Systems and methods for improved sensing performance of pressure-sensitive conductive sheets

A method for detecting item placement on a surface, comprising:

• placing an object onto a system, wherein the system comprises:
• a top conductive layer;
• a bottom conductive layer;
• a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet interposed between the top conductive layer and the bottom conductive layer;
• and
• a resistive grid, printed onto and fused to the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet,
• wherein:
• the resistive grid comprises:
• a plurality of lines arranged in a pattern, and
• a plurality of resistive grid patterns,
• each line, of the plurality of lines, comprises an electrically non-conductive polymer,
• placing the object onto the system applies pressure against the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet,
• the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet exhibits a decrease in electrical resistance with the application of pressure, and
• each of the plurality of resistive grid patterns comprises a unique resistive grid density configured to affect a change in the electrical resistance with the application of pressure;
• measuring, using a sensor, a change in resistance of the system;
• and
• based on the change in resistance, determining that an object has been placed onto the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet,
• wherein:
• each resistive grid pattern, of the plurality of resistive grid patterns, forms a modified area of the system;
• and
• the unique resistive grid density of each of the plurality of resistive grid patterns are configured to cause variations in resistance in each modified area.