GB2341930A - Detector constructed from fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

A detector is constructed from fabric and has electrically conductive elements. The detector defines at least two electrically conductive planes that are configured to produce an electric output in response to mechanical interaction. At least one of the planes includes first portions 1101 and second portions 1102, wherein the first portions have a higher resistance than the second portions but where the first higher resistance portions are more flexible than said second portions.

Description

ETC-P102-GB 2341930 Detector Constructed From Fabric

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements to define at least two electrically conducting planes.

Introduction to the Invention

A fabric touch sensor for providing positional information is described in United States patent 4,659,873 of Gibson. The sensor is fabricated using two layers of fabric having conducting threads, separated by a resistive layer to prevent unintentional contact.

An improvement to this proposal is disclosed in the applicant's co pending British patent application (ETC-PO1-GB) in which there is provided a position detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements, comprising at least two electrically conductive planes. A potential is applied across at least one of the planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction. In addition, a second electrical property is determined, such as current, to identify additional properties of the mechanical interaction, such as an applied force, an applied pressure or an area of contact.

The proposal, constructed from fabric, facilitates bending and folding operations. However, a problem with the proposal is that the reliability of the detector, in terms of its electrical characteristics, cannot be guaranteed if the detector planes are folded or distorted beyond modest operational conditions.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements to define at least two electrically conductive planes and configured to produce ETC-P102-GB 4 plane 103 is brought into electrical contact with plane 102 and the actual voltage applied to plane 103 will depend upon the position of the interaction.

Similarly when a voltage is applied between connectors 111 and 112, a voltage gradient will appear across plane 103 and mechanical interaction will result in a voltage being applied to plane 102. Similarly, the actual voltage applied to plane 102 will depend upon the actual position of the interaction. In this way, for a particular mechanical interaction, it is possible to identify locations within the plane with reference to the two aforesaid measurements.

Thus, connectors 107, 108, Ill and 112 are received by a control circuit 121, configured to apply voltage potentials to the detector 101 and to make measurements of electrical properties in response to mechanical interactions.

Control circuit 121 identifies electrical characteristics of the sensor 101 and in response to these calculations, data relating to the characteristics of the environment are supplied to a data processing system, such as a portable computer 131, via a conventional serial interface 131.

Control circuit 121 is detailed in Figure 2. The control circuit includes a micro-controller 201 such as a Philips 80C51 running at a clock frequency of twenty megahertz. Operations performed by micro-controller 201 are effected in response to internally stored commands held by an internal two kilobyte read-only memory. The micro-controller also includes one hundred and twenty-eight bytes of randomly accessible memory to facilitate intermediate storage while performing calculations. Micro-controller 201 includes a serial interface 202 in addition to assignable pins and an interface for communicating with an analogue to digital converter 203, arranged to convert input voltages into digital signals processable by the micro-controller 201.

The control circuit 121 includes two PNP transistors 211 and 212, in addition to four NPN transistors 213, 214, 215 and 216. All of the transistors are of relatively general purpose construction and control switching operations within the control circuit so as to control the application of voltages to the position detector 101.

ETC-P102-GB 3 Figure 7 shows an alternative configuration of conducting planes; Figure 8 shows an alternative configuration of conducting planes; Figure 9 details a composite configuration of conducting planes; and Figure 10 shows an asymmetric object interacting with conducting planes.

Figure 1 IA and Figure I 1B show an alternative construction for a detector, Figure 12A and Figure 12B show a further alternative construction; Figure 13 shows a further aftemative construction; Figure 14 shows a further alternative construction.

Detailed Description of The Preferred Embodiments

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the previously identified drawings.

A position detector 101 constructed from fabric is shown in Figure 1.

The detector has two electrically conducting fabric planes, in the form of a first plane 102 and a second plane 103. The planes are separated from each other and thereby electrically insulated from each other, by means of an insulating mesh 104, When force is applied to one of the planes, the two conducting planes are brought together, through the mesh 104, thereby creating a position at which electrical current may conduct between planes 102 and 103. In this way, it is possible to identify the occurrence and/or position of a mechanical interaction.

The fabric planes are defined by fabric structures, which may be considered as a woven, non-woven (felted) or knitted etc. The fabric layers may be manufactured separately and then combined to form the detector or the composite may be created as part of the mechanical construction process.

