Pressure sensing device

Abstract

The pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an elastic dielectric part; a first electrode disposed on a first surface of the elastic dielectric part; a second electrode disposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a sensor part connected to the first electrode or the second electrode so as to sense a change in distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in a first direction from the first surface toward the second surface, wherein the elastic dielectric part comprises a stepped part formed to be stepped with any one of the first surface or the second surface in the first direction; and any one of the first electrode or the second electrode is connected to the sensor part on the stepped part.

Description

pressure sensing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure sensing device.

[0002] Various methods can be applied to sense pressure applied to a certain area, but generally, to sense pressure applied to a surface, a first electrode and a second electrode are arranged with an elastic dielectric between them, and a method of sensing pressure is applied through the change in distance between the first electrode and the second electrode that changes due to pressure applied to a certain area.

[0003] In this way, a surface pressure sensing device that senses pressure on a surface according to a change in distance between a first electrode and a second electrode is placed on the surface of an object and can sense pressure acting on a certain area of ​​the object.

[0004] Additionally, either the first electrode or the second electrode is electrically connected to a sensor unit to sense pressure on the surface according to a change in distance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the sensor unit may be positioned at the end of the first electrode or the second electrode.

[0005] However, when a pressure sensing device is placed on an object having a curved surface, the pressure sensing device bends in correspondence with the curved surface, and there is a problem in that poor contact occurs between the first electrode or the second electrode and the sensor part.

[0006] The present invention is an invention devised to solve the problems of the aforementioned prior art, and has the objective of preventing the sensor part from detaching from the electrode as the pressure sensing device bends.

[0007] The problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0008] A pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above-described purpose comprises an elastic dielectric portion, a first electrode disposed on a first surface of the elastic dielectric portion, a second electrode disposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a sensor portion connected to the first electrode or the second electrode to sense a change in distance in a first direction toward the second surface of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the elastic dielectric portion comprises a stepped portion formed to be stepped in the first direction with respect to either the first surface or the second surface, and either the first electrode or the second electrode is connected to the sensor portion and the stepped portion.

[0009] According to the present embodiment, the stepped portion may be formed on the periphery of either the first surface or the second surface.

[0010] According to the present embodiment, a third electrode connected to the first electrode of the first surface or the second electrode of the second surface is disposed on the stepped portion, and the sensor portion may be disposed on the upper surface of the third electrode.

[0011] According to the present embodiment, the length in the first direction from the center of the sensor part to the first surface or the second surface in the first direction may be 0.4 to 0.6 times the length in the first direction from the first surface to the second surface.

[0012] According to the present embodiment, the length in the first direction from the center of the sensor part to the first surface or the second surface in the first direction may be 0.5 times the length in the first direction from the first surface to the second surface.

[0013] According to the present embodiment, the sensor portion may include a conductive film portion disposed on the stepped portion, a flexible electrode portion disposed on the upper portion of the conductive film portion, and a dummy electrode portion disposed on the upper surface of the flexible electrode portion in the first direction.

[0014] According to the present embodiment, the length from the stepped portion to the upper surface of the dummy electrode portion in the first direction in the first direction may be the same as the length from the stepped portion to the outer surface of the first electrode in the first direction in the first direction or from the stepped portion to the outer surface of the second surface in the first direction in the first direction.

[0015] According to the present embodiment, a fourth electrode disposed on the upper surface of the dummy electrode portion in the first direction may be further included.

[0016] According to the present embodiment, the fourth electrode may not be in contact with the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the conductive film portion.

[0017] A pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problem may have the effect of preventing the sensor part from detaching from the electrode as the pressure sensing device bends.

[0018] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description in the claims.

[0019] In addition, the effects of the present invention may be described in more detail in the detailed description of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to those presented above.

[0020] The summary described above, as well as the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present application described below, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] Preferred embodiments are illustrated in the drawings for the purpose of illustrating the present invention.

[0022] However, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the exact arrangement and means depicted.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrated for the overall explanation of a pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating the pressure according to the bending of a pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a cross-section of A'A" of FIG. 1 of a pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating the location of a sensor part of a pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0027] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a dummy electrode portion of a pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] The present invention is capable of various modifications and may have various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated and described in the drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0029] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as second, first, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the second component may be named the first component, and similarly, the first component may be named the second component. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0030] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0031] The terms used in this application are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended to specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0033] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, provided that identical or corresponding components are given the same reference number regardless of the drawing symbols, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0034] Furthermore, when describing objects as "identical" or "similar" based on numerically or geometrically comparable properties such as length, inner diameter, diameter, or area, this may imply that there is a margin of error. For example, if it is stated that the lengths of components A and B are identical, it may be advisable to interpret this to mean that the length of B falls within the margin of error of the length of A. This takes into account the margin of error that occurs during the injection molding and manufacturing processes; since this is a matter that can occur physically and is self-evident, it is advisable to understand the description as "identical" or "similar" by considering the margin of error as described above. In this case, the margin of error may be within the range of -5% to +5% of the mentioned numerical value or shape, but this is merely an example of the margin of error and may not necessarily be limited to the stated range.

