US5431064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transducer array
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC
•
Filing: 1992-09-18
•
Granted: 1995-07-11
•
Expires: 2012-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A pressure sensitive transducer array in which a plurality of transducers are connected in series and in parallel with one another. In one embodiment, a resistive layer is formed from carbon or silver ink on a polyester film. A plurality of conductive shunt elements having greater conductivity than the resistive layer is formed on a second polyester film. The films are placed adjacent to one another with the shunt elements contacting the resistive layer. Voltage is applied across the resistive layer and pressure is applied thereto. As the pressure increases, the number of current paths set up through contact points on the shunt elements increase thereby decreasing the resistance across the resistive layer and increasing current flow. In another embodiment a plurality of plate elements are contained in a plane on one side of a dielectric layer. A plurality of plate elements are contained in a plane on the other side of the dielectric layer. As the layer is pushed together responsive to force applied, total capacitance as measured across the planes of plate elements varies.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick J. Franz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/045; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/14; G01L1/142; G01L1/146; G01L1/20; G01L5/00; G01L5/22; G01L5/226; G01L5/228; H; H01; H01H; H01H2221/00; H01H2221/008; H01H2221/012; H01H2239/00; H01H2239/078
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 66
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A transducer for generating a resistance value representative of force applied thereto comprising: a conducting element having an exposed surface; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; means for creating a current flow in said conducting element; a plurality of shunt elements each of which has an exposed surface generally directed toward the exposed surface on said conducting element; means for urging said shunt element surfaces against said exposed surface of said conducting element; wherein said shunt elements operated to shunt; a portion of the current flow in said conducting element through said shunt elements when a current flow is created in said conducting element and said shunt element surfaces are urged against said exposed surface of said conducting element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A transducer for generating a resistance value representative of force applied thereto comprising: a conducting element having an exposed surface; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; means for creating a current flow in said conducting element; a plurality of shunt elements each of which has an exposed surface generally directed toward the exposed surface on said conducting element; means for urging said shunt element surfaces against said exposed surface of said conducting element; wherein said shunt elements operated to shunt; a portion of the current flow in said conducting element through said shunt elements when a current flow is created in said conducting element and said shunt element surfaces are urged against said exposed surface of said conducting element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said transducer further includes means for applying a progressively increasing force to said elements in a manner which increases electrical contact between said shunt surfaces and said exposed surface of said conducting element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The transducer of claim 2 wherein said transducer further includes means for measuring the change in resistance in said conducting element responsive to variations in such force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said conducting element comprises a substantially planar layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The transducer of claim 4 wherein said transducer further comprises a substantially nonconducting substrate and wherein said conducting element comprises a layer of ink formed on said substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
The transducer of claim 5 wherein said ink carbon ink.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said shunt elements are arranged in a substantially serial sequence between said first and second contacts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said shunt elements are arranged in a substantially serial sequence across and normal to a line between said first and second contacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said shunt elements are generally arranged in both rows and columns between said first and second contacts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transducer of claim 9 wherein said rows are staggered relative to one another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said transducer further comprises a substantially nonconducting substrate and wherein said shunt elements each comprise a substantially planar layer of ink formed on said substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The transducer of claim 11 wherein said ink comprises silver ink.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The transducer of claim 11 wherein said ink comprises carbon ink.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transducer of claim 11 wherein said each of said shunt elements is substantially rectangular.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transducer of claim 11 wherein each of said shunt elements is substantially hexagonal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said shunt elements and said conducting element have different conductivities.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transducer of claim 16 wherein said shunt elements have a higher conductivity than said conducting element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein substantially all of said shunt elements are each arranged in non-contacting relationship with one another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
A transducer for sensing force comprising: a first substantially nonconducting film; a substantially planar conducting element formed on said first film; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a second substantially nonconducting film; a plurality of shunt elements mounted on said second film to form a cluster of shunt elements, said second film being arranged opposite said first film with said conducting element and said shunt elements facing one another; means for compressing said shunt elements against said conducting element; and means for measuring the change in the resistance between said first and second contacts responsive to variations in electrical contact between said shunt elements and said conducting element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
127 words
