Back to results
US 11,551,881 B2Granted
Flexible switches affected by lateral or vertical actuation
AssigneeAuckland Uniservices Limited
InventorsIain Alexander Anderson, Markus Henke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible switch has a deformable body and a plurality of electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being provided on the deformable body. The switch has a first state in which the electrodes are spaced apart and a second state in which the electrodes are in electrical contact, and the switch is configured to allow movement between the states when a force is applied to or removed from the deformable body.
Claims14
A switch comprising:
- a reversibly deformable body;
- and
- a plurality of elements supporting a plurality of electrodes;
- each element comprising a conductive portion, the plurality of elements extending from the reversibly deformable body, the elements having a greater cross section distal from the reversibly deformable body or configured to increase in cross section distal from the reversibly deformable body;
- wherein:
- the reversibly deformable body is electrically connected to a plurality of the plurality of elements, and the reversibly deformable body comprises a plurality of conductive pathways configured to conduct electric signals to or from the electrodes;
- and
- when a force is applied to the reversibly deformable body the plurality of elements are configured to move between a first state wherein the conductive portions of the plurality of elements are in physical and electrical contact and a second state wherein the conductive portions of the plurality of elements are spaced apart.
5 more elements
A switch comprising:
- a reversibly deformable body;
- a plurality of electrodes being provided on and extending from the reversibly deformable body;
- the switch comprising a first state in which the plurality of electrodes are spaced apart and a second state in which the plurality of electrodes are in physical and electrical contact;
- a plurality of electrode support elements extend from the reversibly deformable body to support the plurality of electrodes;
- wherein:
- the reversibly deformable body is electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes and comprises a plurality of conductive pathways configured to conduct electric signals to or from the electrodes;
- and
- the switch is configured to allow movement between states when a force is applied to or removed from the reversibly deformable body, or an existing pre-straining force is released.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.