Vehicle surface force sensor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsZachary A. Sechrist, Ronald J. Tonucci
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Abstract
Embodiments are directed to sensors that detect objects attached to a vehicle. The sensor includes a layered capacitive structure. The sensors utilize a deformable dielectric layer sandwiched between two conductive layers. The layered capacitive structure measures capacitance changes caused by an applied force to the uppermost layer of the capacitive structure.
Claims20
A vehicle surface force sensor configured to sense when a force is applied to a vehicle's outer surface, comprising:
- a vehicle having an outer surface;
- a capacitive structure attached to said outer surface, wherein said capacitive structure is defined by a three-layer stack having a first conductive layer, a dielectric layer, and a second conductive layer;
- wherein said first conductive layer having a first side and a second side, wherein said dielectric layer having a first side and a second side, wherein said second conductive layer having a first side and a second side;
- wherein said first side of said dielectric layer is bonded to said second side of said first conductive layer, wherein said first side of said second conductive layer is bonded to said second side of said dielectric layer;
- wherein said first side of said first conductive layer is adhered to said vehicle outer surface;
- and
- the force applied to said second side of said second conductive layer, said force resulting from an object attached to said second side of said second conductive layer, said force causing capacitance changes between said first and second conductive layers.
A system configured to sense when a force is applied to a vehicle's outer surface, comprising:
- a vehicle having an outer surface;
- a plurality of capacitive structures attached to said outer surface, wherein each capacitive structure in said plurality of capacitive structures, comprising:
- a three-layer stack having a first conductive layer, a dielectric layer, and a second conductive layer;
- wherein said first conductive layer having a first side and a second side, wherein said dielectric layer having a first side and a second side, wherein said second conductive layer having a first side and a second side;
- wherein said first side of said dielectric layer is bonded to said second side of said first conductive layer, wherein said first side of said second conductive layer is bonded to said second side of said dielectric layer;
- wherein said first side of said first conductive layer is adhered to said vehicle outer surface;
- and
- the force applied to said second side of said second conductive layer, said force resulting from an object attached to said second side of said second conductive layer, said force causing capacitance changes between said first and second conductive layers.
A vehicle surface force sensor configured to sense when a force is applied to a vehicle's outer surface, comprising:
- a vehicle having an outer surface comprising sheet metal body panels and vehicle paint on said sheet metal body panels;
- a capacitive structure associated with said outer surface, wherein said capacitive structure is defined by a three-layer stack having a first conductive layer, a dielectric layer, and a second conductive layer;
- wherein said first conductive layer is said sheet metal body panels, each of said panels having a first side and a second side, wherein said dielectric layer having a first side and a second side, wherein said second conductive layer having a first side and a second side;
- wherein said first side of said dielectric layer is bonded to said second side of said first conductive layer, wherein said first side of said second conductive layer is adhered to said second side of said dielectric layer, wherein said dielectric layer is said vehicle paint applied to said second side of said sheet metal body panels;
- the force applied to said second side of said second conductive layer, said force resulting from an object attached to said second side of said second conductive laver, said force causing capacitance changes between said first and second conductive layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.