Detector constructed from fabric

A method of detecting the position of a mechanical interaction with a position sensor, wherein said position sensor has:

• a first fabric layer with electrically conductive fibres machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer;
• a first connector providing electrical connection to said first outer conductive layer to allow the application of a first electrical potential;
• a second connector providing electrical connection to said first outer conductive layer to allow the application of a different, second electrical potential;
• a second fabric layer with electrically conductive fibres machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer allowing conduction in all directions along the layer;
• a third connector providing electrical connection to said second outer conductive layer to allow the measurement of an electrical potential on said second layer;
• a central layer disposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer, said central layer including conducting means;
• a first insulating separating means disposed between the first conductive outer layer and said conducting means;
• and
• a second insulating separating means disposed between said second conductive outer layer and said conducting means;
• wherein said method comprises the steps of:
• providing electrical connections to the first and second outer layers only;
• applying an electrical potential gradient across said first outer conducting layer;
• applying a force to said position sensor, such that the conducting means provides a conductive path between said first conducting outer layer and said second conducting outer layer at the position of the force;
• and
• measuring an electrical potential appearing on the second outer conducting layer.

A position sensor for detecting the position of an applied mechanical interaction, said mechanical interaction having an area and a force, comprising

• a first fabric layer having conductive fibres machined therein to provide a first conductive outer layer;
• a first connector providing electrical connection to said first outer conductive layer;
• a second connector separate to said first connector, said second connector providing electrical connection to said first outer conductive layer,
• a second fabric layer having conductive fibres machined therein to provide a second conductive outer layer;
• a third connector providing electrical connection to said second outer conductive layer to allow the measurement of an electrical potential on said second layer;
• and
• a compressible inner layer disposed between said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer comprising a plurality of conductive fibres or particles such that a conductive path is provided through said fibres or particles when said compressible inner layer is placed in compression;
• wherein said position sensor has electrical connections to the first and second conductive outer layers only, and said compressible inner layer is configured such that when a first electrical potential is applied to said first connector and a different second electrical potential is applied to said second connector, the electrical potential measured at said third connector provides an indication of the position of mechanical interaction on said position sensor.

A position sensor for detecting the position of an applied mechanical interaction, said mechanical interaction having an area and a force, comprising

• a first fabric layer having conductive fibres machined therein to provide a first conductive layer,
• a second fabric layer having conductive fibres machined therein to provide a second conductive layer;
• a third fabric layer having conductive fibres machined therein to provide a third conductive layer;
• a compressible inner layer disposed between said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer comprising a plurality of conductive fibres or particles such that a conductive path having a conductivity dependent upon the force and the area of a mechanical interaction is provided through said fibres or particles when said compressible inner layer is placed in compression;
• and
• a second inner layer disposed between said second fabric layer and said third fabric layer, and comprising conducting means configured to provide a conductive path having a conductivity dependent upon the area of the mechanical interaction and relatively unaffected by changes in force.