When a voltage is applied across ten-ninals 107 and 108, a voltage gradient appears over plane 102. When a mechanical interaction takes place, ETC-P102-GI3 6 Transistors 211 and 213 are switched on when a voltage is being applied to the first plane 102 and are switched off when a voltage is being applied to the second plane 103. Similarly, when a voltage is being applied to the second plane 103, transistors 212 and 215 are switched on with transistors 211 and 213 being switched off. In the configuration shown in Figure 2, with switch 221 receiving an input from buffer 222, output transistors 211 and 213 are switched off with output transistors 212 and 215 being switched on. This is achieved by output pin CO being placed in a high condition and pin Cl being placed in a low condition. Similarly, pin C3 is placed in a low condition and pin C4 is placed in a high condition.

in the configuration shown, C3 is placed in a low condition, as previously described. The micro-controller 201 includes a pull-down transistor arranged to sink current from the base of transistor 212, resulting in transistor 212 being switched on to saturation. Consequently, transistor 212 appears as having a very low resistance, thereby placing terminal 111 at the supply voltage of five volts. Resistor 231 (4K7) limits the flow of current out of the micro-controller 201, thereby preventing bum-out of the micro- controller's output transistor.

Pin C4 is placed in a high state, resulting in transistor 215 being placed in a conducting condition. A serial resistor is not required given that the micro-controller 201 includes internal pull-up resistors, as distinct from a pull-up transistor, such that current flow is restricted. Thus, transistors 212 and 215 are both rendered conductive, resulting in terminal 111 being placed at the positive supply rail voltage and terminal 112 being placed at ground voltage. The capacitors shown in the circuit, such as capacitor 219, limit the rate of transistor transitions thereby reducing rf transmissions from the sensor 101.

With transistors 212 and 215 placed in their conductive condition, input signals are received from the first plane 102 in the form of a voltage applied to terminal 108. For position detection, this voltage is measured ETC-P1 02-GB In operation, measurements are made while a voltage is applied across first plane 102 and then additional measurements are made while a voltage is applied across the second plane 103; and output voltage only being applied to one of the planes at any particular time. When an output voltage is applied to one of the planes, plane 102 or plane 103, input signals are received from the co-operating plane 103 or 102 respectively. Input signals are received by the analogue to digital converter 203 via a selection switch 221, implemented as a CMOS switch, in response to a control signal received from pin C6 of the micro-controller 201. Thus, in its orientation shown in Figure 2, switch 221 has been placed in a condition to receive an output from a first high impedance buffer 222, buffering an input signal received from plane 102. Similarly, when switch 221 is placed in its alternative condition, an input is received from a second high impedance buffer 223, configured to receive an input signal from plane 103. By placing buffers 222 and 223 on the input side of CMOS switch 221, the switch is isolated from high voltage electrostatic discharges which may be generated in many conditions where the detector undergoes mechanical interactions.

In the condition shown in Figure 2, switch 221 is placed in its upper condition, receiving input signals from buffer 222, with output signals being supplied to the second plane 103. Further operation will be described with respect to this mode of operation and R should be appreciated that the roles of the transistor circuitry is reversed when switch 221 is placed in its alternative condition. As previously stated, condition selection is determined by an output signal from pin C6 of micro-controller 201. In its present condition the output from pin C6 is low and switch 221 is placed in its alternative configuration when the output from pin 6 is high.

Output pin CO controls the conductivity of transistor 211 with pins Cl to C5 having similar conductivity control upon transistors 212, 213, 214, 215 and 216 respectively.

ETC-P102-GB 8 Furthermore, the rate of cycling may be controlled in response to instructions received from the processing device 131.

Operations performed by micro-controller 201 are detailed in Figure 3.

The micro-controller continually cycles between its four configuration states and each time a new input is produced, representing a current or a voltage in one of the two configurations, new output data is calculated on an on- going basis. Thus, output registers are updated such that the best data is made available if the micro-controller is interrupted by the external processor 131.

The micro-controller 201 is fully interrupt driven in terms of receiving external interrupts for data interrogation along with internal interrupts in order to initiate a configuration cycle. The external interrupt has a higher priority such that external processor 131 is provided with information as soon as possible in response to making an interrupt request.

