulus of 0.1 MPa to 1.0 GPa;

an electrically conductive element between the first and second conversion layers; and

a pair of electrically conductive wires, attached to a surface of the electrically conductive element, adapted to detect resistivity change of the electrically conductive element in between the pair of electrically conductive wires,

wherein the first and second conversion layers include at least one deformation member adapted to deform the electrically conductive element and change the resistivity of the electrically conductive element, when pressure exerts on the first and/or the second conversion layer.