1958results about "Force measurement using piezo-electric devices" patented technology

System determines integrity of a product through shipment and has: (a) plurality of identical smart sensors for direct attachment to different locations on the product and (b) interrogating device, the identical smart sensors monitoring like environmental condition of the product during shipment and wirelessly communicating data about the environmental condition to the interrogating device during or after shipment, the interrogating device communicating the environmental condition over a network, wherein the identical smart sensors comprise an accelerometer and the environmental condition comprises acceleration. Method establishes product integrity after shipment from first location to second location by: attaching plurality of identical smart sensors directly to product at first location; monitoring environmental condition of product via the identical smart sensors during shipment; wirelessly communicating the environmental condition from the identical smart sensors to receiver at the second location; and communicating the environmental condition from the receiver to a third location.

Systems for diagnosing / monitoring structural health conditions of objects. The system, which monitors structural health conditions by use of a plurality of patch sensors attached to an object, includes at least one bridge box and at least one relay switch array module having a plurality of switches. Each of the patch sensors is adapted to perform at least one of generating a wave upon receipt of an actuator signal and developing a sensor signal. The bridge box includes an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting the sensor signal to a digital signal. The switches are adapted to establish a channel between a selected one of the patch sensors and the ADC.

A MEMS pixel sensor is provided with a thin-film mechanical device having a mechanical body, with a mechanical state responsive to a proximate environment. A thin-film electronic device converts the mechanical state into electrical signals. A pixel interface supplies power to the electronic device and transceives electrical signals. The sensor is able to operate dynamically, in real-time. For example, if the mechanical device undergoes a sequence of mechanical states at a corresponding plurality of times, the electronic device is able to supply a sequence of electrical signals to the pixel interface that are responsive to the sequence of mechanical states, at the plurality of times. Each MEMS pixel sensor may include a number of mechanical devices, and corresponding electronic devices, to provide redundancy or to measure a broadband response range.

Disclosed herein is a piezoelectric composite device including: a feeding electrode; a common electrode; a signal detecting electrode; a first piezoelectric element joined between the feeding electrode and the common electrode; and a second piezoelectric element joined between the common electrode and the signal detecting electrode; a predetermined voltage being supplied between the feeding electrode and the common electrode; and a force detection signal based on an external force being extracted from the detecting electrode.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a pressure sensing / force generating device comprising a non-planar substrate, a printed pressure sensitive element comprising (a) a piezoelectric material containing ink composition capable of producing a piezoelectric effect / piezoresistive effect and / or (b) a dielectric material containing ink composition capable of producing a capacitive effect. It also includes a first printed electrode comprising a conductive ink composition, and a second printed electrode comprising a conductive ink composition. The first and second electrodes are in electrical contact with the printed pressure sensitive element. The first and second printed electrodes and the printed pressure sensitive element collectively form a pressure sensitive junction, which is coupled to the non-planar substrate. The present invention further relates to medical devices comprising the pressure sensing / force generating device and methods of making such devices.

The invention provides a pressure sensor, and further provides electronic skin, touch screen equipment and safety alarm equipment correspondingly, wherein the electronic skin, the touch screen equipment and the safety alarm equipment are based on the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor comprises a substrate. The substrate is provided with a plurality of sensing units arranged in an array mode; a static nano generator with two friction layers is adopted in the sensing units, when external force is applied to the sensor, the distance between two friction layers of each sensing unit feeling the external force is changed, and electrical signals output outwards by two corresponding electrode layers are also changed; electrode layers of all sensing units are led out of the sensor through wires, so that functions like pressure (stress) positioning and pressure field mapping can be achieved. The electronic skin, the touch screen equipment and the safety alarm equipment do not need to be powered by power supplies and can conduct pressure induction in a self-driven mode.

