Sensors with deformable conductors and selective deformation
AssigneeLiquid Wire Inc.
InventorMark Ronay
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor may include a bladder, and a deformable conductor disposed on the bladder such that deformation of the bladder causes deformation of the deformable conductor, wherein the bladder is constrained so as to enhance the deformation of the conductor in response to the deformation of the bladder. A method may include applying a stimulus to a bladder having a deformable conductor attached thereto, detecting a change in an electrical characteristic associated with the deformable conductor in response to the stimulus, and selectively constraining the bladder to amplify the change in electrical characteristic in response to the stimulus.
Claims26
A sensor, comprising:
- an elastic bladder;
- and
- a trace comprising a stretchable conductor comprising a fluid-phase material, the stretchable conductor disposed in a geometry on the elastic bladder such that deformation of the elastic bladder causes deformation of the stretchable conductor, wherein the deformation of the stretchable conductor causes a change in an electrical characteristic of the stretchable conductor;
- and
- wherein the elastic bladder is constrained in a first dimension such that it is able to flex in a second dimension to a degree greater than in the first dimension.
A system, comprising:
- a sensor comprising:
- an elastic bladder;
- and
- a trace comprising a stretchable conductor comprising a fluid-phase material, the stretchable conductor disposed in a geometry on the elastic bladder such that deformation of the elastic bladder causes deformation of the stretchable conductor, wherein the deformation of the stretchable conductor causes a change in an electrical characteristic of the stretchable conductor, wherein the elastic bladder is constrained in a first dimension such that it is able to flex in a second dimension to a degree greater than in the first dimension, and wherein the stretchable conductor is configured to generate a signal indicative of the electrical characteristic of the stretchable conductor;
- and
- a processor configured to receive the signal, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a strain on the elastic bladder based, at least in part, on the signal.
A method of using an elastic bladder comprising a trace formed of a stretchable conductor comprising a fluid-phase material, the stretchable conductor disposed in a geometry on the elastic bladder, wherein the trace is communicably coupled to a processor, and wherein the elastic bladder is constrained in a first dimension such that it is able to flex in a second dimension to a degree greater than in the first dimension the method comprising:
- determining a first electrical characteristic of the stretchable conductor;
- applying a stimulus to the elastic bladder, wherein the stimulus deforms the elastic bladder, and wherein deformation of the elastic bladder causes an elongation of the trace that causes the stretchable conductor to have a second electrical characteristic;
- calculating, via the processor, a difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic;
- and
- determining, via the processor, a strain applied to the elastic bladder based on the calculated difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.