System for sensing a mechanical property of a sample
First Claim
1. A sensing element for sensing a mechanical property of a sample defining a sample surface using a contact force exerted on said sensing element by said sample surface, said sensing element comprising:
- a deformable element defining a deformable element first end and a substantially opposed deformable element second end, said deformable element defining a contact surface and a deformable section substantially in register with said contact surface between said deformable element first and second ends, said deformable section being deformable between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration, wherein said deformable section is in said undeformed configuration when no external forces are exerted on said contact surface and said deformable section is in said deformed configuration when said contact force is exerted on said contact surface;
a deformation sensor operatively coupled to said deformable section for sensing and quantifying a deformation of said deformable section between said deformed and undeformed configurations, said deformation sensor being an optical deformation sensor; and
a force sensor operatively coupled to said deformable element for sensing said contact force exerted on said contact surface;
wherein said deformation sensor includes a deformation sensor interrupted optical waveguide defining a deformation sensor waveguide first segment, a deformation sensor waveguide second segment and a deformation sensor gap extending therebetween, said deformation sensor gap being provided substantially in register with said deformable section, said deformation sensor waveguide first and second segments being optically coupled to each other across said deformation sensor gap and secured to said deformable element with said deformation sensor waveguide first and second segments fixed with respect to said deformable section substantially adjacent said deformation sensor gap, wherein said deformation sensor waveguide first and second segments move relative to each other as said deformable section is moved between said undeformed and deformed configurations to vary optical coupling therebetween by at least one of relative translation or rotation of the deformation sensor waveguide first and second segments relative to each other;
whereby, when said contact and sample surfaces are abutted against each other and biased toward each othersaid contact force is created on said contact surface and sensed by said force sensor; and
said deformable section achieves said deformed configuration, said deformed configuration being sensed and quantified by said deformation sensor.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing element for sensing a mechanical property of a sample defining a sample surface using a contact force exerted the sample surface. The sensing element includes: a deformable element defining a contact surface and a deformable section in register with the contact surface, the deformable section being deformable between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration; a deformation sensor operatively coupled to the deformable section for sensing and quantifying a deformation of the deformable section between the deformed and undeformed configurations, the deformation sensor being an optical deformation sensor; and a force sensor operatively coupled to the deformable element for sensing the contact force exerted on the contact surface.
26 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A sensing element for sensing a mechanical property of a sample defining a sample surface using a contact force exerted on said sensing element by said sample surface, said sensing element comprising:
-
a deformable element defining a deformable element first end and a substantially opposed deformable element second end, said deformable element defining a contact surface and a deformable section substantially in register with said contact surface between said deformable element first and second ends, said deformable section being deformable between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration, wherein said deformable section is in said undeformed configuration when no external forces are exerted on said contact surface and said deformable section is in said deformed configuration when said contact force is exerted on said contact surface; a deformation sensor operatively coupled to said deformable section for sensing and quantifying a deformation of said deformable section between said deformed and undeformed configurations, said deformation sensor being an optical deformation sensor; and a force sensor operatively coupled to said deformable element for sensing said contact force exerted on said contact surface; wherein said deformation sensor includes a deformation sensor interrupted optical waveguide defining a deformation sensor waveguide first segment, a deformation sensor waveguide second segment and a deformation sensor gap extending therebetween, said deformation sensor gap being provided substantially in register with said deformable section, said deformation sensor waveguide first and second segments being optically coupled to each other across said deformation sensor gap and secured to said deformable element with said deformation sensor waveguide first and second segments fixed with respect to said deformable section substantially adjacent said deformation sensor gap, wherein said deformation sensor waveguide first and second segments move relative to each other as said deformable section is moved between said undeformed and deformed configurations to vary optical coupling therebetween by at least one of relative translation or rotation of the deformation sensor waveguide first and second segments relative to each other; whereby, when said contact and sample surfaces are abutted against each other and biased toward each other said contact force is created on said contact surface and sensed by said force sensor; and said deformable section achieves said deformed configuration, said deformed configuration being sensed and quantified by said deformation sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification