High sensitivity, wide range and any size printed pressure distribution monitoring ultrathin flexible mat system

A pressure distribution monitoring flexible planar mat system comprising:

• a flexible planar mat including:
• a first electrode layer;
• a first composite piezoelectric-dielectric layer;
• a second composite piezoelectric-dielectric layer facing the first composite piezoelectric-dielectric layer;
• a second electrode layer positioned beneath the second composite piezoelectric-dielectric layer;
• wherein the first and second composite piezoelectric-dielectric layers include:
• an elastomeric matrix having a first set of conductive particles embedded therein, the first set of conductive particles selected from one or more of carbon nanotubes, graphite particles, carbon fibers, carbon spheres, activated carbon, acetylene black, semiconductors, metals, or graphene in an amount of 2 to 10 wt. %;
• dielectric particles selected from one or more of silica, zirconium oxide, alumina, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, zinc oxide, silicon carbide, titanium dioxide, or calcium carbonate in an amount of 1 to 5 wt. %;
• wherein the relative size of the particles in the first set of conductive particles and the dielectric particles is configured such that an interface between the first and second composite piezoelectric-dielectric layers and the first and second electrode layers has a micro-rough surface such that low pressure loads of 50 kPa or less generate a contact area of 0-10 percent of a layer surface area and high pressure loads of 50-3000 kPa generate a contact area of at least 10-100 percent of a layer surface area such that a total pressure detection range of the pressure distribution monitoring ultrathin flexible planar mat system is 0-3000 kPa;
• a data collector collecting a pressure signal from the flexible planar mat;
• a pressure distribution data processor for receiving and calculating data from the data collector and creating a two-dimensional pressure map from the flexible planar mat.