US 2024/0328840 A1Published application

3d-printed artificial cilia array mechanosensing tool

AssigneeVirginia Commonwealth University

InventorsPhilip GLASS, Daeha JOUNG

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Abstract

Examples include an artificial conductive cilia based sensor having, on a substrate, a conductive pad and a neighbor conductive pad spaced in a direction. A first conductive cilium has a distal end, and a base end conductively secured to the conductive pad, and is particularly structured with bendability and elasticity. A second conductive cilium has a base end conductively secured to the neighbor conductive pad. A terminal is electrically connected to the conductive pad. Another terminal is electrically connected to the neighbor conductive pad. The first conducive cilium, in accordance with the bendability, is bent by a bending force directed in the spacing direction, to a bent state configured to establish a conductive path to the second conductive cilium and via the elasticity, to self-return to a relaxed state configured to terminate the conductive path.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An artificial conductive cilia based sensor, comprising:

a substrate;
a conductive pad and a neighbor conductive pad positioned a spacing distance, in a spacing direction, from the conductive pad, each secured to the substrate;
a first conductive cilium, having a distal end, a base end conductively secured to the conductive pad, and configured with a structural elasticity and bendable;
a second conductive cilium, having a respective base end conductively secured to the neighbor conductive pad;
a first terminal, supported on the substrate and comprising a first conductor electrically connected to the conductive pad;
and
a second terminal, supported on the substrate and comprising a second conductor electrically connected to the neighbor conductive pad,
wherein
the first conductive cilium is further configured to bend, responsive to receiving a bending force directed in the spacing direction, to a bent state at which the distal end has a conductive path to the second conductive cilium and, responsive to removing said bending force, to return via a force from the structural elasticity to a relaxed shape that substantially reduces or terminates said conductive path.

6 more elements

A method, comprising:

printing, on a substrate:
a conductive pad and a neighbor conductive pad, spaced apart with a spacing direction and spacing distance,
a first terminal, comprising a first conductor electrically connected to the conductive pad, and a second terminal, comprising a second conductor electrically connected to the neighbor conductive pad;
and
three-dimensional (3D) vertical printing a first conductive cilium on the conductive pad and a second conductive cilium on the second conductive pad, wherein:
the 3D vertical printing each 3D vertical printing comprises a solvent casting 3D printing that includes extruding a homogenous paste comprising graphene, a polymer, and solvent, through an extrusion tip, while continually elevating the extrusion tip, and
the solvent casting 3D printing includes a parameter having a first value in the 3D vertical printing the first conductive cilium and a second value in the 3D vertical printing the second conductive cilium, the first value being configured to provide the first conductive cilium a first bending sensitivity and the second value being configured to provide the second conductive cilium a second bending sensitivity, lower than the first bending sensitivity.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/621,317Filed 29 Mar 2024
Priority: 31 Mar 2023
Published: 3 Oct 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G01F 1/54
By using mechanical effects: by means of chains, flexible bands or wires introduced into and moved by, the flow
B29C 64/106
Processes of additive manufacturing: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
B33Y 10/00
Processes of additive manufacturing
B33Y 70/10
Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing: composites of different types of material, e.g. mixtures of ceramics and polymers or…