Internally interrupts for the micro-controller 201 are generated by its own internal timer and the procedure shown in Figure 3 is effectively held in a wait state until a next timer interrupt is received at step 301. The wait state allows voltage levels on connections 107, 108, 111 and 112 to become stable and provides sufficient time for valid data to be received from the analogue to digital converter 203.

At step 302, an output is received from analogue to digital converter 203 and at step 303 calculations are performed with respect to the most current data received from the analogue to digital converter, so as to convert numerical values relating to voltages and currents into numerical values representing properties of the mechanical interaction. Thus, after performing calculations at step 303, appropriate registers are updated at step 304 and it is these registers that are interrogated in response to an interrupt received from processing system 131.

At step 305 next conditions for the output lines are set by appropriate logic levels being established for output pins CO to C6. After the next output condition has been selected, the processor enters a wait state at step 306, ETC-PI02-GB 7 directly and transistor 214 is placed in a non-conductive condition by output pin C2 being placed in a low condition. Under these conditions, the voltage from input terminal 108 is applied to analogue to digital converter 203 via buffer 222 and switch 221.

In accordance with the present invention, a second electrical property is determined which, in this embodiment, represents the current flowing through the sensor in response to a mechanical interaction. The current measurement is made by placing transistor 215 in a conductive condition, by placing output pin C4 in a high condition. In this condition, current received at terminal 108 is supplied to transistor 214 via resistor 214A, having a resistance of typically 5k selectable so as to correspond to the characteristics of the sensor. A voltage is supplied to A to D converter 203 via buffer 222 and switch 221 but on this occasion the voltage represents a voltage drop, and hence a current, across resistor 214A.

Thus, transistors 212 and 215 are placed in a conducting condition, transistor 214 is placed in a non-conducting condition, so as to measure voltage, and is then placed in a conducting condition so as to measure current. The roles of the transistors are then reversed, such that output transistors 211 and 213 are placed in a conducting condition, with transistors 212 and 215 being placed in a non-conducting condition (and switch 221 reversed) allowing a voltage to be measured by placing transistor 216 in a non-conducting condition, and then allowing a current to be measured by placing transistor 216 in a conducting condition.

The cycling of line conditions, in order to make the measurements identified previously, is controlled by a clock resident within microcontroller 201. After each condition has been set up, a twelve bit number is received from the digital to analogue converter 203 and this number is retained within a respective register within micro-controller 201. Thus, after completing a cycle of four measurements, four twelve bit values are stored within the micro-controller201 for interrogation by the processing device 131.

ETC-P102-GB Planes 102, 103 and 104 of the detector 101 are detailed in Figure 4.

Planes 101 and 103 are of substantially similar construction and are constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements 402 in plane 102 along with similar electrical conductive elements 403 in plane 103. Thus, it is possible for a voltage indicative of position to be determined when conductive elements 402 are placed in physical contact with conductive elements 403.

The overall resistivity of planes 402 and 403 are controlled by the inclusion of non-conducting elements 404 and 405. Thus, resistivity is controlled by controlling the relative quantities andlor densities of conductive elements 402 with non-conductive elements 404. Resistivity may also be controlled by selecting an appropriate fibre type, adjusting the thickness of the fibre or adjusting the number of strands present in a yam.

Plane 404 represents a non-conducting insulating spacer positioned between the two conducting planes 102 and 103. Pane 104 is constructed as a moulded or woven nylon sheet having an array of substantially hexagonal holes 411, the size of holes 411 is chosen so as to control the ease with which R is possible to bring conductive elements 402 into physical contact with conductive elements 403. Thus, if relatively small holes 411 are chosen, a greater force is required in order to bring the conductive elements together.

Similarly, if the size of the hole is increased, less force is required in order to achieve the conductive effect. Thus, the size of holes 411 would be chosen so as to provide optimal operating conditions for a particular application.

Operating conditions may also be adjusted by controlling the thickness of layer 104, its surface flexibility and the contour of co-operating planes 102 and 103.

When a potential is applied across one of the conducting planes, the actual potential detected at a point on that plane will be related to the position at which the measurement is made. Thus, a direct voltage measurement from the co-operating plane gives a value from which a positional co- ordinate ETC-P102-GB 9 allowing the electrical characteristics to setfle, whereafter processing continues in response to the next timer interrupt.

