Force sensor
First Claim
1. A force sensor configured to sense the magnitude and direction of a force in at least one direction, the sensor having a compressible layer, an electrically grounded layer and an electrically active layer, wherein:
- said electrically grounded layer comprises of a flexible conductive material;
said electrically active layer comprises a transmitter electrode and a plurality of receiverelectrodes arranged to surround said transmitter electrode, in which said transmitter electrode is configured to capacitively couple to each one of said plurality of receiver electrodes; and
said compressible layer is positioned between said electrically grounded layer and said electrically active layer;
wherein the level of capacitive coupling between said transmitter electrode and each one of said plurality of receiver electrodes varies in dependence upon the magnitude and the direction of a force applied to the sensor which moves said electrically grounded layer closer to said electrically active layer by compression of said compressible layer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A force sensor having a compressible layer, an electrically grounded layer and an electrically active layer is disclosed. The electrically active layer comprises a transmitter electrode configured to capacitively couple to a receiver electrode. The compressible layer is compressible to allow the electrically grounded layer to move closer to the electrically active layer, so as to reduce the level of capacitive coupling between the receiver electrode and the transmitter electrode in dependence upon the magnitude of an applied force.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A force sensor configured to sense the magnitude and direction of a force in at least one direction, the sensor having a compressible layer, an electrically grounded layer and an electrically active layer, wherein:
-
said electrically grounded layer comprises of a flexible conductive material; said electrically active layer comprises a transmitter electrode and a plurality of receiver electrodes arranged to surround said transmitter electrode, in which said transmitter electrode is configured to capacitively couple to each one of said plurality of receiver electrodes; and said compressible layer is positioned between said electrically grounded layer and said electrically active layer; wherein the level of capacitive coupling between said transmitter electrode and each one of said plurality of receiver electrodes varies in dependence upon the magnitude and the direction of a force applied to the sensor which moves said electrically grounded layer closer to said electrically active layer by compression of said compressible layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of sensing the magnitude and direction of a force in at least one direction, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a force sensor having a compressible layer, an electrically grounded layer and an electrically active layer, in which said electrically grounded layer comprises of a flexible conductive material, and in which said electrically active layer comprises a transmitter electrode and a plurality of receiver electrodes arranged to surround said transmitter electrode, in which said transmitter electrode is configured to capacitively couple to each one of said plurality of receiver electrodes, and where said compressible layer is positioned between said electrically grounded layer and said electrically active layer; applying a force to said force sensor to compress said compressible layer, thus moving said electrically grounded layer closer to said electrically active layer; and detecting the degree to which the level of capacitance coupling between said transmitter electrode and each one of said plurality of receiver electrodes varies, wherein the level of capacitance coupling varies in dependence upon the magnitude and the direction of the force applied. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification