Abstract:
A pressure sensitive transducer array in which a plurality of transducers are connected in series and in parallel with one another. In one embodiment, a resistive layer is formed from carbon or silver ink on a polyester film. A plurality of conductive shunt elements having greater conductivity than the resistive layer is formed on a second polyester film. The films are placed adjacent to one another with the shunt elements contacting the resistive layer. Voltage is applied across the resistive layer and pressure is applied thereto. As the pressure increases, the number of current paths set up through contact points on the shunt elements increase thereby decreasing the resistance across the resistive layer and increasing current flow. In another embodiment a plurality of plate elements are contained in a plane on one side of a dielectric layer. A plurality of plate elements are contained in a plane on the other side of the dielectric layer. As the layer is pushed together responsive to force applied, total capacitance as measured across the planes of plate elements varies.
Abstract:
A sensor for sensing and quantifying the conformity of a workpiece surface contour to a predetermined design contour. The sensor consists of an array of capacitor elements on a surface having the negative image of the predetermined design contour, against which the workpiece is mated. In operation, each of the capacitor elements and the workpiece are connected to a corresponding oscillator circuit so that the frequency of each circuit is a function of the capacitance between the individual plate element and the workpiece, while the capacitance is a function of the distance between the individual plate element and the workpiece. Hence the overall output of the circuits is a function of the conformity of the workpiece surface contour to the contour or topology of the sensor surface.
Abstract:
A pressure-sensitive transducer arrangement comprises a matrix of transducer elements which are formed at the points of intersection of row conductors (35, 36) and column conductors (5 to 7). A flat substrate (2) is provided with column conductors (5 to 7), each of which is covered with a similarly-structured piezoceramic material as a dielectric medium (15 to 17). This piezoceramic material is separated from the row electrodes (35, 36) by empty spaces (24 to 26). Due to bilateral spacing of less than 100 micrometers for the row conductors and column conductors, a sensor matrix is produced with a dense packing of pressure-sensors functioning as capacitors which are formed at the cross-points of the row and column conductors. These sensors are particularly adapted for use in the gripping device of an industrial robot and make it possible to detect and determine the position of robot workpieces.
Abstract:
A force sensor includes an elastic dielectric, a first plurality of conductive elements on one side of the dielectric and a second plurality of conductive elements on the opposite side of the dielectric. First signals are applied to one plurality of conductive elements through nonconductive coupling. Second signals representative of the forces on said elastic dielectric are generated responsive to the applied first signals coupled to the other plurality of conductive elements.
Abstract:
A force sensing means comprising capacitor plates in the form of metallic cloth bonded to a compressible dielectric made from a foamed elastomeric material. An incompressible layer of insulating material may be formed over one or both of the capacitor plates and additional capacitor plate or plates may be provided bonded to the insulating layer to shield the capacitor plates bonded to the compressible dielectric. The metallic cloth strips forming the capacitor plates may be formed in the form of strips running crosswise on opposite sides of the dielectric to provide a matrix of force sensing means. The warp and weft threads of the metallic cloth are arranged so that neither is perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip.
Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring the values of physical parameters, using variable capacitor type transducers arranged in a matrix with each operable to sense the value of a corresponding physical parameter as existing at a predetermined point. A demultiplexer with input connected to a reference signal source and plural outputs each connected to a corresponding transducer electrically excites the transducers in sequence to aid said transducers in establishing respective output signals representing the value sensed. A multiplexer with plural inputs each connected to a corresponding transducer receives the output signals thereof, and the output of the multiplexer is connected to signal processing means which receives through the multiplexer in sequence the output signals of the transducers and recovers from such signals the parameter value information thereof.
Abstract:
A force distribution sensor includes an array substrate, a sensor sheet, and a protective sheet that are stacked in order on a predetermined installation surface. The array substrate includes a first surface on which the sensor sheet is disposed and that faces in a first direction, and a plurality of array electrodes provided on the first surface.
Abstract:
An electrode structure includes: a base material; a conductive fabric on a first surface of the base material; and one or more conductive wires on a second surface of the base material so as to be electrically insulated from the conductive fabric. The second surface is opposite to the first surface of the base material. The base material includes: a first area and a second area. The first area is fitted into a groove of the rim and the second area is placed in a part of a rim of a steering wheel other than the groove, when the base material is attached to the rim. The one or more conductive wires are arranged at a lower wiring density in the first area than in the second area.
Abstract:
A pressure sensing device (1000) comprises first and second electrodes (10, 20) spaced from each other by a distance. At least one of the electrodes is formed of/comprises a unitary piece of non-metallic conductive material. The distance is changeable in response to a pressure/force applied to the first and/or second electrode. The device comprises a measurement module (500) connected to the first/second electrode at a plurality of sensing points (S1 . . . ). The measurement module is configured to measure a change in capacitance between the first and second electrodes, in response to a change in the distance when a pressure/force is applied to the first and/or second electrode, at each sensing point individually and/or at all sensing points simultaneously. The measurement module is configured to determine the location, area and amount of applied pressure on the first and/or second electrode from the individual measurements, and/or the amount of the applied pressure from the simultaneous measurement.
Abstract:
A load detecting device includes: a load sensor including an element part; a first detection circuit configured to perform charging of a predetermined voltage and discharging of a charged voltage with respect to one electrode of the element part, and output a voltage of the element part in a charge period; a second detection circuit configured to, in parallel with the charging and discharging, perform discharging from the predetermined voltage and charging of the predetermined voltage with respect to another electrode of the element part, and output a voltage of the element part in a discharge period; and a control circuit configured to detect the capacitance in the element part, based on a differential voltage obtained by adding a voltage obtained by inverting a second detection voltage from the second detection circuit between the predetermined voltage and a ground, to a first detection voltage from the first detection circuit.