LU102154B1 - Sensor Material - Google Patents

Sensor Material Download PDF

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Publication number
LU102154B1
LU102154B1 LU102154A LU102154A LU102154B1 LU 102154 B1 LU102154 B1 LU 102154B1 LU 102154 A LU102154 A LU 102154A LU 102154 A LU102154 A LU 102154A LU 102154 B1 LU102154 B1 LU 102154B1
Authority
LU
Luxembourg
Prior art keywords
electrodes
sensor
edges
force
substrate
Prior art date
Application number
LU102154A
Other languages
German (de)
Inventor
Yannick Kraft
Original Assignee
Innovationlab Gmbh
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Innovationlab Gmbh filed Critical Innovationlab Gmbh
Priority to LU102154A priority Critical patent/LU102154B1/en
Priority to DE102021127680.2A priority patent/DE102021127680A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of LU102154B1 publication Critical patent/LU102154B1/en

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01LMEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
    • G01L1/00Measuring force or stress, in general
    • G01L1/18Measuring force or stress, in general using properties of piezo-resistive materials, i.e. materials of which the ohmic resistance varies according to changes in magnitude or direction of force applied to the material
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01LMEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
    • G01L1/00Measuring force or stress, in general
    • G01L1/20Measuring force or stress, in general by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
    • G01L1/205Measuring force or stress, in general by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress using distributed sensing elements
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01LMEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
    • G01L1/00Measuring force or stress, in general
    • G01L1/20Measuring force or stress, in general by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
    • G01L1/22Measuring force or stress, in general by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress using resistance strain gauges
    • G01L1/2287Measuring force or stress, in general by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress using resistance strain gauges constructional details of the strain gauges

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Force Measurement Appropriate To Specific Purposes (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Abstract

A sensor material 1 which comprises a substrate S arranged in a planar manner unbounded in a first dimension x and bounded by first edges 10 and by a second edge 20 in a second dimension y. The substrate S is thus limited by three edges and unbounded in a first dimension x. The sensor material 1 further comprises a plurality of electrodes E disposed on a first side of the substrate S, between the first edges 10 and the second edge 20, and arranged at an acute angle A to the direction of the first edges 10. The electrodes E are thus arranged on the first side of the substrate S at the acute angle A and bound by three edges. Further, the sensor material 1 comprises a plurality of contacts C disposed along one of the first edges 10 and being connected to the plurality of the electrodes E.

