Sensor
AssigneePeratech Limited
InventorsDavid Lussey, Mark Andrew Graham
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Abstract
A sensor for, and a method of, generating electrical signals indicating a positional property and an extent property of a mechanical interaction within a sensing zone. The sensor comprises a plurality of conductive layers. At least one conductive layer is a pressure-sensitive conductive layer comprising a quantum tunnelling conductance (qtc) material. Contact between conductive layers is allowed during the absence of a mechanical interaction within said sensing zone. The sensor may be configured to provide a three-terminal sensing functionality or a four-terminal sensing functionality. The sensing zone may be substantially two-dimensional or substantially three-dimensional. The sensor may be substantially flexible or substantially rigid.
Claims20
A sensor for generating electrical signals indicating a positional property and an extent property of a mechanical interaction within a sensing zone, said sensor comprising a plurality of conductive layers, that comprises at least:
- a first conductive layer having a first conductive area having a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal in electrical connection therewith and configured to allow an electrical potential gradient to be established between said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal, in a first direction, and a second conductive layer having a second conductive area having a third electrical terminal in electrical connection therewith;
- and
- said sensor is configured such that an electrical path is established between said first conductive area and said second conductive area during a mechanical interaction within said sensing zone;
- at least one of said plurality of conductive layers is a pressure-sensitive conductive layer comprising a quantum tunnelling conductance (qtc) material, and
- said sensor is configured such that contact between conductive layers is allowed during the absence of a mechanical interaction within said sensing zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.