EP0178768A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Sensor array
Assignee: EMI Ltd
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Filing: 1985-09-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-02
Abstract
Abstract A sensor array includes a number of discrete elements (2) each comprising a dielectric body (6) and two electrodes (4, 5). Dielectric body (6) has an annular skirt (12) and the electrodes define an annular gap (8) in which an end portion of the skirt is located. Body (6) is displaced relative to the electrodes upon application of pressure thereto, causing the skirt to further penetrate the gap and cause a detectable change in capacitance of the electrodes, related to the magnitude of the applied pressure. The dielectric bodies (6) are supported by a common, resilient sheet which returns the bodies to a rest position when pressure is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeremy Daniel Mckendrick Watson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/14; G01L1/142; G01L1/144; G01L1/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A sensor array comprising: a plurality of sensor elements, each element having electrodes and a dielectric body which are relatively movable, from a rest position upon application of pressure to the element, such that the increase in penetration of the body between the electrodes is proportional to the amount of pressure applied; and a common resilient support connected to the elements thereby to return the electrodes or body of each of those elements to the rest position when pressure is removed from that element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A sensor array comprising: a plurality of sensor elements, each element having electrodes and a dielectric body which are relatively movable, from a rest position upon application of pressure to the element, such that the increase in penetration of the body between the electrodes is proportional to the amount of pressure applied; and a common resilient support connected to the elements thereby to return the electrodes or body of each of those elements to the rest position when pressure is removed from that element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A sensor array according to Claim 1, wherein the resilient support comprises a sheet of resilient material having a plurality of apertures, and each of the elements extends through a respective aperture in the resilient support and is secured to the support along the periphery of the respective aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sensor array according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the resilient support comprises a top sheet with one or more projections extending inwardly of the array between adjacent elements in the array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
4» A sensor array according to Claim 3, wherein the top sheet has two mutually-perpendicular and intersecting groups of walls extending inwardly of the array thereby to form a separate compartment for each of the elements, the walls in each group being parallel to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A sensor array according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the sensor elements comprises two electrodes fixed to an insulating backing common to the elements, and a dielectric body which is connected to the common resilient support and which is movable to increase penetration between the electrodes in proportion to the pressure applied to that element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sensor array according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the common resilient support and at least one dielectric body are integrally preformed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sensor array substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sensor array substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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