Thus, it should be appreciated that on each iteration of the procedure shown in Figure 3, one of the output conditions is selected at step 305. Thus, it should be appreciated that the input data is effectively delayed and does not represent a condition of the electrical characteristics at an instant. If in practice, the delay between measurements becomes too large, it becomes necessary to enhance the frequency of operation of circuits within the control system shown in Figure 2. Thus, the rate of conversion for converter 203 would need to be increased and the circuitry would need to be redesigned for high frequency operation. This in turn could create problems in terms of high frequency interference resulting in enhanced shielding being required for the facility as a whole.

When output condition number one is selected, an output voltage at 108 is determined. On the next cycle, identified as output condition number two, the current flowing through connector 108 is determined. On the next iteration, under output configuration number three, the voltage appearing at connector 112 is determined and on the next cycJe, identified as condition number four, the current flowing through connector 112 is determined. After each of these individual measurements, new data is generated in response to steps 303 and 304 such that resulting output registers are being regularly updated on a continual basis, such that the processing system 131 may effectively perform a continual monitoring operation in terms of changes made to the mechanical interactions with the detector 101.

In a typical implementation, the four characteristic measurements, making up a complete cycle, will be repeated at a frequency of between twenty-five to fifty times per second. In situafions where such a repetition rate is not required, it may be preferable to increase the duration of the wait states and thereby significantly reduce overall power consumption.

ETC-P102-GB 12 Contact area resistivity is illustrated generally at 510 and shows that the amount of current flowing between plane 102 and plane 103 is considered as being related to the area of mechanical interaction, which is related to the area of contact externally and to the level of externally applied mechanical force.

The resulting non-linear relationship between the force area product and the resulting current flow is illustrated generally at 520. At 521 there is an initial threshold point, identifying the point at which the gap starts to be closed, followed by an operational part of the curve which may give useful indications of pressure up to point 522, whereafter the relationship becomes very non-linear until position 523 where the relationship effectively saturates.

Using a detector of the type illustrated in Figure 1, it is possible to measure current flow, which could also be considered as contact resistance, in order to identify an additional mechanical property of the interaction. As illustrated in Figure 5, this other mechanical property is related to the area of contact between the sheets, determined by the amount of force applied to the sheets, and to the total area over which the force is applied; or a combination of these two properties. Thus, data relating to force and area may give useful information relating to the interaction, separate from the position at which the interaction takes place.

In some situations, such as when using a stylus or similar implement, the area of applied force remains substantially constant therefore a measurement of current will enable calculations to be made in terms of stylus pressure. Pressure sensitive styli are known but in known configurations the pressure detection is determined within the stylus itself, leading to the stylus being mechanically connected to operational equipment or requiring sophisticated wireless transmission within the stylus itself. The present embodiment allows stylus pressure to be determined using any non sophisticated stylus, given that the pressure detection is made by the co operating fabric detector, arranged to detect stylus position (with reference to ETC-P102-GB may be determined. By reversing the plurality of the planes and taking a measurement from the opposing plane, two co-ordinates are obtained from which it is then possible to identify a precise location over the planar surface.

In addition to measuring position on the planar surface, the present invention is directed at identifying additional electrical properties in order to determine properties of the mechanical interaction. As previously described, the system is configured to measure currents in addition to measuring voltages.

When the two conducting planes are brought into mechanical contact, due to a mechanical interaction, the amount of current flowing as a result of this contact will vary in dependence upon the actual position of the plane where the mechanical interaction takes place. The position of the mechanical interaction has also been determined with reference to voltages and it could be expected that these two quantifies will vary in a substantially similar way, each representing the same physical situation. Experience has shown that variations in measured current do not follow exacdy the same characteristic as variations in measured voltage. As illustrated in Figure 5, the amount of current flowing due to a mechanical interaction will depend upon the position of a mechanical interaction 501. However, in addition to this, the amount of current flow will also depend upon the size of the mechanical interaction. As the size of the mechanical interaction increases, there is a greater area of contact and as such the overall resistance of the mechanical interaction is reduced. However, it should be appreciated that variations in terms of current with respect to interaction size is a sophisficated relationship, given that, in addition to the resistivity of the contact area 501, the resistivity of the actual electrical connections within the sheet must also be taken into account.

