Pressure sensitive displacement sensor

• US 7,712,378 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seung Hyuk Park
• Original Assignee: Seung Hyuk Park
• Inventors: Park, Seung Hyuk
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US11/815,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 738/18
• US Class Current: 73/818
• 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

Abstract

A pressure-sensitive displacement sensor comprises: (A) a contact portion (11) which includes: a semi-conductive matrix layer (14) containing conductive materials with a predetermined density, wherein the semi-conductive matrix layer is formed with a soft material having elasticity and has a resistance (Rx) under a normal condition without subjecting to a contact pressure, and when the semi-conductive layer is pressed, a density of the conductive materials in the semi-conductive matrix layer is increased due to compression of the soft semi-conductive layer, which results in reduction of the resistance (Rx); a first conductive layer (12) disposed on a first surface of the semi-conductive matrix layer; and a second conductive layer (13) disposed on a second surface of the semi-conductive matrix layer; (B) a first resistor (19) having one side connected to the first conductive layer and the other side connected to a power source; (C) a second resistor (21) having one side connected to the second conductive layer and the other side connected to ground; (D) a first voltage comparator (16) having a plus terminal and a minus terminal, the minus terminal connected to the first conductive layer; (E) a second voltage comparator (17) having a plus terminal and a minus terminal, the plus terminal connected to the second conductive layer; (F) a third resistor (22) having one side connected to the power source and the other side connected to the plus terminal of the first voltage comparator; (G) a fourth resistor (23) having one side connected to the plus terminal of the first voltage comparator and the other side connected to the minus terminal of the second voltage comparator; (H) a fifth resistor (24) having one side connected to ground and the other side connected to the minus terminal of the second voltage comparator; and (I) an OR-gate (18) connected to the outputs of the first and second voltage comparators and operable to output signals in response to the outputs of the first and second voltage comparators.

Claims

1. A pressure-sensitive displacement sensor comprising:

a contact portion, which includes;

a semi-conductive matrix layer containing conductive materials with a predetermined density, wherein the semi-conductive matrix layer is formed with a soft material having elasticity and has a resistance (Rx) under a normal condition without subjecting to a contact pressure, and when the semi-conductive layer is pressed, a density of the conductive materials in the semi-conductive matrix layer is increased due to compression of the soft semi-conductive layer, which results in reduction of the resistance (Rx);

a first conductive layer containing conductive materials and disposed on a first surface of the semi-conductive matrix layer; and

a second conductive layer containing conductive materials and disposed on a second surface of the semi-conductive matrix layer opposing to the first surface;

a first resistor having one side connected to the first conductive layer and the other side connected to a power source;

a second resistor having one side connected to the second conductive layer and the other side connected to ground;

a first voltage comparator having a plus terminal and a minus terminal, the minus terminal connected to the first conductive layer;

a second voltage comparator having a plus terminal and a minus terminal, the plus terminal connected to the second conductive layer;

a third resistor having one side connected to the power source and the other side connected to the plus terminal of the first voltage comparator;

a fourth resistor having one side connected to the plus terminal of the first voltage comparator and the other side connected to the minus terminal of the second voltage comparator;

a fifth resistor having one side connected to ground and the other side connected to the minus terminal of the second voltage comparator; and

an OR-gate connected to the outputs of the first and second voltage comparators and operable to output signals in response to the outputs of the first and second voltage comparators to detect the compression of the soft semi-conductive layer of the contact portion.

2. The displacement sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a disconnection check resistor having one side connected to the minus terminal of the first voltage comparator and the other side connected to the plus terminal of the second voltage comparator.

3. The displacement sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third voltage comparator having a plus terminal and a minus terminal, the plus terminal connected to the first resistor;

a fourth voltage comparator having a plus terminal and a minus terminal, the minus terminal connected to the second resistor;

a sixth resistor having one side connected to the power source and the other side connected to the minus terminal of the third voltage comparator;

a seventh resistor having one side connected to the minus terminal of the third voltage comparator and the other side connected to the plus terminal of the fourth voltage comparator;

an eighth resistor having one side connected to ground and the other side connected to the plus terminal of the fourth voltage comparator; and

a second OR-gate connected to the outputs of the third and fourth voltage comparators.