US4795998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sensor array
Assignee: Raychem Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-12-03
•
Granted: 1989-01-03
•
Expires: 2006-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A sensor array, usually a sensor matrix for sensing pressure, comprising a grid of conductors in a woven fabric, the row conductors crossing over the column conductors to form a matrix array of crossover points. The rows are separated from the columns by individually coating the conductors of one or both series with an electrically partially resistive fibrous material, so that when the conductors at any crossover point in the array are pressed closer together, the resistance between the two conductors at that crossover point decreases. By connecting the conductors to suitable electrical circuitry, the force applied at any crossover point and the location of that crossover point within the array can be determined.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Dunbar
- 👤 Edward B. Atkinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/785; G; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/20; G01L1/205; G01L9/00; G01L9/0001; G01L9/0002; G01L9/02; H01H2201/00; H01H2201/022; H01H2201/032; H01H2201/036; H01H2203/00; H01H2203/008; H01H2203/0085; H01H2203/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of one or more crossover points, and being separated from the second set at least at one crossover point by an electrical transducer material, at least one of the sets being incorporated in a fabric.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of one or more crossover points, and being separated from the second set at least at one crossover point by an electrical transducer material, at least one of the sets being incorporated in a fabric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein each conductor in the first set and/or each conductor in the second set is individually surrounded by the electrical transducer material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transducer layer comprises electrically partially resistive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A sensor according to claim 3, wherein the partially resistive material has a resistivity at least 1000 times greater than that of the conductor with which it is associated and, if it is associated with two or more conductors of different resistivities, then it has a resistivity at least 1000 times greater than that of the conductor of the higher or highest resistivity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sensor according to claim 3, wherein the partially resistive material has a resistivity of at most 10 10 ohm cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of conductors are in the form of a grid, the first set being a series of row conductors and the second set being a series of column conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a woven fabric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the conductors are incorporated so that they project from one surface of the fabric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first set and the second set are both incorporated in a single fabric.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of one or more crossover points, at least some of the conductors being at least partially surrounded individually by a transducer layer of fibres which are helically wound around the conductors, the layer being capable of acting to produce a detectable change in electrical properties in response to a condition to be sensed by the sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of one or more crossover points, at least some of the conductors being at least partially surrounded individually by a transducer layer of fibres which are helically wound around the conductors, the layer being capable of acting to produce a detectable change in electrical properties in response to a condition to be sensed by the sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sensor according to claim 10, wherein each conductor in the first set and/or each conductor in the second set is individually surrounded by a layer of the fibres.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sensor according to claim 10, wherein the transducer layer comprises two or more layers of the fibres.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor according to claim 10, wherein the transducer layer comprises electrically partially resistive material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sensor according to claim 10, wherein the first and second sets of conductors are in the form of a grid, the first set being a series of row conductors and the second set being a series of column conductors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sensor according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first set and the second set of conductors is incorporated in a single fabric.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sensor according to claim 10, wherein, in addition to the electrical transducer layer, the conductors are surrounded by a layer of continuous or discontinuous electrically partially resistive or conductive material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of crossover points, the conductors being substantially uniformly and individually surrounded by a layer of electrical transducer material capable of acting to provide a detectable change in electrical properties in response to a condition to be sensed by the sensor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of crossover points, the conductors being substantially uniformly and individually surrounded by a layer of electrical transducer material capable of acting to provide a detectable change in electrical properties in response to a condition to be sensed by the sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sensor according to claim 17 wherein the electrical transducer material is a continuous, particulate or fibrous layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sensor according to claim 17, wherein the electrical transducer material is a continuous layer and at least some of the conductors have been pre-coated with the continuous layer before incorporation in the sensor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sensor according to claim 17, wherein the transducer layer comprises electrically partially resistive material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sensor according to claim 17, wherein the first and second sets of conductors are in the form of a grid, the first set being a series of row conductors and the second set being a series of column conductors.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of one or more crossover points, the first set being separated from the second set by a hard elastic electrical transducer material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of one or more crossover points, the first set being separated from the second set by a hard elastic electrical transducer material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of one or more crossover points, the first set being separated from the second set by a cross-linked polymeric electrical transducer material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sensor matrix comprising first and second sets of conductors, the first set crossing over the second set to form a matrix of one or more crossover points, the first set being separated from the second set by a cross-linked polymeric electrical transducer material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
A sensor according to claim 23, wherein the polymer is an elastomer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sensor according to claim 1 arranged to provide a separately readable electrical change at any one or more cross-over points of conductors in the array when the condition to be sensed occurs at that or those point(s).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the conductors cross over in the array and the conductors are arranged so that application of pressure to any one crossover point in use will not cause significant movement at any adjacent crossover point.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB703758A
Cited
GB723370A
Cited
US3056005A
Cited
US3293585A
Cited
GB1059186A
Cited
GB1284737A
Cited
US3711627A
Cited
US3610887A
Cited
GB1331942A
Cited
GB1474078A
Cited
GB1544856A
Cited
GB2034893A
Cited
GB2115556A
Cited
GB2115555A
Cited
DE3212660A1
Cited
US4437505A
Cited
GB2127979A
Cited
US4555954A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-01-03 | 1992-07-04 | 1993-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-03 | 1996-07-04 | 1997-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-03 | 2000-07-04 | 2001-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |