Method and apparatus for sensing applied forces
AssigneeBrother International Corporation
InventorsMark Anthony Darty, Mohamadinejad Habib
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Abstract
An apparatus for sensing a force. The apparatus includes a nanostructure being suitable for emitting electrons and a collector. The collector is proximately positioned with respect to the nanostructure so as to receive the emitted electrons and define a gap therebetween. The gap is partially dependent upon the applied force and the emission and reception of the electrons are indicative of the applied force.
Claims72
An apparatus for sensing at least one force applied to the apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one carbon-based nanostructure being suitable for emitting electrons, where at least one dimension of the entire nanostructure is in the nano range;
- and
- at least one collector proximately positioned with respect to said at least one nanostructure so as to receive said emitted electrons and define at least one gap therebetween that is at least partially dependent upon said applied force;
- wherein, said emission and reception of said electrons is indicative of said applied force.
A method for sensing at least one applied force, said method comprising:
- receiving emissions from at least one carbon-based nanostructure using at least one collector proximately positioned with respect to said at least one nanostructure, where at least one dimension of the entire nanostructure is in the nano range;
- and
- sensing at least one current associated with said at least one collector;
- wherein, said sensed current is indicative of said applied force.
An accelerometer comprising:
- at least one carbon-based nanostructure being suitable for emitting electrons in response to application of at least one potential, where at least one dimension of the entire nanostructure is in the nano range;
- and
- a collector positioned with respect to said at least one nanostructure to sense said emitted electrons upon application of said potential;
- wherein, said at least one nanostructure is sufficiently and at least partially displaceable with respect to said collector such that displacement of said at least one nanostructure with respect to said collector is indicative of at least one acceleration.
A field emission based sensing device comprising:
- a plurality of carbon-based nanostructures, where at least one dimension of each entire nanostructure is in the nano range;
- and
- at least one sensor proximately positioned with respect to said nanostructures and being suitable for receiving field emissions from said nanostructures based upon application of a bias across said sensor and nanostructures and at least partial displacement of said nanostructures with respect to said sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.