Description

923321 (V2) -1- LU102154 Description Title: Sensor Material Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention relates to a sensor material arranged in a planar manner unbounded in a first dimension. Background of the Invention
[0002] Modern interface controls integrate electronic touch sensors to detect inputs to an electronic device. The electronic touch sensors comprise, for example, force sensitive sensors which are produced by printing single layers of different materials on a substrate.
[0003] The US Patent Application US 2017 153 153 A1 teaches, for example, pre-loaded force sensitive input devices, which are formed as a multiple membrane assembly, and are able to quantify varying applications of pressure to the sensor surface. Using a force sensitive resistor (FSR) or FSR matrix array enables mishandling of protected retail packaging to be detected and identified.
[0004] The large number of sensors that are required mean that there is a need for improving the manufacturing methods. Brief summary of the invention
[0005] The present document teaches a sensor material which comprises a substrate arranged in a planar manner unbounded in a first dimension and bounded by first edges and by a second edge in a second dimension. The substrate is thus limited by three edges and unbounded in the first dimension. The sensor material further comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed on a first side of the substrate, between the first edges and the second edge, and arranged at an acute angle to the direction of the first edges. The electrodes are thus arranged on the first side of the substrate at the acute angle and bound by at least two edges. Further, the sensor material comprises a plurality of contacts disposed along one of the first edges and being connected to the plurality of the electrodes.
923321 (v2) -2- LU102154
[0006] The term “unbounded” in this respect means that at least one side of the substrate has no limiting aspect at the level of manufacture of the sensor material. In practice any substrate will always have an end, but this end could be so distant from the other end that the substrate can be considered as being unbounded.
[0007] The sensor material of this document enables the manufacture of sensors in a continuous process in theoretically "infinite" lengths. The electrical connections are positioned in such a way that the electrical connections do not influence the length or size of the overall layout of the sensor or impede the manufacture of the sensor. The sensor material can therefore be manufactured theoretically endlessly.
[0008] In a first aspect, the electrodes are covered with a force-sensitive material. The force-sensitive material insulates the electrodes. In one aspect, the force-sensitive material can cover the plurality of electrodes as a whole or ones of the plurality of electrodes individually.
[0009] A sensor film is also disclosed. The sensor film comprises an upper layer of the sensor material and a lower layer of the sensor material. The top surface of the upper layer and a top surface of the lower layer are disposed to each other in a planar manner such that the plurality of the electrodes in the upper layer is arranged at an angle to the electrodes in the lower layer. In other words, the sensor material is laid over each other such that the force-sensitive material/s of the two layers of the sensor material is/are touching each other.
[0010] In a further aspect, the plurality of the contacts on the upper layer and the plurality of contacts of the lower layer are arranged alternately along one edge of the sensor. Thus, adjacent contacts have a different polarity, alternating between a positive polarity and a negative polarity.
[0011] In a further aspect, the plurality of the electrodes in the upper layer and the electrodes in the lower layer form a plurality of contact points. Every single contact point defines a force-sensitive sensor comprising two electrodes separated by the force-sensitive material.
[0012] A method for producing a sensor material is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate, being formed in a planar manner unbounded in a first dimension and bounded by first edges and by a second edge in a second dimension; disposing a plurality of electrodes on a first side of the substrate at an acute angle to the
923321 (v2) -3- LU102154 direction of the first edges; disposing a plurality of contacts arranged along one of the first edges and being connected to the plurality of the electrodes; and covering the plurality of electrodes as a whole or each electrode of the plurality of electrodes individually with a force-sensitive material.
[0013] In an aspect, the disposal of the plurality of electrodes, the plurality of contacts and the force-sensitive material on the substrate continues in an unbounded manner. The method enables the sensor material to be produced continuously depositing the individual components onto the substrate.
Brief description of the drawings
[0014] Fig. 1 shows a first example of a sensor material.
[0015] Fig. 2 shows a sensor film comprising two layers of the sensor material laid over each other.
[0016] Fig. 3 shows an exploded sectional view of a contact point P of the plurality of contact points P from Fig. 2.
[0017] Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of a method for producing the sensor material. Detailed description of the invention
[0018] The invention will now be described on the basis of the drawings. It will be understood that the embodiments and aspects of the invention described herein are only examples and do not limit the protective scope of the claims in any way. The invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. It will be understood that features of one aspect or embodiment of the invention can be combined with a feature of a different aspect or aspects and/or embodiments of the invention.
[0019] Fig. 1 shows a first example of a sensor material 1 with a substrate S arranged in a planar manner unbounded in a first dimension x and bounded by first edges 10 and by a second edge 20 in a second dimension y. The first edges 10 are substantially orthogonal to the second edge 20. The length of the second edge 20 is defined by the width of the substrate S and/or the size of manufacturing devices. The substrate S is made for example, from one out of the group of Kapton, Polyimid PI, Polyethylene-naphthalate PEN,
