Piezoresistive sensors and applications

• US 9,965,076 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BeBop Sensors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BeBop Sensors, Inc.
• Inventors: McMillen, Keith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MERCEDES, DISMERY E
• Application Number:
  US14/299,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20150331522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/18 using properties of piezo-resistive materials, i.e. materials of which the ohmic resistance varies according to changes in magnitude or direction of force applied to the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/228 using tactile array force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0052 of piezoresistive elements circuits therefor G01L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/00 Arrangements for measuring resistance, reactance, impedance, or electric characteristics derived therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04146 using pressure sensitive conductive elements delivering a boolean signal and located between crossing sensing lines, e.g. located between X and Y sensing line layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

Sensors incorporating piezoresistive materials are described. One class of sensors includes piezoresistive material that is held or otherwise supported adjacent conductive traces on a substrate. Another class of sensors includes conductive traces formed directly on the piezoresistive material.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising:

piezoresistive fabric;

a plurality of sensor traces printed, screened, or deposited directly on one or more surfaces of the piezoresistive fabric, the plurality of sensor traces and the piezoresistive fabric forming a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors including two or more of the sensor traces, the sensor traces of each sensor being on a same surface of the piezoresistive fabric;

first insulating material printed, screened, or deposited directly on one or more of the surfaces of the piezoresistive fabric; and

a plurality of routing traces printed, screened, or deposited on the first insulating material and connected to corresponding ones of the sensor traces;

wherein resistance between the sensor traces varies with force applied to the piezoresistive fabric.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the piezoresistive fabric is woven or non-woven.

3. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor traces comprise conductive ink printed on the piezoresistive fabric.

4. The sensor system of claim 3, wherein the conductive ink comprises a silicone ink having conductive particles suspended therein.

5. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor traces comprise conductive paint deposited on the piezoresistive fabric.

6. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor traces are only on one side of the piezoresistive fabric.

7. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor traces are on both sides of the piezoresistive fabric.

8. The sensor system of claim 7, wherein a first one of the sensor traces on one side of the piezoresistive fabric is electrically connected to a first one of the routing traces on an opposing side of the piezoresistive fabric using a via through which conductive material is flowed, using a metal via, or using a metal rivet.

9. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising second insulating material formed over a first one of the routing traces, wherein at least a portion of a second one of the routing traces is formed over the second insulating material and the first routing trace.

10. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the sensor traces are electrically connected via corresponding ones of the routing traces to corresponding conductors in a connector at an edge of the piezoresistive fabric.

11. The sensor system of claim 10, wherein the connector comprises an elastomeric connector that alternates conductive and non-conductive rubber, a flexible circuit board, conductive threads configured for connection to an external assembly, or a bundle of conductors connected to the piezoresistive fabric with a conductive adhesive and/or rivets, the conductive adhesive and/or rivets making electrical connections to the routing traces.

12. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein a first sensor trace of a first sensor is characterized by a first conductivity and a second sensor trace of the first sensor is characterized by a second conductivity lower than the first conductivity, the sensor system further comprising circuitry configured to drive one end of the second sensor trace with a first signal characterized by a first duty cycle, and to drive an opposing end of the second sensor trace with a second signal characterized by a second duty cycle, the circuitry being further configured to receive a mixed signal from the first sensor trace, the mixed signal including contributions from the first and second signals via the piezoresistive fabric, the circuitry being further configured to detect a location of a touch event along a first axis of the second sensor trace with reference to the contributions of the first and second signals to the mixed signal.

13. The sensor system of claim 12, wherein the first sensor includes a third sensor trace characterized by the second conductivity, wherein the circuitry is further configured to drive one end of the third sensor trace with a third signal characterized by a third duty cycle, and to drive an opposing end of the third sensor trace with a fourth signal characterized by a fourth duty cycle, wherein the mixed signal includes contributions from the third and fourth signals via the piezoresistive fabric, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to detect the location of the touch event along a second axis of the second and third sensor traces with reference to the contributions of the third and fourth signals to the mixed signal.

14. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor traces via the routing traces, and to detect a touch event with reference to the one or more signals.

15. The sensor system of claim 14, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine either or both of a location of the touch event, and a magnitude of force of the touch event.

16. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor traces of a first sensor are arranged in quadrants, the sensor system further comprising circuitry configured to detect a touch event with reference to signals received from the sensor traces of the first sensor via the routing traces, the circuitry being further configured to determine a location of the touch event, a magnitude of force of the touch event, a speed of motion of the touch event, and a direction of motion of the touch event.

17. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured to receive one or more signals from each of the sensors via the routing traces and to generate control information in response thereto, the control information being for controlling operation of one or more processes or devices in communication with the circuitry.

18. An article of clothing including the sensor system of claim 17, wherein the piezoresistive fabric is incorporated into the article of clothing.

19. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the piezoresistive fabric is one or more pieces of piezoresistive fabric integrated with a cap for wearing on a human head, each of the pieces of piezoresistive fabric having an array of the sensor traces thereon, the sensor system further comprising circuitry configured to detect a touch event with reference to signals received from the sensor traces via the routing traces, the circuitry being further configured to determine a location of the touch event and a magnitude of force of the touch event.