The invention provides a smart sensor in the form of an adhesive bandage. The sensor may be used in many applications such as within sports, the shipping industry and medical and health industries. The sensor sticks to people and objects and wirelessly communicates with remote receivers. Internal detectors sense conditions associated with movement and / or the environment of the sensor. In one example, an accelerometer detects impact and drop distance of a package in transit; the sensor is either within a label or attached to a product within the package. The sensor may also prevent theft and assist in tracking package disposition so as to reduce lost packages. The sensors of the invention may also be used in fitness and health, such as to monitor body functions of heart rate and respiration; these sensors also may initiate immediate wireless warnings for improper functions so that persons may obtain immediate assistance. Sensors of the invention are also useful for sports media broadcasts; multiple sensors may attach to athletes so that wireless performance data is made available, in near real time, to audiences and media observers. Data from sensors of the invention may also change the computer gaming community; that is, certain sensors tracking real performance data may relay information used within gaming so as to govern computer gaming motions. Typically, sensors of the invention communicate by an RF transmitter or transceiver. Groups of sensors may be combined within a common canister that imparts date and time information and “power on” when dispensed.

Force or pressure transducer arrays have elastically stretchable electrically conductive polymer threads disposed in parallel rows and columns that contact at intersections thereof a piezoresistive material which has an electrical resistivity which varies inversely with pressure or force exerted thereon to form a matrix array of force or pressure sensor elements. The threads are fixed to a single one or pair of flexible elastically stretchable substrate sheets made of thin sheets of an insulating polymer such as PVC, or for greater elasticity and conformability to irregularly-shaped objects such as human body parts, an elastically stretchable fabric such as LYCRA or SPANDEX. Elastic stretchability of the sensor arrays is optionally enhanced by disposing either or both row and column conductive threads in sinuously curved, serpentine paths rather than straight lines.

A fibrous or cloth piezoelectric element capable of extracting an electric output with relatively small stress produced by rubbing the surface with a finger. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric unit including two conductive fibers and one piezoelectric fiber, all of which are arranged substantially on the same plane while they have contact points between them.

A MEMS pixel sensor is provided with a thin-film mechanical device having a mechanical body, with a mechanical state responsive to a proximate environment. A thin-film electronic device converts the mechanical state into electrical signals. A pixel interface supplies power to the electronic device and transceives electrical signals. The sensor is able to operate dynamically, in real-time. For example, if the mechanical device undergoes a sequence of mechanical states at a corresponding plurality of times, the electronic device is able to supply a sequence of electrical signals to the pixel interface that are responsive to the sequence of mechanical states, at the plurality of times. Each MEMS pixel sensor may include a number of mechanical devices, and corresponding electronic devices, to provide redundancy or to measure a broadband response range.

A piezoelectric sensor arranged so as to includes: a transparent piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric property; and a pair of transparent conductor film layers opposed to each other with the piezoelectric element therebetween, the transparent piezoelectric element and the transparent conductor film layers are formed between a pair of transparent substrates, opposed to each other, which serve as pressure transmission means. Consequently, the transparent piezoelectric sensor has an excellent durability. A piezoelectric sensor comprises a piezoelectric element with a piezoelectric property which is made of a piezoelectric material having no Curie point and has a dipole orientation degree of not less than 75%. Consequently, the piezoelectric sensor having an excellent durability and a simple structure is provided at low cost.

A pneumatic vehicle tire includes a carcass, a bead with a bead core arranged in the bead, and a first sensor located within the bead. The first sensor delivers signals which are correlated to frictional forces transmitted by the pneumatic vehicle tire during operation. This sensor has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a heel attached to the bead core and the second end extends radially outward from the bead core within the tire. A plurality of such sensors can be included in each tire, some for measuring longitudinal forces in a circumferential direction of the tire and others for measuring lateral forces in an axial direction of the tire.

A strain sensor for measuring strain in a surface of an object includes an insulating flexible substrate, a first conductive contact, a second conductive contact and a piezoelectric nanowire. The insulating flexible substrate is coupled to the object. The first conductive contact and the second conductive contact are mounted on the insulating substrate. The piezoelectric nanowire is electrically coupled to the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact. The piezoelectric nanowire is subject to strain when the surface of the object is subject to strain, thereby creating a voltage differential therebetween. A trigger sensor includes a substrate, a piezoelectric nanowire and a conductive contact. The piezoelectric nanowire extends from the substrate. The conductive contact is disposed in relation to the piezoelectric nanowire so that a voltage differential between the substrate and the conductive contact when the substrate moves with the predetermined acceleration.

