Carbon nanotubes based sensing elements and system for monitoring and mapping force, strain and stress
First Claim
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1. A sensing system, comprising:
- at least two sensing elements disposed on top of each other, each sensing element including;
a substrate;
a pair of electrodes on the substrate; and
a multidimensional network of carbon nanotubes coupled to the electrodes and applied to the substrate between the electrodes,wherein the carbon nanotubes in the network of one of the at least two sensing elements are at least partially aligned in a first direction and the carbon nanotubes in the network of the other of the at least two sensing elements are at least partially aligned in a second direction,wherein the multidimensional network of carbon nanotubes of one or more of the at least two sensing elements is configured for sensing strain, stress or force within the one or more of the at least two sensing elements, andwherein the network of carbon nanotubes of the one or more of the at least two sensing elements defines at least in part an electrical path between the electrodes of the one or more of the at least two sensing elements, the electrical path having a resistance which is altered by the sensed strain, stress or force.
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to an element for sensing strain, stress or force. The sensing element comprises a substrate, a pair of electrodes on the substrate, and a network of carbon nanotubes for sensing the strain, stress or force within a structure. The network of carbon nanotubes defines at least in part an electrical path between the electrodes of the pair, and the electrical path has a resistance which is altered by the sensed strain, stress or force. Combining a plurality of sensing elements coupled to a common substrate forms a sensing system.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensing system, comprising:
at least two sensing elements disposed on top of each other, each sensing element including; a substrate; a pair of electrodes on the substrate; and a multidimensional network of carbon nanotubes coupled to the electrodes and applied to the substrate between the electrodes, wherein the carbon nanotubes in the network of one of the at least two sensing elements are at least partially aligned in a first direction and the carbon nanotubes in the network of the other of the at least two sensing elements are at least partially aligned in a second direction, wherein the multidimensional network of carbon nanotubes of one or more of the at least two sensing elements is configured for sensing strain, stress or force within the one or more of the at least two sensing elements, and wherein the network of carbon nanotubes of the one or more of the at least two sensing elements defines at least in part an electrical path between the electrodes of the one or more of the at least two sensing elements, the electrical path having a resistance which is altered by the sensed strain, stress or force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A sensing element comprising:
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a substrate; first and second electrodes coupled to the substrate; a mobile structure; a first network of carbon nanotubes extending between the first electrode and the mobile structure; and a second network of carbon nanotubes extending between the second electrode and the mobile structure, the first and second networks being interconnected at the mobile structure, the first and second networks of carbon nanotubes defining at least partially an electrical path between the first and second electrodes, wherein the mobile structure is offset from the first and second electrodes, wherein at least one of the first and second networks of carbon nanotubes is configured for sensing strain, stress or force within the at least one of the first and second networks of carbon nanotubes; and wherein the electrical path has a resistance which is altered by the sensed strain, stress or force. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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19. A sensing element, comprising:
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a substrate; first and second electrodes coupled to the substrate; a mobile structure, wherein the mobile structure is offset from the first and second electrodes; a first network of carbon nanotubes extending between the first electrode and the mobile structure; a second network of carbon nanotubes extending between the second electrode and the mobile structure, the first and second networks being interconnected at the mobile structure; and a plurality of non-collinear assemblies each including; said first and second electrodes coupled to the substrate; and said first network of carbon nanotubes extending between the first electrode and the mobile structure, and the second network of carbon nanotubes extending between the second electrode and the mobile structure, the first and second networks being interconnected at the mobile structure whereby the first and second networks of carbon nanotubes define at least partially an electrical path between the first and second electrodes.
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Specification