923321 (V2) -4- LU102154 Polyethylene-terephthalate PET, Thermoplastic-polyurethane TPU, Polyurethane PU, Mica, flexible glas, Fleece, Polyether-ether-ketone PEEK, but this is not limiting of the invention.
[0020] A plurality of electrodes E is disposed on a first side of the substrate S, between the first edges 10 and the second edge 20. The plurality of electrodes E is arranged at an acute angle A to the direction of first edges 10. The acute angle has a value, for example, between 89 degrees and 75 degrees . In one non-limiting aspect, the acute angle A has a value of 83 degrees to the direction of first edges 10. The plurality of electrodes E are made for example, from a conductive material such as silver, copper, carbon, gold, PEDOT or indium-tin-oxide ITO, but this is not limiting of the invention.
[0021] A plurality of contacts C is disposed along one of the first edges 10. Ones of the electrodes E are connected to ones of the plurality of contacts C. The electrodes E are covered with a force-sensitive material B.
[0022] As shown in the example of Fig. 1, the electrodes E are covered by the force- sensitive material B individually. In another example (not shown), the force-sensitive material B can cover more than one of the electrodes and indeed the force-sensitive material B can cover the plurality of electrodes E as a whole. The force-sensitive material B insulates the single electrodes E from each other as well as from other components and elements on the substrate S. The force-sensitive material B changes its electrical resistance when a force or a pressure is applied. Examples of the force-sensitive material B include one of a carbon-based force-sensitive resistor material, percolating materials consisting of a conductive species and a non-conductive species (e.g. carbon / polymer guest host systems), but this is not limiting of the invention.
[0023] The sensor material 1 can theoretically be manufactured endlessly in the first dimension x, as will be explained below with reference to Fig. 4. Thus, different length and sizes of the sensor material 1 can be manufactured in an easy way.
[0024] In Fig. 2 a sensor film 2 is shown. The sensor film 2 comprises an upper layer 21 of the sensor material 1 and a lower layer 22 of the sensor material 1. In other words, the sensor film 2 comprises two layers of the sensor material 1 laid over each other. For the sake of visibility, the force-sensitive material B is not shown in Fig. 2 but it will be understood that the force-sensitive material B 1s present and sandwiched between the upper layer 21 and the lower layer 22. The upper layer 21 and the lower layer 22 can be cut into a
923321 (v2) -5- LU102154 desired size before or after the upper layer 21 and the lower layer 22 are laid over each other. The upper layer 21 and the lower layer 22 of the sensor material 1 are permanently joined or laminated together with an adhesive, such as but not limited to KIWOPrint UV 92, or by thermo-welding or another method.
[0025] A top surface 23 (see Fig. 3) of the upper layer 21 and a top surface 24 (see Fig. 3) of the lower layer 22 are disposed adjacent to each other in a planar manner such that the plurality of the electrodes E in the upper layer 21 is arranged at an angle to the electrodes E in the lower layer 22. Thus, the plurality of the electrodes E in the upper layer 21 and the electrodes E in the lower layer 22 form a plurality of contact points P with the force-sensitive material B sandwiched between the electrodes E in the upper layer 21 and the lower layer 22. The contact points P form thereby a force-sensitive sensor comprising two of the electrodes E separated by the force-sensitive material B.
[0026] The plurality of contacts C1 on the upper layer 21 and the plurality of contacts C2 of the lower layer 22 are arranged alternately along one of the first edges 10 of the sensor film 2. Adjacent ones of the contacts C1 and C2 have different polarities and alternate between a positive polarity and a negative polarity.
[0027] In Fig. 3 an exploded sectional view of a first example of one of the contact points P from Fig. 2 1s shown. The upper layer 21 of the sensor material 1 comprises the electrode E which is covered by the force-sensitive material B. Opposite of the upper layer 21 the lower layer 22 is disposed.
[0028] As noted above, the single contact points P define a force-sensitive sensor and are thus built, for example, in thru-mode. In the thru-mode, as a non-limiting example, an applied voltage at the contacts C1 and C2 cause an electric current to flow from one of the two electrodes E substantially perpendicular to the other of the two electrodes E through the force-sensitive material B in the contact point P. A force or pressure changes the electrical resistance of the force-sensitive material B and thus a change of the current at a specific one of the contact points P can be detected.
[0029] Fig. 4 shows a flow chart for the manufacture of the sensor material 1. In step one S1 the substrate S is provided and is formed in a planar manner unbounded in a first dimension x and bounded by first edges 10 and by a second edge 20 in a second dimension y. Examples of a substrate S will be a tape. It will be appreciated that the tape is ultimately
923321 (V2) -6- LU102154 bounded at both ends, but a large number of pieces of the sensor material 1 can be made from a single length of tape and thus the tape is effectively unbounded.
[0030] In step two S2 a plurality of electrodes E is disposed on a first side of the substrate S at an acute angle À to the direction of the first edges 10. In step three S3 a plurality of contacts C is disposed along one of the first edges 10 and being connected to the plurality of the electrodes E. In step four S4 the plurality of electrodes E is covered as a whole or each electrode E of the plurality of electrodes E is covered individually with the force- sensitive material B.
[0031] The disposal of the plurality of electrodes E, the plurality of contacts C and the force-sensitive material B on the substrate S continues unbounded.

