Pressure sensor

• US 6,272,936 B1
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tekscan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tekscan, Inc.
• Inventors: Brenneman, John, Oreper, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US09/027,129
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 738/626.21, 738/626.26, 738/626.28, 738/620-1-8
• US Class Current: 73/862.621
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/225 of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/228 of masticatory organs, e.g. detecting dental force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2060/464 Means for indicating or measuring the pressure on the grip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/20 by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/225 Measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0085 Force sensors adapted for insertion between cooperating machine elements, e.g. for measuring the nip force between rollers

Abstract

A novel pressure sensor mechanism is provided which includes both a novel pressure sensor assembly and a novel handle for use therewith. The pressure sensor assembly has at least one pressure sensor at its distal end, the pressure sensor having electrodes which are connected through spaced leads to output terminals at a proximal end of the assembly. Even though sensor electrodes and leads may be on facing substrate sections of the assembly, the assembly is designed so as to permit all output terminals to be electrically accessed from the same side of the sensor assembly. An additional output terminal may be provided for preferred embodiments, which terminal is accessible from the same side of the sensor assembly as the other two output terminals, is substantially smaller than the other two output terminals and is connected to one of the other two output terminals by a sensor-ok lead or trace. The handle has a circuit board with a terminal corresponding to each output terminal on the sensor assembly, and a slot for receiving the proximal end of the sensor assembly and for aligning such assembly with each of its output terminals adjacent the corresponding terminal on the circuit board. The handle also includes a member for applying pressure to the side of the sensor assembly opposite the output terminals and a mechanism for permitting such pressure to be released so as to facilitate insertion and removal of the sensor assembly from the handle. The handle also includes controls which operate in conjunction with the sensor-ok trace on a sensor assembly to detect when good electrical contact is being made between the terminals of the sensor assembly and the corresponding terminals of the handle circuit board, and for receiving and suitably outputting pressure measurements from the sensor.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor assembly including:

first and second substrate sections;

a first and a second pressure sensor electrode formed at a distal end of said first and second substrate sections respectively;

a layer of a pressure sensitive material over at least one of said electrodes;

a first, a second, and a third terminal at a proximal end of said first substrate section and a fourth terminal at a proximal end of said second substrate section;

first and second leads on said first substrate section, said first lead electrically connecting said first and second terminals, and said second lead electrically connecting said first electrode and said third terminal;

a third lead on said second substrate section which electrically connects said second electrode and said fourth terminal; and

a window formed at the proximal end of said second substrate section;

said first and second substrate sections being secured together adjacent each other, said electrodes, terminals, leads and window being arranged on their respective substrate sections such that when the substrate sections are secured together, said first and second electrodes are adjacent, with said pressure sensitive material therebetween to form a pressure sensor, said second and third leads are on opposite sides of the assembly so as not to contact each other, said first and fourth terminals are adjacent each other, and said window overlies said second and third terminals to permit electrical contact to be made with these terminals through said second substrate.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 where said first and second substrate sections are sections of a single substrate, said substrate being folded at a point substantially mid-way between the substrate sections to bring the sections adjacent for securing together.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a fifth terminal on said first substrate section, and a fourth lead electrically connecting said third and fifth terminals, said window also overlying said fifth terminal to permit electrical contact to be made thereto through said second substrate section.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said fifth terminal is substantially smaller than said second and third terminals.

5. A pressure sensor assembly including:

first and second substrate sections secured together adjacent each other to form said assembly;

a pressure sensor at a distal end of said assembly, said sensor including an electrode on each said substrate section positioned adjacent each other with a layer of pressure sensitive material therebetween;

a lead extending from each said electrode along the corresponding substrate section to a proximal end of the assembly, the leads being adjacent to and electrically isolated from each other;

first and second output terminals at the proximal end of said first substrate section, which output terminals are exposed to permit electrical contact to be made therewith, one of said output terminals being at the proximal end of the lead on the first substrate section; and

a mechanism operative when the substrate sections are secured together for electrically connecting the proximal end of the lead on the second substrate section to the second output terminal.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 including a sensor ok trace on said first substrate section which is connected at one end to one of the output terminals on said first substrate section and at its other end to a third terminal on said first substrate section.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for electrically connecting includes a fourth terminal on said first substrate section which is electrically connected to said second terminal and electrically connectable to the proximal end of the lead for the second substrate section, and a window provided in the proximal end of the second substrate section which window overlies the first, second and third terminals on said first substrate section.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein there are a plurality of said pressure sensors at the distal end of said assembly, said leads being connected to each said pressure sensor.

9. A pressure sensor assembly including:

first and second substrate sections secured together adjacent each other;

a sensor, including a first and a second electrode having pressure sensitive material therebetween, at a distal end of said substrates; and

first, second and third terminals at a proximal end of said substrate sections, said first and second terminals being electrically connected to said first and second electrodes respectively by leads which are electrically isolated from each other, and said second and third terminals being electrically connected by a lead which functions as a sensor-ok trace.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said third terminal is substantially smaller than said first and second terminals.