A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. A portable hand-held device is also disclosed. The PEF offers superior sensitivity.

The invention provides a self-powered pressure sensor which comprises a first induction electrode, a second induction electrode and an intermediate film. The first induction electrode comprises a first macromolecular polymer insulating layer, wherein a conductive film is arranged on the surface of one side of the first macromolecular polymer insulating layer. The second induction electrode comprises a second macromolecular polymer insulating layer, wherein a conductive film is arranged on the surface of one side of the second macromolecular polymer insulating layer, and the intermediate film is fixed on the surface of the other side of the second macromolecular polymer insulating layer. The non-fixed surface of the intermediate film is provided with a micro / nano concave-convex structure. The surface of the micro / nano concave-convex structure of the intermediate film on the second induction electrode is just oppositely attached to and fixedly connected with the surface of the first induction electrode not provided with the conductive film, and the conductive film on the first induction electrode and the conductive film on the second induction electrode are both induction signal output poles. The self-powered pressure sensor is ingeniously made by utilizing a principle of electrification by friction and has the advantages of being high in sensitivity, easy to prepare, low in cost, good in stability in use and quick in response speed and the like.

The present invention provides a system 10 for measuring and remotely monitoring strain in an element 1 having a strain sensor 20, a telemetry circuit 40 for transmitting strain data to a remote location, and a reader module 60 for transmitting energy to the telemetry circuit and receiving said data.

A piezoelectric sensor arranged so as to includes: a transparent piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric property; and a pair of transparent conductor film layers opposed to each other with the piezoelectric element therebetween, the transparent piezoelectric element and the transparent conductor film layers are formed between a pair of transparent substrates, opposed to each other, which serve as pressure transmission means. Consequently, the transparent piezoelectric sensor has an excellent durability. A piezoelectric sensor comprises a piezoelectric element with a piezoelectric property which is made of a piezoelectric material having no Curie point and has a dipole orientation degree of not less than 75%. Consequently, the piezoelectric sensor having an excellent durability and a simple structure is provided at low cost.

Energy harvesting systems and methods that use multiple piezoelectric generators connected to the same energy harvesting circuit with minimal or no energy loss. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system may include individual diode bridge circuits electrically connected to the outgoing wires from each piezoelectric generator. The piezoelectric energy harvesting system may include multiple subsystems each having one or more individual diode bridges electrically connected to the outgoing wires from multiple piezoelectric generators. Multiple subsystems, each having multiple piezoelectric generators and a diode bridge, may be electrically connected to the same energy harvesting circuit. The use of multiple piezoelectric generators connected to the same energy harvesting circuit results in improved energy harvesting capabilities, and a simplified and low cost energy harvesting system.

An apparatus and method for determining the kinematic characteristics of a golf club head are disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one piezoelectric component selectively positioned within or upon a club head. The piezoelectric component is preferably positioned to the rear of the center of gravity, and near the midpoint of the face of the club head. During a golf club swing, the piezoelectric component determines the acceleration and deceleration of the golf club head. When the club head impacts an object such as a golf ball, the piezoelectric component is also operable to determine the velocity of the club head. It may also be desirable for the piezoelectric component to determine the magnitude of vibration during impact. In this manner, the piezoelectric component may function determine the efficiency of a golf club swing.

There are provided a fingerprint detection sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The fingerprint detection sensor includes a plurality of piezoelectric sensors arranged in an array on a two-dimensional plane and having a predetermined height; a filler provided to surround the plurality of piezoelectric sensors and isolating vibrations between the plurality of piezoelectric sensors; and a control unit discharging predetermined output signals through the piezoelectric sensors to detect information of an object in contact with, or close to, the plurality of piezoelectric sensors, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric sensors include first surfaces and second surfaces disposed on both ends thereof in a height direction and areas of the first surfaces and the second surfaces are different from each other.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a pressure sensing / force generating device comprising a non-planar substrate, a printed pressure sensitive element comprising (a) a piezoelectric material containing ink composition capable of producing a piezoelectric effect / piezoresistive effect and / or (b) a dielectric material containing ink composition capable of producing a capacitive effect. It also includes a first printed electrode comprising a conductive ink composition, and a second printed electrode comprising a conductive ink composition. The first and second electrodes are in electrical contact with the printed pressure sensitive element. The first and second printed electrodes and the printed pressure sensitive element collectively form a pressure sensitive junction, which is coupled to the non-planar substrate. The present invention further relates to medical devices comprising the pressure sensing / force generating device and methods of making such devices.

