Three dimensional touch conductive fabric

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10908745-B2
Application number	US-201816015801-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2018
Priority date	Jun 22, 2018
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

Devices related to a conductive fabric sensor are provided. A device can comprise an insulting and flexible fabric substrate, a central transmitting electrode on a top surface of the insulting and flexible fabric substrate, a plurality of receiving electrodes surrounding the central transmitting electrode and connected to the central transmitting electrode, and a power supply configured to generate a respective electric field between the central transmitting electrode and each receiving electrode of the plurality receiving electrodes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conductive fabric sensor, comprising:
a first flexible fabric substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;
a first dielectric layer disposed on, and in direct physical contact with, a central area of the first surface of the first flexible fabric substrate;
a second dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer, a fourth dielectric layer, and a fifth dielectric layer surrounding the first dielectric layer and disposed on, and in direct physical contact with, the first surface of the first flexible fabric substrate;
a sixth dielectric layer disposed on, and in direct physical contact with, the second surface of the flexible substrate and having an area at least as great as that of the first dielectric layer;
a central transmitting electrode on the first dielectric layer;
a plurality of receiving electrodes surrounding the central transmitting electrode, and being electrically connected to the central transmitting electrode, the plurality of receiving electrodes comprising four receiving electrodes respectively disposed on the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer, the fourth dielectric layer, and the fifth dielectric layer;
a power supply configured to generate a respective electric field between the central transmitting electrode and each receiving electrode of the plurality receiving electrodes; and
a plurality of resistive pressure sensing transducers comprising conductive threads sewn in parallel in the first flexible fabric substrate and a second flexible fabric substrate, the first flexible fabric substrate and the second flexible fabric substrate being attached with traces thereof being orthogonal to each other and having a compressed insulating material therebetween, and the compressed insulating material comprising a conductive material therewithin having wires at both ends thereof,
the first dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, with a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side,
the second dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, and facing the first side of the first dielectric layer,
the third dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, and facing the second side of the first dielectric layer,
the fourth dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, and facing the third side of the first dielectric layer,
the fifth dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, and facing the fourth side of the first dielectric layer,
a width of the second dielectric layer being the same as a length of the first side of the first dielectric layer,
a width of the third dielectric layer being the same as a length of the second side of the first dielectric layer,
a width of the fourth dielectric layer being the same as a length of the third side of the first dielectric layer,
a width of the fifth dielectric layer being the same as a length of the fourth side of the first dielectric layer,
a thickness of the first dielectric layer being about 0.05 millimeters (mm),
a thickness of the second dielectric layer being about 0.05 mm,
a thickness of the third dielectric layer being about 0.05 mm,
a thickness of the fourth dielectric layer being about 0.05 mm,
a thickness of the fifth dielectric layer being about 0.05 mm, and
a thickness of the sixth dielectric layer being about 0.05 mm.

2. The conductive fabric sensor of claim 1 , the central transmitting electrode comprising a wire electrode configured in a snaking pattern.

3. The conductive fabric sensor of claim 1 , each receiving electrode of the plurality of receiving electrodes comprising a wire electrode in a zig zag pattern.

4. The conductive fabric sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a respective capacitance between the central transmitter and each receiving electrode of the plurality of receiving electrodes.

5. The conductive fabric sensor of claim 1 , the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer, the fourth dielectric layer, the fifth dielectric layer, and the sixth dielectric layer all comprising a planar foil.

6. The conductive fabric sensor of claim 1 , the conductive fabric sensor being disposed on a wristband or a glove.

7. A computer-based system of motion sensing using a conductive fabric to transmit an input for a computing device, the system comprising:
the conductive fabric sensor according to claim 1 , the conductive fabric sensor being configured to be worn on a body; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed causes at least one processor to translate movements of a body as inputs to the conductive fabric sensor.

8. A conductive fabric sensor, comprising:
a first flexible fabric substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;
a first dielectric layer disposed on, and in direct physical contact with, a central area of the first surface of the first flexible fabric substrate;
a second dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer, a fourth dielectric layer, and a fifth dielectric layer surrounding the first dielectric layer and disposed on, and in direct physical contact with, the first surface of the first flexible fabric substrate;
a sixth dielectric layer disposed on, and in direct physical contact with, the second surface of the flexible substrate and having an area at least as great as that of the first dielectric layer;
a central transmitting electrode on the first dielectric layer and configured in a grid pattern;
a plurality of receiving electrodes surrounding the central transmitting electrode, each receiving electrode of the plurality of receiving electrodes comprising a wire electrode configured in a grid pattern, and the plurality of receiving electrodes comprising four receiving electrodes respectively disposed on the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer, the fourth dielectric layer, and the fifth dielectric layer;
a power supply configured to generate a respective electric field between the central transmitting electrode and each receiving electrode of the plurality receiving electrodes; and
a plurality of resistive pressure sensing transducers comprising conductive threads sewn in parallel in the first flexible fabric substrate and a second flexible fabric substrate, the first flexible fabric substrate and the second flexible fabric substrate being attached with traces thereof being orthogonal to each other and having a compressed insulating material therebetween, and the compressed insulating material comprising a conductive material therewithin having wires at both ends thereof,
the first dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, with a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side,
the second dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, and facing the first side of the first dielectric layer,
the third dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, and facing the second side of the first dielectric layer,
the fourth dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, and facing the third side of the first dielectric layer,
the fifth dielectric layer having a rectangular shape, when viewed from above the first surface, and facing the fourth side of the first dielectric layer,
a width of the second dielectric layer being the same as a length of the first side of the first dielectric layer,

Assignees

• Ortega Francisco R
• Calella Jules
• Rishe Naphtali
• Iyengar S S
• The Florida International Univ Board Of Trustees

Inventors

• Ortega Francisco R
• Calella Jules
• Rishe Naphtali
• Iyengar S S

Classifications

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title

• G06F3/044 Primary

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• A44C5/0053

  Flexible straps · CPC title

• A41D1/005

  with embedded cable or connector · CPC title