Force sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11933681-B2
Application number	US-201917277382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2019
Priority date	Sep 21, 2018
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A force sensor comprising a force sensitive resistor having a common electrode and an electrode array separated by a force sensitive resistor material. The sensor includes a preload structure, where the preload structure imparts a force on the force sensitive resistor material. The sensor may also include a signal conditioning board to read a signal from the electrode array and convert it to a digital output.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A force sensor comprising:
a force sensitive resistor comprising:
a common reference electrode,
an electrode array positioned proximate to the common reference electrode, and
a force sensitive resistor material separating the common reference electrode and the electrode array, wherein the common reference electrode and the electrode array are separated by a distance along a longitudinal axis of the force sensitive resistor; and

a preload structure mechanically binding the common reference electrode, force sensitive resistor material, and electrode array, wherein the preload structure imparts a compressive force upon the force sensitive resistor material along the longitudinal axis.

2. The force sensor of claim 1 , wherein the preload structure engages a center point of each of the common reference electrode, the force sensitive resistor material, and the electrode array.

3. The force sensor of claim 1 , wherein the electrode array comprises a plurality of sensing elements.

4. The force sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a signal conditioning board in electrical contact with the electrode array, wherein the signal conditioning board receives a signal from the electrode array.

5. The force sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a protective housing affixed to the common reference electrode.

6. The force sensor of claim 5 , wherein the protective housing comprises a protective tip affixed to the common reference electrode by the preload structure.

7. The force sensor of claim 1 , wherein the preload structure comprises a screw having a head that engages the common reference electrode and a threaded portion that engages a nut.

8. The force sensor of claim 4 , wherein the signal comprises a resistance of the force sensitive resistor.

9. The force sensor of claim 8 , wherein the signal conditioning board converts the signal to a voltage analog output.

10. The force sensor of claim 9 , wherein the signal conditioning board converts the voltage analog output to a digital output.

Assignees

• Univ Carnegie Mellon

Inventors

• Li Lu
• Brown H Benjamin
• Schwerin Michael
• Choset Howie

Classifications

• G01L1/22 Primary

  using resistance strain gauges · CPC title

• G01L5/1627

  of strain gauges (using piezoresistors G01L5/162) · CPC title

• G01L5/161 Primary

  using variations in ohmic resistance · CPC title

• H01C10/12

  by changing surface pressure between resistive masses or resistive and conductive masses, e.g. pile type · CPC title

• H01C10/10

  adjustable by mechanical pressure or force · CPC title