Detector contructed from fabric
First Claim
1. A position sensor for detecting the position of a mechanical interaction, said sensor including:
- a first fabric layer having electrically conductive fibres machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer;
a second fabric layer having electrically conductive fibres machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer;
a central layer disposed between said first outer layer and said second layer, said central layer including conducting means;
a first separate insulating layer disposed between said first conductive outer layer and said central layer; and
a second separate insulating layer disposed between said second conductive outer layer and said central layer;
wherein said conducting means provides a conductive path between said first conducting outer layer and said second conducting outer layer at the position of a mechanical interaction, and said position sensor has electrical connections to the first and second conductive outer layers only.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A position sensor is arranged to detect the position of a mechanical interaction, such as the application of manual pressure. A first fabric layer has electrically conductive fibers machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer. A second fabric layer has electrically conductive fibers machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer. A central layer is disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer. The central layer includes conductive elements. A first insulating separating element is disposed between the first conductive outer layer and the conducting elements. A second insulating separating element is disposed between the second conductive outer layer and the conducting elements. The conducting elements provide a conductive path between the first conducting outer layer and the second conducting outer layer at the position of a mechanical interaction.
165 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A position sensor for detecting the position of a mechanical interaction, said sensor including:
-
a first fabric layer having electrically conductive fibres machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer;
a second fabric layer having electrically conductive fibres machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer;
a central layer disposed between said first outer layer and said second layer, said central layer including conducting means;
a first separate insulating layer disposed between said first conductive outer layer and said central layer; and
a second separate insulating layer disposed between said second conductive outer layer and said central layer;
wherein said conducting means provides a conductive path between said first conducting outer layer and said second conducting outer layer at the position of a mechanical interaction, and said position sensor has electrical connections to the first and second conductive outer layers only. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of detecting the position of a mechanical interaction with a position sensor, wherein said position sensor has:
-
a first fabric layer with electrically conductive fibres machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer;
a second fabric layer with electrically conductive fibres machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer;
a central layer disposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer and including conducting means;
a first separate insulating layer disposed between the first conductive outer layer and the central layer; and
a second separate insulating layer disposed between said second conductive outer layer and said central layer;
wherein said method comprises;
providing electrical connections to the first and second outer layers only;
applying an electrical potential to the first outer conducting layer;
applying a force to said position sensor, such that the conducting means provides a conductive path between said first conducting outer layer and said second conducting layer at the position of the force; and
measuring an electrical potential appearing on the second outer conducting layer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A position sensor for detecting the position of an applied mechanical interaction, said mechanical interaction having an area and a force, said sensor comprising:
-
a first fabric layer having conductive fibres machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer;
a second fabric layer having conductive fibres machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer, a compressible inner layer disposed between said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer comprising a plurality of conductive fibres such that a conductive path is provided through said fibres when said compressible inner layer is placed in compression;
a first separate insulating layer disposed between the first conductive outer layer and the compressible inner layer; and
a second separate insulating layer disposed between said second conductive outer layer and said compressible inner layer;
wherein said position sensor has electrical connections to the first and second conductive outer layers only. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
said first outer conductive layer is most conductive in a direction perpendicular to said voltage gradient. -
31. A position sensor according to claim 21, wherein insulating functionality is provided by said central layer for which the yarn of said central layer has a conducting fibre and insulating fibres, and said conducting fibre is recessed below the profile of the insulating fibres.
-
Specification