# US 11,109,631 B2 · Device and system for detecting a force > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,109,631 B2 - Document ID: US11109631B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/301,847 - Filed: 2017-03-10 - Published: 2019-05-16 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-20 - Assignees: HP1 Technologies Limited - Applicants: HP1 Technologies Limited - Inventors: Timothy Nicholas Moor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11109631B2 ## CPC - A42B 3/046: {Means for detecting hazards or accidents} - A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements - G01L 1/205: {using distributed sensing elements} - G01L 5/0052: {measuring forces due to impact (G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00)} - A43B 17/00: Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined - A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00) - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) ## Abstract A device for detecting a force or pressure applied to an object is disclosed. The device (200) comprises a first flexible substrate layer (101) having a first plurality of pressure sensors (103) thereon; and a first plurality of electrically conductive tracks (102); wherein the first plurality of electrically conductive tracks are arranged to provide an electrical connection to the plurality of pressure sensors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for detecting a force or pressure applied to an object, the device comprising: a first flexible substrate layer having a first plurality of pressure sensors thereon; and a first plurality of electrically conductive tracks; wherein the first plurality of electrically conductive tracks is arranged to provide an electrical connection to the first plurality of pressure sensors; and wherein the first plurality of electrically conductive tracks comprises a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, each first electrode and each second electrode being in electrical contact with a single pressure sensor of the first plurality of pressure sensors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising: a second flexible substrate layer having a second plurality of pressure sensors thereon; and a second plurality of electrically conductive tracks, the second plurality of electrically conductive tracks being arranged to provide an electrical connection to the second plurality of pressure sensors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the second plurality of pressure sensors are in physical and electrical contact with the first plurality of pressure sensors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the second plurality of electrically conductive tracks forms a second tracks layer, the second plurality of pressure sensors comprise pressure sensitive ink, and the pressure sensitive ink comprises printed or screen coated pressure sensitive ink spots, the ink spots being arranged to change electrical resistance in response to pressure changes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the second tracks layer is located between the second flexible substrate layer and the second plurality of pressure sensors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the device is formed as a single layer comprising the following six layers: the first flexible substrate layer, the first plurality of pressure sensors as a first sensor layer, the first plurality of electrically conductive tracks as a first tracks layer, the second flexible substrate layer, the second plurality of pressure sensors as a second sensor layer, and the second plurality of electrically conductive tracks as a second tracks layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, further comprising one or more dielectric layers to provide electrical insulation between the first plurality of electrically conductive tracks and the second plurality of electrically conductive tracks. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the object is a helmet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is arranged to form an inner lining of a helmet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the object is a body part of a wearer of the device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the body part is a head. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the body part is a foot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is arranged to form part of an insole for footwear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, integrated into footwear or an insole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, integrated into a helmet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, integrated into clothing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A system comprising two of the devices according to claim 1, one device being a first device and the other device being a second device, wherein the system further comprises a gap layer arranged between the first and second devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the system further comprises a processor, the processor being configured to determine an angle or direction of a detected force or pressure based on a comparison of data received from the first device and data received from the second device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a magnitude of a force or pressure transferred through the gap layer, based on a comparison of the data received from the first device and the second device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a change in direction of force through the gap layer, based on a comparison of the data received from the first device and the second device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a magnitude and location of a force or pressure impact based on data received from the first device, and determine a magnitude and location of a force or pressure exiting the gap layer based on the data received from the second device. ### Claim 22 A device for detecting a force or pressure applied to an object, the device comprising: a first flexible substrate layer having a first plurality of pressure sensors thereon; and a first plurality of electrically conductive tracks; wherein the first plurality of electrically conductive tracks is arranged to provide an electrical connection to the first plurality of pressure sensors; and wherein the first plurality of pressure sensors comprises pressure sensitive ink. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the pressure sensitive ink comprises printed or screen coated pressure sensitive ink spots, the ink spots being arranged to change electrical resistance in response to pressure changes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, further comprising: a second flexible substrate layer having a second plurality of pressure sensors thereon; and a second plurality of electrically conductive tracks, the second plurality of electrically conductive tracks being arranged to provide an electrical connection to the second plurality of pressure sensors. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24, wherein the second plurality of pressure sensors are in physical and electrical contact with the first plurality of pressure sensors. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24, wherein the second plurality of electrically conductive tracks forms a second tracks layer, the second plurality of pressure sensors comprise pressure sensitive ink, and the pressure sensitive ink comprises printed or screen coated pressure sensitive ink spots, the ink spots being arranged to change electrical resistance in response to pressure changes. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the second tracks layer is located between the second flexible substrate layer and the second plurality of pressure sensors. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, wherein the device is formed as a single layer comprising the following six layers: the first flexible substrate layer, the first plurality of pressure sensors as a first sensor layer, the first plurality of electrically conductive tracks as a first tracks layer, the second flexible substrate layer, the second plurality of pressure sensors as a second sensor layer, and the second plurality of electrically conductive tracks as a second tracks layer. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, further comprising one or more dielectric layers to provide electrical insulation between the first plurality of electrically conductive tracks and the second plurality of electrically conductive tracks. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the object is a helmet. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the device is arranged to form an inner lining of a helmet. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the object is a body part of a wearer of the device. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The device of claim 32, wherein the body part is a head. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The device of claim 32, wherein the body part is a foot. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the device is arranged to form part of an insole for footwear. ### Claim 36 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, integrated into footwear or an insole. ### Claim 37 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, integrated into a helmet. ### Claim 38 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, integrated into clothing. ### Claim 39 (depends on 22) A system comprising two of the devices according to claim 22, one device being a first device and the other device being a second device, wherein the system further comprises a gap layer arranged between the first and second devices. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The system of claim 39, wherein the system further comprises a processor, the processor being configured to determine an angle or direction of a detected force or pressure based on a comparison of data received from the first device and data received from the second device. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a magnitude of a force or pressure transferred through the gap layer, based on a comparison of the data received from the first device and the second device. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a change in direction of force through the gap layer, based on a comparison of the data received from the first device and the second device. ### Claim 43 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a magnitude and location of a force or pressure impact based on data received from the first device, and determine a magnitude and location of a force or pressure exiting the gap layer based on the data received from the second device.