Thus, current is transmitted through a region 502 in order to provide a current to the contact region 501. Some aspects of this effect will be compensated with reference to position calculations and other variations due to this effect may be compensated by a non-linear analysis of the input data.

ETC-P102-GB 14 required to produce an electrical contact between planes 702 and 704. In this way, it is possible to provide an incremental measurement of force, given that a low force will only cause contact between plane 701 and plane 702 whereas a larger force will also provide electrical contact between plane 702 and 704.

An alternative configuration is shown in Figure 8 in which it is possible to obtain enhanced substantially continuous variations in current flow with respect to applied force. A first conducting plane 801 interacts with a second conducting plane 802. The planes are woven in such a way as to produce very uneven surfaces such that, under light load, the level of interaction is relatively low. As load increases, as illustrated generally at 805, a greater level of surface contact shown at 806 is created thereby increasing the level of current flow in a substantially continuous way. It should also be noted that this configuration does not include an insulating layer as such and that a level of current flow will always take place even under conditions of zero load.

Alternatively, a very thin insulating layer could be provided, having a relatively low threshold, thereby resulting in a zero current flow when no load is applied.

As shown by curve 811, the output current varies with respect to variations in applied force for a constant load area. Similarly, as shown by curve 821, output current varies with respect to load area for a substantially constant applied force.

A composite configuration is shown in Figure 9, in which a detector 901, substantially similar to that shown in Figure 6, is combined with a detector 902, substantially similar to that shown in Figure 9. Detector 901 provides an accurate measurement of applied area and it is relatively unaffected by applied force. Detector 902, as shown in Figure 8, provides an output which varies with respect to area and force. Thus, by processing the output of these two detectors in combination, it is possible to compensate the output from detector 902 in order to produce values representing force, such ETC-P102-GB 13 voltage) in combination with stylus pressure, with reference to current.

An alternative construction for the conducting fabric planes is illustrated in Figure 6. The detector includes a first conducting plane 601 and a second conducting plane 602. In addition, woven into each of the conducting planes 601 and 602, there are a plurality of non-conducting nodes 605 arranged to mutually interfere and thereby separate the two conducting planes. Between the nodes, the fabrics of the first and second planes may be brought into contact relatively easily such that the application of force, illustrated by arrow 611 would tend to cause a finite number of regions interspersed between nodes 605 to be brought into contact. Thus, for a particular region, contact either is taking place or is not taking place as illustrated by curve 621.

With a number of such regions brought into contact, the overall level of current flow will tend to vary with the area of contact as illustrated by curve 631. Thus, using a construction of the type shown in Figure 6, it is possible to obtain a more linear relationship, compared to that shown in Figure 5, in which the level of current flow gives a very good indication of the area of coverage as distinct from the level of force applied to the mechanical interaction.

Given a construction of the type shown in Figure 6, an indication of applied force or pressure may be obtained, in addition to an accurate determination of area, by providing an incremental switching operation. In the configuration shown in Figure 7, there is provided a first conducting plane 701 which interacts with a second conducting plane 702. Furthermore, conducting plane 702 interacts with a third conducting plane 704. Conducting plane 701 is separated from conducting plane 702 by non-conducting portions 705. Similarly, plane 702 is separated from plane 704 by non conducting portions 706. More non-conducting portions 705 are provided than similar non-conducting portions 706. Consequently, less force is required to produce electrical contact between planes 701 and 702 than is ETC-P102-GB 16 to use alternating currents, in which further electrical characteristics of the detector may be considered, such as capacitance, inductance and reactance etc.

The detector shown in Figure 1, constructed from conducting planes 102 and 103, operates satisfactorily if the plane of the detector is maintained substantially flat. This does not create a problem in many applications where relatively flat operation is considered desirable. However, although constructed from fabric, thereby facilitating bending and folding operations, the reliability of the detector in terms of its electrical characteristics cannot be guaranteed if the detector planes are folded or distorted beyond modest operational conditions.

