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US 6,072,130 AGranted
Pressure activated switching device
OwnerLester E. Burgessinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure sensitive sparkless switching device includes a layer of piezoresistive cellular polymer foam, at least two conductive layers, and an insulative spacer element having at least one opening. When pressure is applied to the device the piezoresistive foam disposes itself through the opening of the spacer element and makes electrical contact between the conductive layers. The resistance of the piezoresistive foam varies with the amount of pressure applied to provide an analog as well as on-off function. The device may also provide multiple switching, and shear detection capabilities.
Claims11
a pressure actuated switching device, which comprises:
- a) an insulative cover sheet;
- b) an insulative base;
- c) at least one emitter electrode and at least one primary receiver electrode;
- d) at least one layer of piezoresistive material disposed between said cover sheet and said base and further disposed between said at least one emitter electrode and at least one primary receiver electrode;
- e) detection means for detecting a shear component of a force applied to the pressure actuated switching device, the detection means including at least one secondary receiver electrode spaced apart from the primary receiver electrode, the detection means forming an electrical closed circuit path between the at least one emitter electrode and the at least one secondary receiver electrode in response to the shear component of the force applied to the pressure actuated switching device.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.