Surface area-based pressure sensing
AssigneesThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Nanjing University
InventorsZhenan Bao, Alex Chortos, Lijia Pan
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Abstract
Various aspects of the instant disclosure relate to pressure sensing methods and apparatuses. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a plurality of structures having respective surface areas that are implemented to contact at least one of an electrode and other ones of the structures. The structures operate with the electrode to provide an electrical indication of pressure by effecting a change in the respective surface areas in response to an elastic compression or expansion of the structures, and providing a change in electrical impedance between the structures and the electrode based on the change in the respective surface areas.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- an electrode;
- and
- a plurality of structures having respective surface areas that contact at least one of the electrode and other ones of the structures, the structures being configured and arranged with the electrode to provide an electrical indication of pressure by
- effecting a change in the respective surface areas relative to the electrode in response to an elastic compression or expansion of the structures, and
- providing a change in electrical impedance between the structures and the electrode that is based on the change in the respective surface areas.
A method comprising:
- forming an electrode;
- and
- forming a polymer film comprising a plurality of hollow structures having respective surface areas that contact at least one of:
- the electrode and other ones of the structures, in which the structures are configured and arranged with the electrode to provide an electrical indication of pressure by
- effecting a change in the respective surface areas relative to the electrode in response to an elastic deformation of the structures, and
- providing a change in electrical impedance between the structures and the electrode based on the change in the respective surface areas.
A method of using an apparatus having an electrode and polymer film comprising a plurality of hollow structures having respective surface areas that contact at least one of the electrode and other ones of the structures, the method comprising:
- providing an electrical indication of pressure by
- effecting a change in the respective surface areas relative to the electrode in response to an elastic compression or expansion of the hollow structures, and
- providing a change in electrical impedance between the hollow structures and the electrode based on the change in the respective surface areas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.