Device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces

Claim 1

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric, such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; and plastic substrate films, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic substrate films; the capacitor elements and the leads being mounted on opposite sides of each substrate film and interconnected in predetermined fashion by through contacts, the through contacts comprising interior linings of recesses extending through the substrate films, which linings are made of the same material as the capacitor elements and leads.

Claim 2

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric, such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; and plastic substrate films, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic substrate films; the capacitor elements and the leads being mounted on opposite sides of each substrate film and interconnected in predetermined fashion by through contacts, the through contacts comprising interior linings of recesses extending through the substrate films, which linings are made of the same material as the capacitor elements and leads.

Claim 13

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein the foot has a longitudinal axis, the capacitor elements are arranged in rows, the first group of capacitor elements extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the foot, the second group of capacitor elements extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot, and the leads in the area of the tuberositas ossis navicularis are adapted to be passed out of the shoe, together with a strip of substrate film, to form a connector flat cable; and wherein the capacitor elements which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot extend throughout substantially the full length of the foot and are severed in the area between the heel and the forefoot to form ends by which they are connected to the leads.

Claim 14

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein the foot has a longitudinal axis, the capacitor elements are arranged in rows, the first group of capacitor elements extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the foot, the second group of capacitor elements extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot, and the leads in the area of the tuberositas ossis navicularis are adapted to be passed out of the shoe, together with a strip of substrate film, to form a connector flat cable; and wherein the capacitor elements which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot extend throughout substantially the full length of the foot and are severed in the area between the heel and the forefoot to form ends by which they are connected to the leads.

Claim 16

A device for measuring the area distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein leads at an outer side of the foot are passed to capacitor elements extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the foot in the area of the toes of the foot and these leads are arranged to project outwardly beyond the outer side of the foot, together with the substrate film, in the area of the cuboid for upward folding in this area.

Claim 17

A device for measuring the area distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein leads at an outer side of the foot are passed to capacitor elements extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the foot in the area of the toes of the foot and these leads are arranged to project outwardly beyond the outer side of the foot, together with the substrate film, in the area of the cuboid for upward folding in this area.

Claim 20

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein the foot has a longitudinal axis, the capacitor elements are arranged in rows, the first group of capacitor elements extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the foot, the second group of capacitor elements extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot, and the leads in the area of the tuberositas ossis navicularis are adapted to be passed out of the shoe, together with a strip of substrate film, to form a connector flat cable; and wherein shielding areas are provided on the surface of the substrate films opposite the capacitor elements and the leads and the shielding areas are formed to project beyond the leads in the area of the connector flat cable so as to form a third flap which is adapted to be folded back and bonded on the leads with the substrate film positioned therebetween.

Claim 21

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein the foot has a longitudinal axis, the capacitor elements are arranged in rows, the first group of capacitor elements extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the foot, the second group of capacitor elements extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot, and the leads in the area of the tuberositas ossis navicularis are adapted to be passed out of the shoe, together with a strip of substrate film, to form a connector flat cable; and wherein shielding areas are provided on the surface of the substrate films opposite the capacitor elements and the leads and the shielding areas are formed to project beyond the leads in the area of the connector flat cable so as to form a third flap which is adapted to be folded back and bonded on the leads with the substrate film positioned therebetween.

Claim 23

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein the connector flat cable has distal ends including connector contacts suitable for mounting of a commercial direct plug connector; and wherein a stiffening sheet is bonded on the substrate film in the area of the connector contacts.

Claim 24

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically deformable dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein the connector flat cable has distal ends including connector contacts suitable for mounting of a commercial direct plug connector; and wherein a stiffening sheet is bonded on the substrate film in the area of the connector contacts.

Claim 25

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein the foot has a longitudinal axis, the capacitor elements are arranged in rows, the first group of capacitor elements extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the foot, the second group of capacitor elements extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot, and the leads in the area of the tuberositas ossis navicularis are adapted to be passed out of the toe, together with a strip of substrate film, to form a connector flat cable; and wherein the connector flat cables are passed out slightly inclined in the direction of the heel of the foot.

Claim 26

A device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces acting substantially perpendicularly on a deformable measuring surface, comprising: an elastically dielectric; a plurality of force detector means, each including a capacitor, each capacitor being constituted by capacitor elements, a first group of said capacitor elements being arranged on one surface of said elastically deformable dielectric and a second group of said capacitor elements being arranged on a second surface of the elastically deformable dielectric such that each capacitor is formed at a point of intersection of capacitor elements from the first and second groups, thereby forming a matrix arrangement of force detector means; leads for connecting the groups of capacitor elements to an electronic evaluating device; plastic film substrates, with the capacitor elements being printed, together with the leads, on said plastic film substrates; and the device having a shape of a foot for insertion into a shoe of a test person; wherein the foot has a longitudinal axis, the capacitor elements are arranged in rows, the first group of capacitor elements extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the foot, the second group of capacitor elements extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot, and the leads in the area of the tuberositas ossis navicularis are adapted to be passed out of the toe, together with a strip of substrate film, to form a connector flat cable; and wherein the connector flat cables are passed out slightly inclined in the direction of the heel of the foot.