Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a thin, light, and portable system for measuring one or more parameters of a contact patch between a tire and a surface. The system may be configured with an array of sensors capable of being removable fixed to the surface. The array of sensors may measure the one or more parameters of the contact patch between the tire and the surface. Moreover, the system may include a scanner configured to interpret the measurements from the array of sensors as data and store the data.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a thin, light, and portable system for measuring one or more parameters of a contact patch between a tire and a surface. The system may be configured with an array of sensors capable of being removable fixed to the surface. The array of sensors may measure the one or more parameters of the contact patch between the tire and the surface. Moreover, the system may include a scanner configured to interpret the measurements from the array of sensors as data and store the data.

Abstract: A force sensor for measuring force and/or pressures disclosed. In some embodiments, the sensor includes first and second layers, each layer having one or more electrodes arranged in a repeating, undulating pattern. Such an undulating pattern may include a serpentine pattern or a repeating v-shaped pattern. When arranged, the one or more electrodes on the first layer are placed in facing relationship and cross the one or more electrodes on the second layer to form a plurality of electrode intersections. When stretched, the one or more electrodes on the first layer move relative to the one or more electrodes on the second layer while creating new electrode intersections.

Abstract: A force sensor for measuring force and/or pressures disclosed. In some embodiments, the sensor includes first and second layers, each layer having one or more electrodes arranged in a repeating, undulating pattern. Such an undulating pattern may include a serpentine pattern or a repeating v-shaped pattern. When arranged, the one or more electrodes on the first layer are placed in facing relationship and cross the one or more electrodes on the second layer to form a plurality of electrode intersections. When stretched, the one or more electrodes on the first layer move relative to the one or more electrodes on the second layer while creating new electrode intersections.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive device that provides a stable response to measure an applied force at temperatures greater than 150° F. (about 66° C.) is disclosed. The pressure sensitive device can have a conductivity of about 0.01 ?S to about 1300 ?S and a sensitivity of about 0.01 ?S/lb to about 300 ?S/lb (about 0.02 ?S/kg to about 660 ?S/kg) at about a temperature range of about ?50° F. to over about 400° F. or 420° F. (about ?45° C. to over about 205° C. or 216° C.). The pressure sensitive device can have a substrate of polyimide, conductive leads of silver dispersed in a polyhydroxy ether crosslinked with melamine formaldehyde, and a pressure sensitive layer of carbon nanoparticles dispersed in cured polyamic acid forming a polyimide.

Abstract: A control circuit for scanning a pressure or force responsive sensor array is disclosed. Pressure or force sensors formed of an array of pressure or force responsive sensor elements can be used to acquire pressure or force measurements in response to an applied load. The control circuit can sample signals from the sensor elements to detect the pressure or force at one or more sensor elements of the sensor array. The circuit herein may provide for relatively faster scan rates. A user may define a subset or subsets of sensor elements of the sensor array to be scanned. Various methods and related circuitry for adjusting for sensor characteristics are also disclosed.

Abstract: A control circuit for scanning a pressure or force responsive sensor array is disclosed. Pressure or force sensors formed of an array of pressure or force responsive sensor elements can be used to acquire pressure or force measurements in response to an applied load. The control circuit can sample signals from the sensor elements to detect the pressure or force at one or more sensor elements of the sensor array. The circuit herein may provide for relatively faster scan rates. A user may define a subset or subsets of sensor elements of the sensor array to be scanned. Various methods and related circuitry for adjusting for sensor characteristics are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a parameter applied to a surface is provided. The sensor includes at least one substrate layer, a plurality of individual sensor elements operatively arranged with respect to the substrate layer, and a conductive trace disposed on the substrate layer. The conductive trace is electrically coupled to an individual sensor element and wraps around at least a portion of the sensor element in a spiral-like manner. Further, by employing slits or cut-outs of material between sensor elements, a sensor element may move independent of an adjacent sensor element, thereby allowing the sensor to conform to an irregularly shaped surface or otherwise when subject to relatively large deflections. The sensor may be employed to detect force distribution of a seating surface, such as a seat cushion of a wheelchair.