A tactile sensing transducer provides as its output a skin deformation signal for storage or transmission to a tactile stimulation display transducer. A skin surface imaging means operating optically, acoustically or otherwise is positioned for viewing and providing an output image signal corresponding to said deformed skin surface. An electronic processing means connected to said imaging means provides an output skin deformation signal corresponding to the deformation of said skin. The display transducer may incorporate a plurality of individually actuatable, bendable cantilevered arms mounted in line on a base support, each of the arms having tip ends which are displaceable, upon actuation, to provide a tactile display.

A micro-machined transducer having a structure in which an acoustic enclosure is formed on a substrate above the plane of the substrate surface is disclosed. Forming the acoustic enclosure on the substrate above the plane of the substrate surface, rather than an acoustic cavity in a surface of the substrate, provides an acoustic cavity whose size is not limited by the thickness of the substrate.

The present invention provides a system 10 for measuring and remotely monitoring strain in an element 1 having a strain sensor 20, a telemetry circuit 40 for transmitting strain data to a remote location, and a reader module 60 for transmitting energy to the telemetry circuit and receiving said data.

A pressure sensor and a pressure sensing method are provided. The pressure sensor includes a substrate; a sensor thin film transistor (TFT) disposed on the substrate and including a gate insulating layer, wherein the gate insulating layer includes an organic matrix in which piezoelectric inorganic nano-particles are dispersed; a power unit configured to apply an alternating current (AC) signal to a gate of the sensor TFT; and a pressure sensing unit configured to obtain a remnant polarization value based on a drain current which is generated in response to the AC signal and detected by the sensor TFT, and to sense a pressure based on the remnant polarization value.

An acoustic wave device fabrication method includes: forming on a piezoelectric substrate a comb-shaped electrode and a wiring layer coupled to the comb-shaped electrode; forming on the piezoelectric substrate a first dielectric film having a film thickness greater than those of the comb-shaped electrode and the wiring layer, covering the comb-shaped electrode and the wiring layer, and being made of silicon oxide doped with an element or undoped silicon oxide; forming on the first dielectric film a second dielectric film having an aperture above the wiring layer; removing the first dielectric film exposed by the aperture of the second dielectric film by wet etching using an etching liquid causing an etching rate of the second dielectric film to be less than that of the first dielectric film so that the first dielectric film is left so as to cover an end face of the wiring layer and the comb-shaped electrode.

A displacement sensor having a rectangular shaped elastic member. A piezoelectric element is attached to a first main face of the elastic member. The piezoelectric element has a rectangular-shaped piezoelectric sheet and electrodes on both main faces of the piezoelectric sheet. The piezoelectric sheet is made of poly-L-lactic acid and is at least uniaxially-stretched. The piezoelectric element is attached so that the uniaxial-stretching direction of the piezoelectric sheet is 45° relative to a long-side direction of the elastic member. When the elastic member is bent along the long-side direction, the piezoelectric sheet is stretched along the long-side direction, and the piezoelectric element generates voltage of predetermined level.

The invention relates to a flexible film tactile sensor which is formed by an electroactive polymer film matrix, a carbon nanotube composite film electrode layer, an electrode lead, and a polyimide film protection layer. The carbon nanotube composite film is a multi-layer network-shaped film composed of a carbon nanotube and polymer electrolyte; an electrostatic induction self-assembly method is used to make a pair of compliant electrode layers on upper and lower surfaces of the electroactive polymer film matrix; a peripheral electrode anchor zone through a metal electrode lead is integrated with a charge amplifier as a whole to from a tactile sensor; and a microprocessor or a computer is used to realize signal acquisition, storage, display and processing. The flexible film tactile sensor can be closely adhered to the surface of the measured object so as to measure the tactile perception performance of the object, can be cut into any shape, and has the characteristics of being reliable, flexible, rapid in response, and the like.