A detector is shown in Figure 11, constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements to define at least two electrically conductive planes. The detector is configured to produce an electrical output in response to a mechanical interaction, as illustrated in Figure 1. At least one of the planes includes first portions and second portions in which the first portions have a higher resistance than said second portions and the first higher resistance portions are more flexible thanthe second portions. In this way, flexing occurs at the portions of high resistance, where contact between the planes has little effect, while the lower resistance portions, where contact does have a strong electrical effect, remain substantially rigid such that the flexing of the material does not occur over these portions of the detector.

Portions 1101 have a relatively high resistance compared to portions 1102. Portions 1101 are not involved in terms of creating an electrical reaction in response to a mechanical interaction. The electrical responses are provided by the more rigid weave of portions 1102. The purpose of portions 1101 is detailed in Figure I 1B. A curvature has been applied to the detector but the configuration is such that normal operation is still possible. The flexing has occurred predominantly at portions 1101. However, portions 1102 have remained straight thereby ensuring that they remain displaced from each ETC-P102-GB that the two currents provide indications of both force and area.

The operation of the control circuit 121 is such as to apply a first voltage across diagonals 107 and 108 with a similar voltage being applied across diagonals 111 and 112. The nature of the voltage distribution is therefore asymmetric, but this does not result in difficulties provided that the area of contact between the two planes is relatively symmetric. However, should an asymmetric area of contact be made, as illustrated in Figure 10, differences will occur in terms of current measurements when considering calculations made in the two directions.

An asymmetric object 1001 is shown applied to the surface of a detector 1002. When a voltage is applied between contact 107 and 108, paths over which current may flow, illustrated generally at 1003 are relatively large and the object is perceived as having a large area or is perceived as applying a large force. In the opposite dimension, when a voltage is applied between 111 and 112, the regions over which current flow takes place illustrated generally at 1105, become relatively smaller therefore the object would be perceived as having a relatively smaller area or would be perceived as providing a relatively smaller force.

If the system is programmed to the effect that the object has a constant area and applies a constant force, these differences in terms of current flow may be processed in order to give an indication as to the orientation of the object. Thus, the system of the type illustrated in Figure 10, is used in combination with the detector of the type illustrated in Figure 9 it is possible to make reference to the parameters of location in twodimensions, force or pressure, the area of application and orientation.

In the preferred embodiment, electrical characteristics of voltage and current are measured. Alternatively, it would be possible to determine the resistance or the resistivity of the conducting sheets. Problems may be encountered when using alternating currents due to energy being radiated from the conducting sheets. However, in some situations it may be preferable ETC,P102-GB 18 portions 1302. This plane co-operates with a second plane 1303 of substantially homogenous construction. Thus, sufficient flexing and insulation is provided by the non-conducting flexible portions 1301 of the lower cooperating plane 1304. The rigidity of conducting portions 1302 may be enhanced in a fashion substantially similar to that provided by Figure 12A as illustrated in Figure 14. The device includes an outer plane 1401 of substantially homogenous conducting construction. Below this, there is provided a second co-operating plane 1402 and the two planes may be separated by an insulating layer not shown in the example. The second plane or layer includes flexible non-conducting portions 1403 and more rigid conducting portions 1404, substantially similar to those shown in Figure 13. In addition, rigid plates 1405 are provided below each rigid portion 1404 thereby significantly enhancing the rigidity of these portions. Thus, the construction in Figure 4 is capable of withstanding more aggressive working environments compared to the lighter construction shown in Figure 13.

In the construction shown in Figures 13 and 14 the outer layers, 1303 and 1401 respectively, are fabricated in a substantially elastic fashion, thereby providing for a stretching or extension of this layer during flexing operations.

ETC-P102-GB 17 other, even when a curvature is present, such that the detector is still available for detecting the presence of a mechanical interaction.

The rigidity of portions 1102 may be enhanced as shown in Figure 12A. A first plane 1201 has rigid portions 1202 and flexible portions 1203. A second plane 1204 has relatively rigid portions 1205 and relatively flexible portions 1206. The relatively flexible portions 1206 physically contact against similar portions 1203 in the first plane 1201. In order to ensure that there is no, or at least minimal electrical interaction at these points of contacts, the electrical resistance of the flexible portions 1203 and 1206 is relatively high.