Abstract: A novel pressure sensor mechanism is provided which includes both a novel pressure sensor assembly and a novel handle for use therewith. The pressure sensor assembly has at least one pressure sensor at its distal end, the pressure sensor having electrodes which are connected through spaced leads to output terminals at a proximal end of the assembly. Even though sensor electrodes and leads may be on facing substrate sections of the assembly, the assembly is designed so as to permit all output terminals to be electrically accessed from the same side of the sensor assembly. An additional output terminal may be provided for preferred embodiments, which terminal is accessible from the same side of the sensor assembly as the other two output terminals, is substantially smaller than the other two output terminals and is connected to one of the other two output terminals by a sensor-ok lead or trace.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for detecting the contact or nip width between two contacting surfaces. The apparatus includes first and second insulating substrates each of which has a pattern of conductive material formed on a facing inner surface thereof, which substrates are adapted to be fitted between the contacting surfaces. For a first embodiment, the pattern of conductive material on one substrate includes a pair of conductive terminals spaced by a distance greater than the contact width to be measured and the conductive pattern on the other substrate includes a conductor which extends over at least a distance greater than the maximum width W to be measured.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive element or array is provided which includes at least one first conductor on a first substrate and at least one second conductor on a second substrate, with a first conductor and a second conductor intersecting adjacent to each other at a sensor point and a pressure sensitive material being between the first and second conductors at each such sensor point. A mechanism is also provided which applies a predetermined prepressure to the substrates at least at selected ones of the sensor points. The prepressure for a preferred embodiment is provided by joining the substrates with an air-tight seal around a periphery of at least the pressure point to which prepressure is to be applied and by creating a reduced pressure area between the substrates within the sealed periphery. For preferred embodiments, the reduced pressure is a substantial vacuum, causing substantially atmospheric pressure to be applied to the sensor points.

Abstract: A circuit is provided for scanning and outputting a pressure sensor having at least one sensor point which sensor point is formed at each intersection of at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, there being a pressure sensitive resistance between the electrodes at each sensor point. The circuit includes a reference potential generator the output from which is applied at an output end of each second electrode, a first potential source which is connected to each first electrode when a sensor point intersected by the first electrode is to be scanned and a ratiometric A/D converter which has as inputs a second potential source, an output derived from the second electrode intersecting the sensor point being scanned and the reference potential. The output from the converter is the circuit output.

Abstract: A circuit and various sensor arrays are provided which facilitate the scanning of an array of pressure responsive points at higher speed than is possible with currently available circuits and sensor arrays and also provides greater flexibility in selecting scanning speed and in making a tradeoff between scanning speed and resolution. These objectives are achieved by providing a sensor array having T sets of drive electrodes, with pressure points in a predetermined pattern intersected by drive electrodes of each set and a sense electrode for each pressure point of a set.

Abstract: A scanning circuit for an array of pressure responsive sensor points which permits the sensitivity of the circuit to be controlled. In particular, the sensitivity of the circuit may be controlled by controlling a test and/or reference voltage used with the circuit and different sensitivity or resolutions may be provided for different areas of the array. The circuit also provides enhanced interelectrode isolation, permitting a single test voltage to be utilized to scan all sensor points on a given input electrode and further reduces the time required to scan the array by reducing trace capacitance discharge time and by inhibiting processing for sensor points which are not of interest. The accuracy of pressures being sensed is also enhanced by adjusting the test voltage to compensate for load variations.

Abstract: A force and pressure sensor is provided having two sets of parallel electrodes which are positioned facing one another and arranged so that electrodes of one set cross the electrodes of the second set at an angle to create a plurality of electrode intersections. Pressure-sensitive resistive material lies between the electrodes at each intersection. An adhesive layer is applied to at least one of the electrode sets in areas between electrode intersections to secure the first and second electrode sets in facing relationship, the adhesive layer preferably being applied in a pattern which provides passages where the adhesive layer does not exist to allow air to escape from interior areas of the electrode set. The thickness of the adhesive layer may be adjusted to permit preloading or to provide a threshold level for the sensor.

Abstract: A contact sensor for detecting points on a grid where the sensor is being contacted on opposing sides by teeth surfaces or other contacting points. The sensor is especially useful for measuring dental occlusion. The contact sensor includes two sets of parallel electrodes which are each formed on a thin, flexible supporting sheet. The electrodes are separated by a thin, pressure-sensitive resistive coating such as molydenum disulphide. Two such electrode structures are oriented at approximately right angles to create a grid where the intersecting electrodes cross separated by the resistive coatings. Several arrangements of resistive coating over electrodes as disclosed. In the absence of an external force, the material between the electrodes sets provides a high resistance between intersecting electrodes. The resistance between electrode intersections changes as pressure on opposite sides of the intersection changes.