A stretchable bidirectional capacitive pressure sensor and method of use

Abstract

A stretchable bidirectional capacitive pressure sensor (20) comprising: a first elastomeric sheet (22) made from a dielectric material, with a series of conductor lines (221) located on or in the first elastomeric sheet; a second elastomeric sheet (28) made from a dielectric material, with a series of conductor lines (261) located on or in the second elastomeric sheet; wherein the conductor lines of the first elastomeric sheet are substantially orthogonal to the conductor lines of the second elastomeric sheet; a microstructure comprising a plurality of elastomeric pillars (241) made from a dielectric material, disposed between the elastomeric sheets; wherein the microstructure is bonded to both the first and second elastomeric sheets so that the bidirectional sensor can register positive and negative pressure by the movement of the first and second elastomeric sheets. A further aspect of the invention discloses a method of collecting data related to fluid flow over an object by using a two-dimensional capacitive pressure sensor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.