US 8,127,623 B2 · Capacitive tactile tile sensor

Abstract

A capacitive tile tactile sensor is described and includes several groups of individual sensors each controlled by a dedicated IC. Individual sensors are formed by sensing electrodes on one side of the sensor and a single ground electrode on the other side, the ground electrode is separated from the sensing electrodes by a compressible dielectric layer. A single electrical connection between the ground electrode and the sensing electrode layer allows for routing of all electrical connections including individual electrodes and a ground electrode to appropriate ICs within the same layer using conductive ink or other similar techniques. Stand-alone configurations are described as well as those adapted for communicating with outside control means including a personal computer. Arranging groups of sensors in parallel with each other creates a matrix of sensors while arranging them along a single line creates a linear strip sensor. Using off-the-shelf capacitance-sensing ICs to control a limited number of capacitance sensors allows reducing the number of electrical connections to the sensor array and increasing its reliability.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A flexible capacitive tactile sensor comprising:

a flexible first electrode layer including a single ground electrode covering entire area of said sensor,
a flexible second electrode layer including at least a first group of electrodes connected individually to a first capacitance-sensing integrated circuit, and a second group of electrodes connected individually to a second capacitance-sensing integrated circuit, and
a flexible compressible dielectric layer separating said first and said second electrode layers, wherein said ground electrode of said first electrode layer is electrically connected to said first and said second integrated circuits, whereby said first group of electrodes together with said ground electrode and said dielectric layer forming a first group of capacitance sensors, said second group of electrodes together with said ground electrode and said dielectric layer forming a second group of capacitance sensors, said first and second groups of capacitance sensors together forming said tactile sensor, said first and second integrated circuits configured to operate said respective first and second groups of capacitance sensors and collect pressure data therefrom.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Capacitive tactile tile sensor

Life of this patent

Capacitive tactile tile sensor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16