Tactile shear sensor using anisotropically conductive material
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorsLi-Han Chen, Sungho Jin
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Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, a tactile sensor capable of detecting shear force comprises an anisotropically conductive material disposed between a conductive cursor and an array of contacts. In one preferred embodiment, the anisotropic material is affixed to the contact array, and the cursor is affixed to an elastomeric skin overlying the material. Movement of the cursor is detected by interconnection of the contacts underlying the cursor. In a second embodiment, the anisotropic material is affixed to the cursor but is free to move over the contact array in response to shear force. Movement of the cursor is detected by interconnection of the underlying contacts. Such arrangements can also detect pressure and temperature.
Claims10
A sensor capable of detecting shear force comprising:
- an array of conductive electrical contacts disposed on a non-conducting substrate;
- a layer of anisotropically conductive material disposed overlying said array of contacts;
- and
- a conductive cursor attached to an elastomeric layer movable in response to the application of shear force, said cursor positioned and dimensioned to interconnect at least a pair of said electrical contacts through said anisotropic conductive material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.