Tactile sensors
US7823467B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2008 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49007
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electroactive polymer is used to produce a tactile sensor. The electroactive polymer (EAP) includes a sheet of an ion-exchange membrane having opposite surfaces on which are plated gold electrodes. The EAP is formed to have a dome-shape with a plurality of sensing electrodes circumferentially disposed around an outer surface of the dome. A flexible polymer underlying the EAP supports it and prevents a force applied to the tactile sensor from inverting the dome. The sensor electrodes produce separate output signals indicative of different vector components of an applied force acting on the tactile sensor, so that a direction of the force can be determined. Vias provided in the electrodes are electrically coupled to a flexible circuit that conveys the output signals externally from the sensing electrodes for use and further processing. A plurality of the tactile sensors can be formed as an array on an ion-exchange membrane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.