20. The sensor system of claim 19, the array of sensor traces on each of the pieces of piezoresistive fabric includes first sensor traces characterized by a first conductivity alternating with second sensor traces characterized by a second conductivity lower than the first conductivity, the circuitry being configured to drive one end of each of the second sensor traces with a first signal characterized by a first duty cycle, and to drive an opposing end of each of the second sensor traces with a second signal characterized by a second duty cycle, the circuitry being further configured to receive a mixed signal from each of the first sensor traces, the mixed signal including contributions from the first and second signals on adjacent second sensor traces via the piezoresistive fabric, the circuitry being further configured to detect a location of a touch event along a first axis of the second sensor traces with reference to the contributions of the first and second signals to the mixed signal.

21. The sensor system of claim 20, wherein the sensor traces include an array of parallel traces on each of the pieces of piezoresistive fabric oriented substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the second sensor traces, the circuitry being further configured to disambiguate between multiple touch events on a same piece of piezoresistive fabric with reference to signals received from the array of parallel traces.

22. A sensor system, comprising:

piezoresistive fabric;

a plurality of sensor traces printed, screened, or deposited directly on one or more surfaces of the piezoresistive fabric, the plurality of sensor traces and the piezoresistive fabric forming a plurality of sensors, the sensor traces comprising silicone ink having conductive particles suspended therein, each of the sensors including two or more of the sensor traces, the sensor traces of each sensor being on the same side of the piezoresistive fabric;

first insulating material printed, screened, or deposited directly on one or more of the surfaces of the piezoresistive fabric; and

a plurality of routing traces printed, screened, or deposited on the first insulating material and connected to corresponding ones of the sensor traces; and

circuitry configured to receive one or more signals from the sensor traces via the routing traces, to detect a touch event with reference to the one or more signals, and to determine either or both of a location of the touch event, and a magnitude of force of the touch event.

23. The sensor system of claim 22, wherein the sensor traces are only on one side of the piezoresistive fabric.

24. The sensor system of claim 22, wherein the sensor traces are on both sides of the piezoresistive fabric.

25. The sensor system of claim 24, wherein a first one of the sensor traces on one side of the piezoresistive fabric is electrically connected to a first one of the routing traces on an opposing side of the piezoresistive fabric using a via through which conductive material is flowed, using a metal via, or using a metal rivet.

26. The sensor system of claim 22, further comprising second insulating material formed over a first one of the routing traces, wherein at least a portion of a second one of the routing traces is formed over the second insulating material and the first routing trace.

27. The sensor system of claim 22, wherein at least some of the sensor traces are electrically connected via corresponding ones of the routing traces to corresponding conductors in a connector at an edge of the piezoresistive fabric.

28. The sensor system of claim 27, wherein the connector comprises an elastomeric connector that alternates conductive and non-conductive rubber, a flexible circuit board, conductive threads configured for connection to an external assembly, or a bundle of conductors connected to the piezoresistive fabric with a conductive adhesive and/or rivets, the conductive adhesive and/or rivets making electrical connections to the routing traces.

29. The sensor system of claim 22, wherein a first sensor trace is characterized by a first conductivity and a second conductive sensor trace is characterized by a second conductivity lower than the first conductivity, the sensor system further comprising circuitry configured to drive one end of the second sensor trace with a first signal characterized by a first duty cycle, and to drive an opposing end of the second sensor trace with a second signal characterized by a second duty cycle, the circuitry being further configured to receive a mixed signal from the first sensor trace, the mixed signal including contributions from the first and second signals via the piezoresistive fabric, the circuitry being further configured to detect a location of a touch event along a first axis of the second sensor trace with reference to the contributions of the first and second signals to the mixed signal.

30. The sensor system of claim 29, wherein the sensor traces include a third sensor trace characterized by the second conductivity, wherein the circuitry is further configured to drive one end of the third sensor trace with a third signal characterized by a third duty cycle, and to drive an opposing end of the third sensor trace with a fourth signal characterized by a fourth duty cycle, wherein the mixed signal includes contributions from the third and fourth signals via the piezoresistive fabric, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to detect the location of the touch event along a second axis of the second and third sensor traces with reference to the contributions of the third and fourth signals to the mixed signal.

31. A controller, comprising:

piezoresistive fabric;

a plurality of sensor trace groups printed, screened, or deposited directly on one or more surfaces of the piezoresistive fabric, the plurality of sensor trace groups and the piezoresistive fabric forming a plurality of sensors, each of the sensor trace groups corresponding to a sensor of the plurality of sensors and including two or more sensor traces on a same side of the piezoresistive fabric, wherein resistance between the sensor traces in each of the sensor trace groups varies with force applied to the piezoresistive fabric in a vicinity of the sensor trace group;

first insulating material printed, screened, or deposited directly on one or more of the surfaces of the piezoresistive fabric; and

a plurality of routing traces printed, screened, or deposited on the first insulating material and connected to corresponding ones of the sensor trace groups; and

circuitry configured to receive one or more signals from each of the trace groups via corresponding ones of the routing traces and generate control information in response thereto, the control information being for controlling operation of one or more processes or devices in communication with the circuitry.

32. An article of clothing including the controller of claim 31.

33. The controller of claim 31, wherein the one or more processes or devices includes a music player, and wherein the sensor trace groups include a volume control, a navigation control, and playback controls for the music player.

34. The controller of claim 33, wherein the one or more processes or devices includes a mobile phone, and wherein the sensor trace groups include a phone call answering and termination control for the mobile phone.

35. The controller of claim 31, wherein the sensor trace groups include an enable/disable control for the controller.