Claims (9)

923321 (V2) -7- LU102154 Claims
1. A sensor material (1) comprising: a substrate (S) arranged in a planar manner unbounded in a first dimension (x) and bounded by first edges (10) and by a second edge (20) in a second dimension (y); a plurality of electrodes (E) disposed on a first side of the substrate (S), between the first edges (10) and the second edge (20), and arranged at an acute angle (A) to the direction of the first edges (10); and a plurality of contacts (C) disposed along one of the first edges (10) and being connected to the plurality of the electrodes (E).
2. The sensor material (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes (E) are covered with a force-sensitive material (B).
3. The sensor material (1) according to claim 2, wherein the force-sensitive material (B) covers the plurality of electrodes (E) as a whole or ones of the plurality of electrodes (E) individually.
4. A sensor film (2), comprising: an upper layer (21) of the sensor material (1) according to claim 1, and a lower layer (22) of the sensor material (1) according to claim 1 wherein a top surface (23) of the upper layer (21) and a top surface (24) of the lower layer (22) are disposed to each other in a planar manner such that the plurality of the electrodes (E) in the upper layer (21) is arranged at an angle to the electrodes (E) in the lower layer (22).
5. The sensor film (2) according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of the contacts (C1) on the upper layer and the plurality of contacts (C2) of the lower layer are arranged alternately along one edge of the sensor (2).
6. The sensor film (2) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the plurality of the electrodes (E) in the upper layer (21) and the electrodes (E) in the lower layer (22) form a plurality of contact points (P).
923321 (v2) -8- LU102154
7. The sensor film (2) according to claim 6, wherein every single contact point (P) defines a force-sensitive sensor comprising two electrodes (E) separated by the force-sensitive material (B).
8. A method for producing a sensor material (1), wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a substrate (S) being formed in a planar manner unbounded in a first dimension (x) and bounded by first edges (10) and by a second edge (20) in a second dimension (y); disposing a plurality of electrodes (E) on a first side of the substrate (S) at an acute angle (A) to the direction of the first edges (10); disposing a plurality of contacts (C) arranged along one of the first edges (10) and being connected to the plurality of the electrodes (E); and covering the plurality of electrodes (E) as a whole or each electrode (E) of the plurality of electrodes (E) individually with a force-sensitive material (B).
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the disposal of the plurality of electrodes (E), the plurality of contacts (C) and the force-sensitive material (B) on the substrate (S) continues unbounded.
LU102154A 2020-10-26 2020-10-26 Sensor Material LU102154B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU102154A LU102154B1 (en) 2020-10-26 2020-10-26 Sensor Material
DE102021127680.2A DE102021127680A1 (en) 2020-10-26 2021-10-25 sensor material

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU102154A LU102154B1 (en) 2020-10-26 2020-10-26 Sensor Material

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
LU102154B1 true LU102154B1 (en) 2022-04-27

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LU (1) LU102154B1 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4856993A (en) * 1985-03-29 1989-08-15 Tekscan, Inc. Pressure and contact sensor system for measuring dental occlusion
US20080184820A1 (en) * 2007-02-01 2008-08-07 Nitta Corporation Sensor sheet
US20100288635A1 (en) * 2008-01-28 2010-11-18 Kuraray Co., Ltd. Flexible deformation sensor
US20170153153A1 (en) 2015-12-01 2017-06-01 Sensitronics, LLC Metalized polyester film force sensors
US20200003643A1 (en) * 2018-06-29 2020-01-02 Khalifa University of Science and Technology Sensor array for consolidated force measurement

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4856993A (en) * 1985-03-29 1989-08-15 Tekscan, Inc. Pressure and contact sensor system for measuring dental occlusion
US20080184820A1 (en) * 2007-02-01 2008-08-07 Nitta Corporation Sensor sheet
US20100288635A1 (en) * 2008-01-28 2010-11-18 Kuraray Co., Ltd. Flexible deformation sensor
US20170153153A1 (en) 2015-12-01 2017-06-01 Sensitronics, LLC Metalized polyester film force sensors
US20200003643A1 (en) * 2018-06-29 2020-01-02 Khalifa University of Science and Technology Sensor array for consolidated force measurement

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Effective date: 20220427