A transducer for sensing force comprising: a first substantially nonconducting film; a substantially planar conducting element formed on said first film; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a second substantially nonconducting film; a plurality of shunt elements mounted on said second film to form a cluster of shunt elements, said second film being arranged opposite said first film with said conducting element and said shunt elements facing one another; means for compressing said shunt elements against said conducting element; and means for measuring the change in the resistance between said first and second contacts responsive to variations in electrical contact between said shunt elements and said conducting element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The transducer of claim 19 wherein said means for compressing said shunt elements against said conducting element comprises: a substantially planar support surface for supporting said films; and a keyboard key having a lower surface disposed above said films and being urgeable thereagainst for compressing said films between said lower surface and said support surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transducer of claim 19 wherein said conducting element comprises a layer of ink.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The transducer of claim 19 wherein said shunt elements are arranged in a pattern between said first and second contacts,
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transducer of claim 22 wherein said each of said shunt elements is substantially rectangular.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transducer of claim 19 wherein said shunt elements comprise a substantially planar layer of ink.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
11 words
The transducer of claim 24 wherein said ink comprises silver ink.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The transducer of claim 24 wherein said ink comprises carbon ink.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transducer of claim 19 wherein said substantially planar conducting element is made of carbon material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transducer of claim 19 wherein said shunt elements and said conducting element have different conductivities.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transducer of claim 28 wherein said shunt elements have a higher conductivity than said conducting element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The transducer of claim 19 wherein substantially all of the shunt elements mounted on said second film are each arranged in non-contacting relationship with the other shunt elements mounted on said second film.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for making a transducer for generating a resistance value representative of force applied thereto comprising the steps of: forming a substantially planar conducting element on a first planar surface; connecting a first electrical contact to one side of the conducting element; connecting a second electrical contact to an opposite side of said conducting element; forming a plurality of shunt elements on a second planar surface; and positioning said shunt elements generally opposite said planar conducting element.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for making a transducer for generating a resistance value representative of force applied thereto comprising the steps of: forming a substantially planar conducting element on a first planar surface; connecting a first electrical contact to one side of the conducting element; connecting a second electrical contact to an opposite side of said conducting element; forming a plurality of shunt elements on a second planar surface; and positioning said shunt elements generally opposite said planar conducting element.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the step of forming a substantially planar conducting element on a first planar surface comprises the step of forming a substantially planar conducting element on a substantially nonconducting film.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the step of forming a substantially planar conducting element comprises the step of screen printing the conductive element.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said conducting element comprises carbon ink.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the step of forming a plurality of shunt elements having a different conductivity from said conducting element on a second planar surface comprises the step of forming such shunt elements on a nonconducting film.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the step of forming a plurality of shunt elements comprises the step of screen printing the shunt elements.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said shunt elements comprise carbon ink.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said shunt elements comprise silver ink.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said shunt elements and said conducting element have different conductivities.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 39 wherein said shunt elements have a higher conductivity than said conducting element.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said method further includes the step of preselecting one of the following transducer operating characteristics: linearity, sensitivity and noise level.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the step of preselecting an operating characteristic of said transducer comprises the step of preselecting one of the following parameters: shunt element size, shunt element resistance, number, shunt element shape, shunt element pattern and shunt element interconnection resistance.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
101 words
A transducer for generating a resistance value representative of force applied thereto comprising: a substantially nonconducting substrate; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a substantially planar conducting element having an exposed surface, said conducting element comprising a layer of ink formed on said substrate; a plurality of shunt elements each of which has an exposed surface generally directed toward the exposed surface on said conducting element; and means for urging said shunt element surfaces against said exposed surface of said conducting element.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
101 words
A transducer for generating a resistance value representative of force applied thereto comprising: a substantially nonconducting substrate; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a substantially planar conducting element having an exposed surface, said conducting element comprising a layer of ink formed on said substrate; a plurality of shunt elements each of which has an exposed surface generally directed toward the exposed surface on said conducting element; and means for urging said shunt element surfaces against said exposed surface of said conducting element.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
The transducer of claim 43 wherein said wherein said ink comprises carbon ink.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transducer of claim 43 wherein said substantially all of said shunt elements are each arranged in non-contacting relationship with one another.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
101 words
A transducer for generating a resistance value representative of force applied thereto comprising: a conducting element having an exposed surface; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a substantially nonconducting substrate; a plurality of shunt elements, each of which comprises a substantially planar layer of ink formed on said substrate, each ink layer having an exposed surface generally directed toward the exposed surface on said conducting element; and means for urging said shunt element surfaces against said exposed surface of said conducting element.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
101 words
A transducer for generating a resistance value representative of force applied thereto comprising: a conducting element having an exposed surface; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a substantially nonconducting substrate; a plurality of shunt elements, each of which comprises a substantially planar layer of ink formed on said substrate, each ink layer having an exposed surface generally directed toward the exposed surface on said conducting element; and means for urging said shunt element surfaces against said exposed surface of said conducting element.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
11 words
The transducer of claim 46 wherein said ink comprises silver ink.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
11 words
The transducer of claim 46 wherein said ink comprises carbon ink.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transducer of claim 46 wherein each of said shunt elements is substantially rectangular.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
31 words
The transducer of claim 46 wherein substantially all of the ink layers formed on said substrate are each arranged in non-contacting relationship with the other ink layers formed on said substrate.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
132 words
A transducer for sensing force comprising: a first substantially nonconducting film; a substantially planar conducting element formed on said first film; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a second substantially nonconducting film; a plurality of shunt elements mounted on said second film to form a cluster of shunt elements, said second film being arranged opposite said first film with said conducting element and said shunt elements facing one another and said shunt elements each comprising a layer of ink; means for compressing said films together; and means for measuring the change in resistance between said first and second contacts resulting from variations in electrical contact between said shunt elements and said conducting element.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
132 words
A transducer for sensing force comprising: a first substantially nonconducting film; a substantially planar conducting element formed on said first film; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a second substantially nonconducting film; a plurality of shunt elements mounted on said second film to form a cluster of shunt elements, said second film being arranged opposite said first film with said conducting element and said shunt elements facing one another and said shunt elements each comprising a layer of ink; means for compressing said films together; and means for measuring the change in resistance between said first and second contacts resulting from variations in electrical contact between said shunt elements and said conducting element.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
11 words
The transducer of claim 51 wherein said ink comprises silver ink.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
11 words
The transducer of claim 51 wherein said ink comprises carbon ink.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
33 words
The transducer of claim 51 wherein substantially all of the shunt elements mounted on said second film are each arranged in non-contacting relationship with the other shunt elements mounted on said second film.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
130 words
A transducer for sensing force comprising: a first substantially nonconducting film; a substantially planar conducting element formed on said first film, said conducting element being made of carbon material; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a second substantially nonconducting film; a plurality of shunt elements mounted on said second film to form a cluster of shunt elements, said second film being arranged opposite said first film with said conducting element and said shunt elements facing one another; means for compressing said films together; and means for measuring the change in resistance between said first and second contacts resulting from variations in electrical contact between said shunt elements and said conducting element.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
130 words
A transducer for sensing force comprising: a first substantially nonconducting film; a substantially planar conducting element formed on said first film, said conducting element being made of carbon material; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a second substantially nonconducting film; a plurality of shunt elements mounted on said second film to form a cluster of shunt elements, said second film being arranged opposite said first film with said conducting element and said shunt elements facing one another; means for compressing said films together; and means for measuring the change in resistance between said first and second contacts resulting from variations in electrical contact between said shunt elements and said conducting element.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
33 words
The transducer of claim 55 wherein substantially all of the shunt elements mounted on said second film are each arranged in non-contacting relationship with the other shunt elements mounted on said second film.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
138 words
A transducer for sensing force comprising: a first substantially nonconducting film; a substantially planar conducting element formed on said first film; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a second substantially nonconducting film; a plurality of shunt elements mounted on said second film to form a cluster of shunt elements, said second film being arranged opposite said first film with said conducting element and said shunt elements facing one another; means for compressing said films together; means for creating a current flow in said conducting element; and means for shunting a portion of the current flow in said conducting element through said shunt elements when a current flow is created in said conducting element and said films are compressed together.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
138 words
A transducer for sensing force comprising: a first substantially nonconducting film; a substantially planar conducting element formed on said first film; a first contact electrically connected to one side of said conducting element; a second contact electrically connected to an opposite side of said conducting element; a second substantially nonconducting film; a plurality of shunt elements mounted on said second film to form a cluster of shunt elements, said second film being arranged opposite said first film with said conducting element and said shunt elements facing one another; means for compressing said films together; means for creating a current flow in said conducting element; and means for shunting a portion of the current flow in said conducting element through said shunt elements when a current flow is created in said conducting element and said films are compressed together.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
33 words
The transducer of claim 57 wherein substantially all of the shunt elements mounted on said second film are each arranged in non-contacting relationship with the other shunt elements mounted on said second film.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-10 | 1999-01-09 | 1999-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-10 | 2003-01-09 | 2003-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-10 | 2007-01-09 | 2007-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |