Electrical device for indicating the force and/or location of target impacts or other forces

An electrical device capable of indicating the magnitude and location of an applied force comprising at least seven layers including:

• at least two continuously-conductive electrode layers each of electrically-conductive material;
• at least two selectively-conductive electrode layers each alternating with one of said continuously conductive electrode layers, and each having a central area of electrically-conductive material and at least one circumscribing area of electrically-conductive material circumscribing said central area and separated therefrom by a gap, the central area of electrically-conductive material of one of said selectively-conductive electrode layers being of larger diameter than that of the other selectively-conductive electrode layer;
• and at least three pressure-sensitive impedance layers each forming a first electrical impedance between one of said continuously-conductive electrode layers and said central area of one of said selectively-conductive eleotrode layers, and a second electrical impedance between one of said continuously-conductive electrode layers and said circumscribing area of one of said selectively-conductive layers;
• said pressure-sensitive impedance layer being compressively-deformable upon application of said force such as to change the values of said first and second electrical impedances, thereby providing an indication of the magnitude and location of said force.

An electrical device capable of indicating the magnitude and location of an applied force comprising at least three layers including:

• a continuously-conductive electrode layer of electrically-conductive material;
• a selectively-conductive electrode layer having a central area of electrically-conductive material and at least one circumscribing area of electrically-conductive material circumscribing said central area and separated therefrom by a gap;
• a pressure-sensitive dielectric layer between each two electrode layers and forming a first electrical capacitor between said continuously-conductive electrode layer and said central area of the selectively-conductive electrode layer, and a second electrical capacitor between said continuously-conductive electrode layer and said circumscribing area of said selectively-conductive layer;
• said pressure-sensitive dielectric layer being compressively-deformable upon application of said force such as to change the values of said first and second electrical capacitances,
• and means for measuring the values of said first and second electrical capacitors, thereby providing an indication of the magnitude and location of said force.