Apparatus and method for sensing pressure

A pressure sensitive device, comprising:

• a plurality of transmit electrodes, each adapted to be operatively connected to a signal generator;
• a plurality of receive electrodes, each adapted to be operatively connected to a signal receiver and signal processor;
• a deformable element located proximate to at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes or at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes, wherein the deformable element is a variably resistive conductive material;
• and
• wherein the plurality of transmit electrodes, the plurality of receive electrodes and the deformable element are positioned such that deformation of the deformable element causes a change in resistance of the varibly resistive conductive material thereby changing capacitive coupling between at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes and at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes, wherein a measurement of the change in capacitive coupling between the at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes and the at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes is processed with a Fourier transform and used to form a heat map that provides information regarding a pressure event.

A pressure sensor, comprising:

• a transmit electrode adapted to be operatively connected to a signal generator;
• a receive electrode adapted to be operatively connected to a signal receiver and signal processor;
• a deformable element located proximate to at least one of the transmit electrode or the receive electrode, wherein the deformable element is a variably resistive conductive material;
• and
• wherein the transmit electrode, the receive electrode and the deformable element are positioned such that deformation of the deformable element causes a change in resistance of the varibly resistive conductive material thereby changing capacaitive coupling between the transmit electrode and the receive electrode, wherein a measurement of the change in capacitive coupling between the transmit electrode and receive electrode is processed with a Fourier transform and used to form a heat map that provides information regarding a pressure event.