Patent · US Expired

Force sensor

US7404338B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by

0References

7Claims

0Family size

Assignee

ETH ZURICH · CH

Inventors

Christofer Hierold · Munich, DE
Alain Jungen · Bellinzona, CH
Christoph Stampfer · Bolzano - Bozen, IT

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 22, 2004
Grant date	Jul 29, 2008
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 22, 2024

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY10S977/956
WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The resolution and the signal-to-noise ration of known force sensors as e.g. capacitive force sensors decrease when scaling them down. To solve this problem there is a solution presented by the usage of a nanostructure as e.g. a carbon nanotube, which is mechanically deformed by a force to be measured. The proposed force sensors comprises a support with two arms carrying the carbon nanotube. The main advantage of this nanoscale force sensor is a very high sensitivity as the conductance of carbon nanotubes changes several orders of magnitude when a mechanical deformation arises.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.