A partially insulating layer may be provided between the conducting layers, as shown in Figure 1. However, the flexible portions 1203 act as insulating separators therefore in this embodiment the provision of a separation layer is not essential. Furthermore, the rigidity of the interacting sections, in terms of the rigid portions 1202 and 1205, has its rigidity further enhanced by the presence of relatively solid intermediate plates 1208.

Flexing of the construcfion shown in Figure 12A is substantially similar to that provided by the embodiment shown in Figure I 1B. The flexing of the embodiment shown in Figure 12A is detailed in Figure 12B. Flexing occurs at the position of the relatively flexible portions 1203 and 1206. The rigidity of portions 1202 and 1205 is enhanced by the provision of more solid plates 1208. Thus, the embodiment shown in Figures 12A and 12B may have more strenuous flexing forces applied thereto such that mechanical interaction detection is maintained even under severe operating conditions.

The provision of the flexible portions effectively provide lines over the surface of the conducting planes where folding is permitted. Thus, complex curvatures may be obtained by a number of folds being effected at a plurality of these preferred foldable lines, thereby allowing complex shapes to be attained while maintaining the desired electrical characteristics.

An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 13 in which a first co operating plane has flexible high resistive portions 1301 and rigid conducting ETC-PI02-GB 7. A detector according to claim 6, wherein said homogeneous plane facilitates elastic expansion.

8. A detector according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein a potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction, and a second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of said mechanical interactons.

9. A detector according to claim 8, configured to measure current or resistance as said second electrical property.

10. A detector according to claim 8 or claim 9, configured to determine applied force, applied pressure, area of contact or orientation of an object as the additional property to said mechanical interactions.

11. A method of constructing a detector from fabric, wherein electrically conductive elements are configured to define at least two electrically conductive planes so as to produce an electrical output in response to a mechanical interaction; wherein at least one of said planes includes first portions and second portions; said first portions have a higher resistance than said second portions; and said first higher resistance portions are more flexible than said second portions.

12. A method of constructing a detector according to claim 11, wherein said high resistance portions are configured as flexible portions and facilitate rotational movement about similar portions in a co-operating conductive plane.

ETC-P102-GB 19

Claims (1)

1. Claims

   1. A detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements to define at least two electrically conductive planes and configured to produce an electrical output in response to a mechanical interaction, wherein at least one of said planes includes first portions and second portions, said first portions have a higher resistance than said second portions and said first higher resistance portions are more flexible than said second portions.

   2. A detector according to claim 1, wherein said high resistance portions are configured as flexible portions to facilitate rotational movement about similar portions in a co-operating conductive plane.

   3. A detector according to claim 2, wherein said conductive portions are separated from similar portions of a co-operating plane by being supported by said flexible portions.

   4. A detector according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said second portions are further supported by solid portions.

   5. A detector according to claim 4, wherein said solid portions are constructed from rubber, silicon or plastics.

   6. A detector according to claim 1, wherein only one of said planes includes first high resistive flexible portions with second portions and a co-operating plane is substantially homogeneous.

   ETC-P102-GB 22 applied pressure, area of contact or orientation of an object as the additional property to said mechanical interactions.

   21. A detector constructed from fabric substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 1A, 1 1B, 12A, 12B, 13 or 14.

   22. A method of constructing a detector from fabric, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 1A, 1 1B, 12A, 12B, 13 or 14.

   ETC-P102-GB 21 13. A method of constructing a detector according to claim 12, wherein said conductive portions are separated from similar portions of a co operating plane by being supported by said flexible portions.

   14. A method of constructing a detector according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein said portions are further supported by solid portions.

   15. A method of constructing a detector according to claim 14, wherein said solid portions are constructed from rubber, silicon or plastics.

   16. A method of constructing a detector according to claim 11, wherein only one of said planes includes first high resistive flexible portions with second portions, whereas said co-operating plane is substantially homogeneous.

   17. A method of constructing a detector according to claim 16, wherein said homogenous plane facilitates elastic expansion.

   18. A method of constructing a detector according to any of claims 11 to 17, further comprising the steps of applying a potential across at least one of said planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction and identifying additional properties of said mechanical interaction by determining a second electrical property.

   19. A method of constructing a detector according to claim 8, wherein current or resistance is measured as said second electrical property.

   20. A method of constructing a detector according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein said detector is configured to determine applied force,