Piezoresistive sensors and methods

Abstract

Piezoresistive sensors are provided that include a flexible substrate, a flexible thin film coating on the flexible substrate and two or more electrodes connected to the thin film coating at spaced locations of the thin film coating, wherein the thin film coating includes carbon nanotubes, graphite nanoplatelets, or a combination of carbon nanotubes and graphite nanoplatelets. The thin film coating can be a hybrid thin film including carbon nanotubes and graphite nanoplatelets. The flexible substrate can be in a form configured to provide conformal contact with a wearer of the sensor so that body movements of the wearer at or about the flexible substrate effect reversible changes in a piezoresistive signal through the two or more electrodes. Methods are provided for a user to interact with a remote device using the piezoresistive sensors. Methods also are provided for making conductive coated fibers for use in embodiments of the piezoresistive sensors.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.