Distribution type tactile sensor

• US 5,010,774 A
• Filed: 06/03/1989
• Issued: 04/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Kanamori, Katsuhiko, Masuda, Ryosuke, Kikuo, Kanaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruehl, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US07/381,710
• Time in Patent Office: 696 Days
• Field of Search: 73/862.04, 73/865.7, 73/172, 128/777, 338/47, 338/99, 338/114, 433/68, 341/34, 901/33, 901/44, 901/46
• US Class Current: 73/862.046
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/084 Tactile sensors in general G01L5/16, G01L5/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence

Abstract

A distribution type tactile sensor, which comprises a plurality of electrodes provided in pairs at respective pressure sensing points on a pressure sensitive conductive rubber sheet capable of changing the electrical resistance responsive to compressive forces, and a rectifier element provided to respective electrodes for rectifying the current flowing across each pair of electrodes through the rubber sheet, the electrodes being divided into groups each comprising electrodes arranged in a line for respective polarities of the electrodes, electrodes in respective electrode groups being parallel connected to one another through electrode leads, and directions of the division of electrode groups divided for respective polarities being crossed with one another at respective pressure sensing points.

Claims

1. A distribution type tactile sensor comprising:

a plurality of electrodes provided in pairs at respective pressure sensing points on a pressure sensitive conductive rubber sheet capable of changing the electrical resistance responsive to compressive forces; and

rectifier means provided to respective electrodes for rectifying the current flowing across each pair of electrodes through the rubber sheet, the electrodes being divided into groups each comprising electrodes arranged in a line corresponding to respective polarities of the electrodes, wherein electrodes in respective electrode groups are parallel connected to one another through electrode leads, and directions of a division of electrode groups divided into respective polarities are crossed with one another at respective pressure sensing points;

wherein belts of the pressure sensitive conductive rubber sheet are disposed in a mutually parallel and spaced arrangement on pairs of electrodes provided on a sensor board in a chessboard arrangement, a cover having a relatively low friction resistance and comprising a flexible material is applied to the surfaces of the belts of the rubber sheet, and a flexible surface-forming member is further applied on the cover thereby providing a laminate structure; and

wherein the peripheral edge of the laminate structure is fixed and electrodes having respective polarities are divided into respective groups in a mutually perpendicular arrangement.

2. The tactile sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pair of electrodes is provided in a close arrangement to each other with a prescribed space therebetween, on one side surface of the pressure sensitive conductive rubber sheet.

3. The tactile sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pair of electrodes is provided in a mutually facing arrangement, one on a front side surface and the other on a backside surface of the pressure sensitive conductive rubber sheet.

4. The tactile sensor as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a feed switch comprising switching elements is provided to respective electrode leads and to respective electrode groups of one polarity, while an output switch comprising switching elements is provided to respective electrode leads and to respective electrode groups of another polarity.

5. The tactile sensor as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a plurality of electrodes of one polarity which are provided in pairs through the pressure sensitive conductive rubber sheet and distributed in pairs, on the one hand, and a plurality of electrodes of another polarity which are provided in pairs through the rubber sheet and distributed in pairs, on the other hand, are respectively divided into groups in a mutually crossing arrangement, electrodes of a same group being connected to one another by an electrode lead, and wherein an imaging unit is provided for connecting a power source successively to the groups of electrodes of one polarity, taking a signal current successively from the groups of electrodes of another polarity and imaging the signal currents, and a display means is provided for displaying the data on the compression force acting at respective pressure sensing points, in the form of an image based on the result of the imaging.

6. The tactile sensor as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a plurality of unit sensors provided with electrodes arranged in pairs through the pressure sensitive conductive rubber sheet is provided in a two-dimensional arrangement, the electrodes of respective polarities being divided into mutually crossing respective groups, electrodes of a same polarity in a same group being connected to one another through an electrode lead, each adjacent unit sensors being connected to each other with a space therebetween, the space between adjacent unit sensors being variable.

7. The tactile sensor as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 which is provided with an adapter comprising pins having a concave and convex detecting end to be contacted against an object and an opposite touch transmission end, the detecting ends being arranged at prescribed positions, the touch transmission ends being arranged so as to transmit compression forces to points on the pressure sensitive conductive rubber sheet at which pairs of electrodes are provided, said adapter further comprising a pin holder.

8. The tactile sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electronic member to be provided to respective electrodes and a wiring are provided on a backside of the sensor board, and under the electronic member and the wiring, a support member is provided, which comprises a composite material of a sandwich structure provided with a surface-forming member on each side surface.