High resolution pressure-sensing device having an insulating flexible matrix loaded with filler particles

A pressure-sensing device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix;
• a plurality of conductive filler particles loaded into the matrix so that the matrix has a resistance that decreases as a force applied to the matrix increases;
• and,
• a circuit operatively coupled to the matrix to measure change in the resistance of the matrix.

A pressure-sensing device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix having a volume that decreases as a force applied to the matrix increases;
• a plurality of filler particles loaded into the matrix and having a volume;
• and,
• a detector operatively coupled to the matrix to detect change in the volume ratio of the plurality of filler particles relative to the matrix.

A pressure-sensing device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix;
• a plurality of conductive filler particles loaded into the matrix, the matrix having a volume percent of filler particles that increases as a force applied to the matrix increases and a resistance that decreases as the volume percent of filler particles increases;
• and,
• a circuit operatively coupled to the matrix to detect change in the resistance of the matrix.

A pressure-sensing device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix;
• a plurality of conductive filler particles loaded into the matrix, the matrix having a volume percent of filler particles that increases as a force applied to the matrix increases and a resistance that decreases as the volume percent of filler particles increases;
• and,
• a circuit operatively coupled to the matrix to measure change in the resistance of the matrix.

A pressure-sensing device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix into which a plurality of conductive filler particles is loaded, the matrix having a volume percent of filler particles that increases as a force applied to the matrix increases and a resistance that decreases as the volume percent increases;
• at least a pair of electrodes, each mounted to a different surface of the matrix such that the electrodes effectively span one or more sections of the matrix;
• and,
• a circuit operatively coupled to the electrodes to detect change in the resistance across the one or more sections of the matrix spanned by the electrodes.

A pressure-sensing device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix into which a plurality of conductive filler particles is loaded, the matrix having a volume percent of filler particles that increases as a force applied to the matrix increases and a resistance that decreases as the volume percent increases;
• at least a pair of electrodes, each mounted to a different surface of the matrix such that the electrodes effectively span one or more sections of the matrix;
• and,
• a circuit operatively coupled to the electrodes to measure change in the resistance across the one or more sections of the matrix spanned by the electrodes.

An electrical pressure-sensitive grid of pressure-sensing devices, each device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix;
• a plurality of conductive filler particles loaded into the matrix, the matrix having a volume percent of filler particles that increases as a force applied to the matrix increases and a resistance that decreases as the volume percent of filler particles increases;
• and,
• a circuit operatively coupled to the matrix to detect change in the resistance of the matrix.

An electrical pressure-sensitive grid of pressure-sensing devices, each device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix;
• a plurality of conductive filler particles loaded into the matrix, the matrix having a volume percent of filler particles that increases as a force applied to the matrix increases and a resistance that decreases as the volume percent of filler particles increases;
• and,
• a circuit operatively coupled to the matrix to measure change in the resistance of the matrix.

An apparatus comprising an electrical pressure-sensitive grid of pressure-sensitive devices, each device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix;
• a plurality of conductive filler particles loaded into the matrix, the matrix having a volume percent of filler particles that increases as a force applied to the matrix increases and a resistance that decreases as the volume percent of filler particles increases;
• and,
• a circuit operatively coupled to the matrix to detect change in the resistance of the matrix.

An apparatus comprising an electrical pressure-sensitive grid of pressure-sensitive devices, each device comprising:

• an insulating flexible matrix;
• a plurality of conductive filler particles loaded into the matrix, the matrix having a volume percent of filler particles that increases as a force applied to the matrix increases and a resistance that decreases as the volume percent of filler particles increases;
• and,
• a circuit operatively coupled to the matrix to measure change in the resistance of the matrix.

A pressure-sensing apparatus comprising:

• a contacting phase layer having a resistance distribution responsive to a contour profile of a contacting subject;
• a circuitry phase layer underneath the contacting phase layer to translate the resistance distribution of the contacting phase layer into a pressure contour distribution;
• and
• a comparator circuit operatively coupled to the circuitry phase layer.

A pressure sensing apparatus comprising:

• a contacting phase layer having a resistance distribution responsive to a contour profile of a contacting subject;
• a circuitry phase layer underneath the contacting phase layer to translate the resistance distribution of the contacting phase layer into a pressure contour distribution;
• a comparator circuit operatively coupled to the circuitry phase layer;
• and
• a memory for storing pressure contour distributions, the comparator circuit being adapted to compare pressure contour distributions from the memory to pressure contour distributions from the circuitry phase layer.

A pressure sensing apparatus comprising:

• a contacting phase layer having a resistance distribution responsive to a contour profile of a contacting subject;
• a circuitry phase layer underneath the contacting phase layer to translate the resistance distribution of the contacting phase layer into a pressure contour distribution;
• a comparator circuit operatively coupled to the circuitry phase layer;
• a memory for storing pressure contour distributions, the comparator circuit comparing pressure contour distributions from the memory to pressure contour distributions from the circuitry phase layer;
• wherein the comparator circuit is adapted to initiate an event upon matching of the pressure contour distribution from the circuitry layer with the pressure contour distribution from the memory;
• and
• a controlled access point operatively coupled to the comparator circuit, such that initiating the event permits access to the controlled access point.

A pressure sensing apparatus comprising:

• a contacting phase layer having a resistance distribution responsive to a contour profile of a contacting subject;
• a circuitry phase layer underneath the contacting phase layer to translate the resistance distribution of the contacting phase layer into a pressure contour distribution;
• and
• a touch screen, the contacting phase layer and circuitry phase layer being integral with the touch screen.

A pressure sensing apparatus comprising:

• a contacting phase layer having a resistance distribution responsive to a contour profile of a contacting subject;
• a circuitry phase layer underneath the contacting phase layer to translate the resistance distribution of the contacting phase layer into a pressure contour distribution;
• a touch screen, the contacting phase layer and circuitry phase layer being integral with the touch screen;
• and
• a computer operatively coupled to the touch screen.