Angular displacement sensor of compliant material
First Claim
1. A sensor system comprising:
- an angular displacement sensor comprising;
an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end, the elongated structure being compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions; and
a first compliant capacitor, wherein the first compliant capacitor comprises a first conductive layer embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure to form a first electrode of the first compliant capacitor, a second conductive layer embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal length to form a second electrode of the first compliant capacitor, and an elastomer dielectric layer extending between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer;
a circuit coupled to the first compliant capacitor, the circuit to measure a capacitance of the first compliant capacitor to sense bending movement of the elongated structure based on the capacitance of the first compliant capacitor;
a first rigid member coupled to the first end of the angular displacement sensor, the first rigid member defining a first vector corresponding with an axis of the angular displacement sensor when the elongated structure is in the linear, non-bent position; and
a second rigid member coupled to the second end of the angular displacement sensor, the second rigid member defining a second vector corresponding with the axis of the angular displacement sensor, andwherein the circuit is configured to determine an angular displacement between the first vector and the second vector within a first plane defined and extending along the longitudinal length and extending orthogonal through a width of the first compliant capacitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a sensing device that includes a flexible substrate having an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end, the elongated structure being compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions. The sensing device also includes a first compliant strain sensing element embedded within the compliant material and extending between the first end and the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure. The first compliant strain sensing element includes a second compliant material that is flexible and bendable, where an electrical property of the first compliant strain sensing element changes in proportion to an applied strain on the elongated structure.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A sensor system comprising:
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an angular displacement sensor comprising; an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end, the elongated structure being compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions; and a first compliant capacitor, wherein the first compliant capacitor comprises a first conductive layer embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure to form a first electrode of the first compliant capacitor, a second conductive layer embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal length to form a second electrode of the first compliant capacitor, and an elastomer dielectric layer extending between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; a circuit coupled to the first compliant capacitor, the circuit to measure a capacitance of the first compliant capacitor to sense bending movement of the elongated structure based on the capacitance of the first compliant capacitor; a first rigid member coupled to the first end of the angular displacement sensor, the first rigid member defining a first vector corresponding with an axis of the angular displacement sensor when the elongated structure is in the linear, non-bent position; and a second rigid member coupled to the second end of the angular displacement sensor, the second rigid member defining a second vector corresponding with the axis of the angular displacement sensor, and wherein the circuit is configured to determine an angular displacement between the first vector and the second vector within a first plane defined and extending along the longitudinal length and extending orthogonal through a width of the first compliant capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A sensor system comprising:
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an angular displacement sensor comprising; an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end, the elongated structure being compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions; a first compliant capacitor, wherein the first compliant capacitor comprises a first conductive layer embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure to form a first electrode of the first compliant capacitor, a second conductive layer embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal length to form a second electrode of the first compliant capacitor, and an elastomer dielectric layer extending between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; and a second compliant capacitor embedded within the compliant material, the second compliant capacitor having a width and extending along the longitudinal length of the elongated structure and spaced from the first compliant capacitor in a parallel manner, wherein the first and second compliant capacitors are offset from a center axis of the elongated structure and are reflected about the center axis of the elongated structure; and a circuit coupled to the first compliant capacitor, the circuit to measure a capacitance of the first compliant capacitor to sense bending movement of the elongated structure based on the capacitance of the first compliant capacitor, wherein the circuit is further configured to measure a second capacitance of the second compliant capacitor to sense the bending movement of the elongated structure, wherein the bending movement of the elongated structure induces an opposing response between the first compliant capacitor and the second compliant capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A sensor system comprising:
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an angular displacement sensor comprising; an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end, the elongated structure being compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions; and a first pair of compliant capacitors, wherein the first pair of compliant capacitors each comprises a first conductive layer embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure to form an outer electrode, a second conductive layer embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal length to form an inner electrode, and an elastomer dielectric layer extending between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, wherein the first pair of compliant capacitors are offset from a center axis of the elongated structure and are reflected about the center axis; a first rigid member coupled to the first end of the angular displacement sensor, the first rigid member defining a first vector corresponding with an axis of the angular displacement sensor when the elongated structure is in the linear, non-bent position; and a second rigid member coupled to the second end of the angular displacement sensor, the second rigid member defining a second vector corresponding with the axis of the angular displacement sensor, wherein bending movement of the elongated structure induces an opposing response between the first pair of compliant capacitors that is proportional to an applied strain on the elongated structure. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification