Abstract: A purpose is to provide a sensor assembly and a sensor module having a flexible sensor element that uses polymer material and having a component such as the sensor element and the like that hardly deteriorates and is superior in durability. A sensor assembly includes a sensor element and an exterior packaging bag enclosing the sensor element. The sensor element includes a sensor thin film made of resin or elastomer, and at least one pair of electrodes connected to the sensor thin film. The exterior packaging bag is made from laminate films having a metal foil and two resin layers arranged sandwiching the metal foil.

Abstract: A deformable sensor system that can be used for pressure-distribution sensors. The deformable sensor system makes it possible to obtain a pressure distribution with a much higher accuracy, while reducing the number of electrodes. The system utilizes a deformable sensor which can detect deformation as the electric resistivity of the surface increases monotonically as an elastic deformation variation in each of the elastic deformations increases. Based on a voltage being detected by means of a detecting unit, the deformable sensor electric-resistivity variation computing unit computes the variation of the electric resistivity based on the method of least squares with a restriction condition imposed thereon. The system uses such a technology as “EIT” that is based on an inverse-problem theory. At an external-force position computing unit, a position in a pressure-receiving surface, position which receives an external force, is computed based on the computed electric-resistivity variation.

Abstract: Provided are a bending sensor that is less dependent on an input speed of a strain and in which a response delay is unlikely to occur, and a deformed shape measurement method using the bending sensor. The bending sensor is configured to include a base material; a sensor body arranged on a surface of the base material and containing a matrix resin and conductive filler particles filled in the matrix resin at a filling rate of 30% by volume or more, and in which three-dimensional conductive paths are formed by contact among the conductive filler particles, and electrical resistance increases as an deformation amount increases; an elastically deformable cover film arranged so as to cover the sensor body; and a plurality of electrodes connected to the sensor body and capable of outputting electrical resistances. In the sensor body, cracks are formed in advance in such a direction that the conductive paths are cut off during a bending deformation.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a dielectric layer made of an elastomer and a pair of electrodes arranged via the dielectric layer, and detects deformation on the basis of electrostatic capacity variation between the pair of electrodes. The pair of electrodes contain an elastomer and conductive fillers filled into the elastomer, are expandable and contractible in accordance with deformation of the dielectric layer, and exhibit little conductivity variation even when the pair of electrodes expand and contract. At least one of the dielectric layer and the electrodes is formed by a printing method using a dielectric layer coating containing a formation component of the dielectric layer or an electrode coating containing a formation component of the electrode.

Abstract: A deformation sensor, which has excellent workability and a high degree of freedom in shape design and which can detect deformation and load in a wide area of components and portions, has a main body of sensor, electrodes which are connected to the main body of sensor and can output electric resistances, and a restraining component which restrains elastic deformation of at least a part of the main body of sensor. The main body of sensor has an elastomer, and spherical conductive fillers which are blended into the elastomer at a high filling rate in an approximately single-particle state, and is elastically deformable. In the main body of sensor, as an elastic deformation increases, the electric resistance increases.

Abstract: A first deformation sensor is arranged in a shock transmission member which is built in a vehicle and which constitutes a transmission path of a shock applied from the outside. A second deformation sensor is arranged in an exterior member which is exposed to the outside of a vehicle. Each of the first and second deformation sensors comprises a main body of sensor which has an elastomer and spherical conductive fillers blended in the elastomer in an approximately single particle state and with a high filling rate, and in which an electric resistance increases as an elastic deformation increases, and an electrode which is connected with the main body of sensor and is able to output the electric resistance.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a dielectric layer made of an elastomer and a pair of electrodes arranged via the dielectric layer, and detects deformation on the basis of electrostatic capacity variation between the pair of electrodes. The pair of electrodes contain an elastomer and conductive fillers filled into the elastomer, are expandable and contractible in accordance with deformation of the dielectric layer, and exhibit little conductivity variation even when the pair of electrodes expand and contract. At least one of the dielectric layer and the electrodes is formed by a printing method using a dielectric layer coating containing a formation component of the dielectric layer or an electrode coating containing a formation component of the electrode.

Abstract: A crosslinked elastomer body is composed of an electrically conductive composition comprising an electrically conductive filler and an insulative elastomer (matrix). The electrically conductive filler is in a spherical particulate form and has an average particle diameter of 0.05 to 100 ?m. The electrically conductive filler has a critical volume fraction (?c) of not less than 30 vol % as determined at a first inflection point of a percolation curve at which an insulator-conductor transition occurs with an electrical resistance steeply reduced when the electrically conductive filler is gradually added to the elastomer. A resistance observed under compressive strain or bending strain increases according to the strain over a resistance observed under no strain when the electrically conductive filler is present in a volume fraction not less than the critical volume fraction (?c) in the composition.

Abstract: To provide a deformable sensor system, which makes it possible to obtain a pressure distribution with a much higher accuracy, while reducing the number of electrodes. A deformable sensor 12 comprises an elastic material whose electric resistivity, when all types of elastic deformations are caused therein respectively, increases monotonically as an elastic deformation variation in each of the elastic deformations increases. Based on a voltage being detected by means of a detecting unit 22, the deformable sensor 12's electric-resistivity variation ??(x, y), which minimizes an evaluation Function J of Equation (1) while satisfying a condition of Equation (2), is computed at an electric-resistivity variation computing unit 25 using such a technology as “EIT” that is based on an inverse-problem theory. At an external-force position computing unit 26, a position in a pressure-receiving surface 12a, position which receives an external force, is computed based on the computed electric-resistivity variation ??(x, y).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic capacity-type sensor which is excellent in durability and can detect bending-deformation. An electrostatic capacity-type sensor comprises a dielectric film made of an elastomer and a pair of electrodes arranged via the dielectric film, and detects the deformation based on a change in the electrostatic capacity between the pair of electrodes. The pair of electrodes have an elastomer and a conductive filler blended in said elastomer, and are expansible/contractible depending on the deformation of the dielectric film, and exhibit a small change in the conductivity even when expanded and contracted.

Abstract: A first deformation sensor is arranged in a shock transmission member which is built in a vehicle and which constitutes a transmission path of a shock applied from the outside. A second deformation sensor is arranged in an exterior member which is exposed to the outside of a vehicle. Each of the first and second deformation sensors comprises a main body of sensor which has an elastomer and spherical conductive fillers blended in the elastomer in an approximately single particle state and with a high filling rate, and in which an electric resistance increases as an elastic deformation increases, and an electrode which is connected with the main body of sensor and is able to output the electric resistance.

Abstract: A crosslinked elastomer body is composed of an electrically conductive composition comprising an electrically conductive filler and an insulative elastomer (matrix). The electrically conductive tiller is in a spherical particulate form and has an average particle diameter of 0.05 to 100 ?m. The electrically conductive filler has a critical volume fraction (?c) of not less than 30 vol % as determined at a first inflection point of a percolation curve at which an insulator-conductor transition occurs with an electrical resistance steeply reduced when the electrically conductive filler is gradually added to the elastomer. A resistance observed under compressive strain or bending strain increases according to the strain over a resistance observed under no strain when the electrically conductive filler is present in a volume fraction not less than the critical volume fraction (?c) in the composition.

Abstract: A deformation sensor, which has excellent workability and a high degree of freedom in shape design and which can detect deformation and load in a wide area of components and portions, has a main body of sensor, electrodes which are connected to the main body of sensor and can output electric resistances, and a restraining component which restrains elastic deformation of at least a part of the main body of sensor. The main body of sensor has an elastomer, and spherical conductive fillers which are blended into the elastomer at a high filling rate in an approximately single-particle state, and is elastically deformable. In the main body of sensor, as an elastic deformation increases, the electric resistance increases.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel hose having superior adhesive reliability with superior initial adhesive strength between a tubular fluororesin inner layer and a thermoplastic resin outer layer and with restrained deterioration in adhesive strength after heat aging and immersion into fuel under severe conditions such as an inside of an engine compartment. The method includes plasma treatment on a peripheral surface of the tubular fluororesin inner layer, at least one treatment of water treatment and silane coupling agent treatment on the plasma treated surface and formation of the thermoplastic resin outer layer on the treated peripheral surface.