[0035] A preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the objective of the present invention can be specifically realized, will be described below with reference to the attached FIG. 1.

[0036] First, a pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an elastic dielectric part (100), a first electrode (200), a second electrode (300), and a sensor part (400) as shown in FIG. 1.

[0037] At this time, prior to describing the pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are defined. The first direction refers to a two-way direction including the direction from the first surface (101) to the second surface (102) to be described later and the direction from the second surface (102) to the first surface (101). The second direction refers to a two-way direction perpendicular to the first direction and in which the second electrode (300) extends. The third direction refers to a two-way direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction and in which the first electrode (200) extends. Based on FIG. 1, the first direction is a two-way direction including the direction from the upper side to the lower side and the direction from the lower side to the upper side. The second direction is a two-way direction including the direction from the lower left to the upper right and the direction from the upper right to the lower left. The third direction may be a two-way direction including the direction from the upper left to the lower right and the direction from the lower right to the upper left.

[0038] Meanwhile, based on FIG. 1, it may further include a first shield layer in contact with the first electrode (200) in a direction opposite to the first surface (101) in the first direction, a second shield layer in contact with the second electrode (300) in a direction opposite to the second surface (102) in the first direction, and a cover in contact with the first shield layer in a direction opposite to the first shield layer in the first direction.

[0039] Here, the first shield layer fixes the first electrode (200) to the first surface (101) while preventing damage to the first electrode (200), and the second shield layer fixes the second electrode (300) to the second surface (102) while preventing damage to the second electrode (300), and the cover may be a part that comes into contact with the outside. At this time, although the cover has been described as coming into contact only with the first shield layer, another cover that comes into contact with the second shield layer may be placed when sensing pressure acting from both sides. However, in order to sense pressure measured on the surface of an object, it may be preferable for the second shield layer to come into contact with the object and for the cover to be placed in a direction facing the outside of the object.

[0040] Accordingly, the pressure applied to the cover is transmitted to the first electrode (200), and the elastic dielectric part (100) is pressurized by the pressure applied to the first electrode (200), so that the distance between the first electrode (200) and the second electrode (300) can be varied. In addition, the sensor part (400) can sense the presence or absence of pressure applied to the first electrode (200), the location of the pressure, and the magnitude of the pressure by sensing that the distance between the first electrode (200) and the second electrode (300) described above is varied, and can sense at least one of the presence or absence of pressure, the location of the pressure, and the magnitude of the pressure described above.

[0041] The first shield layer, the second shield layer, and the cover described above are not illustrated in the drawings, but are described illustratively to aid in understanding the pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention and should not be interpreted as being limited only to what is mentioned.

[0042] Additionally, in the description of the pressure sensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sensor unit (400) is shown as being electrically connected to the first electrode (200), but the sensor unit (400) may be in contact with the second electrode (300) instead of the first electrode (200). However, the pressure sensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention is described as being in contact with the first electrode (200) and the sensor unit (400), and this is merely to avoid misinterpreting the pressure sensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1 to describe a pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention based on the above description, as shown in FIG. 1, a first electrode (200) may be disposed on a first surface (101) on one side of an elastic dielectric part (100), and a second electrode (300) may be disposed on a second surface (102) on the other side of an elastic dielectric part (100). Here, the first surface (101) and the second surface (102) may be surfaces disposed facing each other in a first direction. That is, the second surface (102) may be disposed in the opposite direction of the first surface (101).

[0044] Meanwhile, a plurality of first electrodes (200) are arranged on a first surface (101), and the plurality of first electrodes (200) are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a second direction, and each of the plurality of first electrodes (200) can be extended in a third direction. In addition, a plurality of second electrodes (300) are arranged on a second surface (102), and the plurality of second electrodes (300) are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a third direction, and each of the plurality of second electrodes (300) can be extended in a second direction.

[0045] At this time, the elastic dielectric portion (100) includes a stepped portion (110) formed with a step in the first direction from either the first surface (101) or the second surface (102), and either the first electrode (200) or the second electrode (300) is connected to the sensor portion (400) on the stepped portion (110). However, in describing the pressure sensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, to prevent confusion caused by redundant description of the first surface (101) or the second surface (102), the stepped portion (110) is described as being formed with a step in the first direction from the first surface (101). This is intended only to prevent misinterpretation of the pressure sensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention and should not be interpreted as being limited only to what is mentioned.

[0046] Meanwhile, the stepped portion (110) may be formed on the periphery of either the first surface (101) or the second surface (102). For example, if the elastic dielectric portion (100) is in the shape of a polygonal prism, the upper surface of the polygonal prism may be the first surface (101), and the lower surface of the polygonal prism may be the second surface (102). Here, the stepped portion (110) is positioned on the periphery of the polygonal dielectric portion (100) and may be formed with a step from either the first surface (101) or the second surface (102). However, it may be positioned to be in contact with the end of the first electrode (200) or the second electrode (300) on the periphery of the elastic dielectric portion (100).

[0047] Specifically, when a step portion (110) is formed on the first surface (101) with reference to FIG. 1, the first electrode (200) is extended in a third direction and forms a first end and a second end in the third direction, so the step portion (110) can be formed on any one of the periphery portions of the first surface (101) in the third direction. When a step portion (110) is formed on the second surface (102), the second electrode (300) is extended in a second direction and forms a first end and a second end in the second direction, so the step portion (110) can be formed on any one of the periphery portions of the second surface (102) in the second direction. This may be because the sensor portion (400) placed on the step portion (110) is electrically connected to the first electrode (200) or the second electrode (300) to sense the change in distance between the first electrode (200) and the second electrode (300) in the first direction.

[0048] Meanwhile, before describing the pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 2 for comparison with the prior art, the first surface (101) is positioned to face outward and the second surface (102) is positioned to face inward, so that when the second surface (102) faces the surface of an object, bending may occur in correspondence with the curvature of the object. As the second surface (102) bends in this way, the first surface (101) may expand with respect to the center of the bending, and the second surface (102) may contract. In this case, when the first electrode (200) is connected to the first surface (101), a sensor unit (400) positioned at the end of the first surface (101) may have poor contact with the first electrode (200), and an error may occur in which the change in distance between the first electrode (200) and the second electrode (300) cannot be properly sensed.

[0049] Even if the sensor unit (400) is connected to the second electrode (300) to prevent this, the sensor unit (400) bends in response to the bending of the second surface (102), so a contact failure occurs with one of the multiple second electrodes (300), and an error may occur in which the change in distance between the first electrode (200) and the second electrode (300) is not properly sensed.

[0050] However, on the center line (C) connecting the centers based on the shortest distance between the first surface (101) and the second surface (102), the expanding force on the first surface (101) and the compressing force on the second surface (102) may be somewhat offset.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, when the first surface (101) and the second surface (102) are curved and bending occurs, a contact failure may occur between the first electrode (200) or the second electrode (300) and the sensor unit (400). Therefore, the pressure sensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention can prevent a contact failure between the first electrode (200) or the second electrode (300) and the sensor unit (400) by placing the sensor unit (400) on the center line (C) described above.

[0052] To explain this in detail, refer to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, a first electrode (200) is disposed on a first surface (101) and a second electrode (300) is disposed on a second surface (102), and a stepped portion (110) may be disposed steppedly on the first surface (101). Additionally, a third surface (103) may be further included that extends in a first direction and connects the first surface (101) and the stepped portion (110). Furthermore, the first electrode (200) and the sensor portion (400) may be electrically connected on the stepped portion (110).

[0053] In order for the first electrode (200) and the sensor unit (400) to be electrically connected on the stepped portion (110) as described above, the first electrode (200) may be placed on the stepped portion (110) and may include a first-1 electrode portion (210) electrically connected to the sensor unit (400), a first-2 electrode portion (220) extending along the third surface (103) from the first-1 electrode portion (210), and a first-3 electrode portion (230) extending along the third surface (103) from the first-2 electrode portion (220). Specifically, the first-3 electrode portion (230) may be placed in an area where a change in distance from the second electrode (300) occurs. That is, the sensor unit (400) may only sense a change in distance in the first direction between the first-3 electrode portion (230) and the second electrode (300) that occurs at the first-3 electrode portion (230).

[0054] Here, the sensor unit (400) senses a change in capacitance according to a change in distance between the first electrode (200) and the second electrode (300). Since the capacitance changes in correspondence with the distance between the first electrode (200) and the second electrode (300), the change in distance in the first direction between the first electrode unit (210) placed on the step portion (110) and the first electrode unit (220) placed on the third surface (103) and the second electrode (300) may not be sensed. Specifically, among the plurality of second electrodes (300), at least one that overlaps with the first electrode unit (210) or the first electrode unit (220) in the first direction may be a dummy electrode to which no electricity is supplied. That is, the second electrode (300) placed on the far right based on FIG. 3 may be a dummy electrode. Accordingly, the height of the pressure sensing device in the first direction according to the embodiment of the present invention may be made uniform overall so that no additional curvature occurs in addition to the curvature of the object's surface. However, this is merely one example of the pressure sensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention and should not be interpreted as being limited to what is stated.

[0055] Meanwhile, the sensor unit (400) may include a conductive film unit (410) that is positioned on the step portion (110) and electrically connected to the first electrode unit (210), a flexible electrode unit (420) that is connected to the conductive film unit (410) and transmits information sensed from the conductive film unit (410) to the outside, and a dummy electrode unit (430) that is positioned on the upper surface in the first direction of the conductive film unit (410).

[0056] Here, the conductive film portion (410) is electrically connected to the first electrode (200) to sense the change in distance in the first direction between the first-third electrode portion (230) and the second electrode (300), and the flexible electrode portion (420) can transmit the information sensed by the conductive film portion (410) to the outside. In addition, the dummy electrode portion (430) is placed on the upper surface in the first direction of the flexible electrode portion (420) to prevent a sense of strangeness caused by the formation of a step portion (110) when looking at the first surface (101).

[0057] In addition, in FIG. 3, the first electrode (200) is depicted as corresponding to the sensor part (400) based on the cross-sectional shape of A'A" of FIG. 1; however, referring to FIG. 1, the first electrode (200) is spaced apart in the second direction, and the sensor part (400) can be formed long in the second direction. That is, a plurality of first electrodes (200) are arranged on the first surface (101), a plurality of first-1 electrode parts (210) are spaced apart in the second direction on the step part (110), and the sensor part (400) can be arranged to be in contact with the plurality of first-1 electrode parts (210). Also, although it has been described by collectively referring to the sensor part (400), it may be preferred to understand that the conductive film part (410), flexible electrode part (420), and dummy electrode part (430) described above are also the same, or that at least one including the conductive film part (410) is the same.

[0058] Here, the upper surface of the dummy electrode part (430) in the first direction may be the same as the upper surface of the first electrode (200) in the first direction. This can be understood as being the same as the second electrode (300), which is the dummy electrode described above. That is, if the upper surface of the dummy electrode part (430) in the first direction is formed with a step difference from the upper surface of the first electrode (200), it may create an aesthetic sense of incongruity, and during the process of forming the first shield layer, a change in the thickness of the first shield layer may occur, so that only the area where the dummy electrode part (430) is placed in the area where the first electrode (200) is placed may have different elastic forces. To prevent this, it may be preferable for the upper surface of the dummy electrode part (430) in the first direction to be placed on the same plane as the upper surface of the first electrode (200) in the first direction. However, this is merely an example of a pressure sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention and is not necessarily limited to what has been mentioned.

[0059] At this time, the length (L1) in the first direction from the center of the sensor part (400) to the first surface (101) in the first direction may be 0.4 to 0.6 times the length in the first direction from the first surface (101) to the second surface (102) in the first direction. Preferably, the length (L1) in the first direction from the center of the sensor part (400) to the first surface (101) in the first direction may be 0.5 times the length in the first direction from the first surface (101) to the second surface (102) in the first direction.

[0060] To explain this differently, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the length (L1) in the first direction from the center of the sensor part (400) to the first surface (101) in the first direction may be 0.4 to 0.6 times the length (L2) in the first direction from the center of the sensor part (400) to the second surface (102) in the first direction. Preferably, the length (L1) in the first direction from the center of the sensor part (400) to the first surface (101) in the first direction may be 0.5 times the length (L2) in the first direction from the center of the sensor part (400) to the second surface (102) in the first direction.

[0061] To explain this in detail, refer to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the center of the sensor part (400) in the first direction can be positioned on the center line (C) connecting the center between the first surface (101) and the second surface (102) in the first direction.

[0062] That is, the length (L1) in the first direction from the center of the first direction of the sensor part (400) to the first surface (101) is the same as the length (L1) in the first direction from the center line (C) to the first surface (101), and the length (L2) in the first direction from the center of the first direction of the sensor part (400) to the second surface (102) and the length (L2) in the first direction from the center line (C) to the second surface (102) may be the same as each other.

[0063] Although it has been described here as a center line (C), in reality, the first surface (101) and the second surface (102) are each flat planes, and the center in the first direction between the first surface (101) and the second surface (102) can form a virtual plane corresponding to the first surface (101) and the second surface (102). Therefore, although it has been depicted as a center line (C) on the A'A" cross-section, it may be preferable to interpret it as a virtual plane (C) based on FIG. 1. However, to prevent misinterpretation caused by describing it as a virtual plane (C) on the cross-sectional shape, it is described as a center line (C) based on the A'A" cross-sectional shape of FIG. 1, and as described above, it may be preferable to interpret it as a virtual plane (C).

[0064] At this time, the center line (C) is an area where the expanding force acting on the first surface (101) and the contracting force acting on the second surface (102) are partially offset when the pressure sensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention bends based on FIG. 2. Therefore, the center of the sensor part (400) in the first direction is positioned on the center line (C) to minimize the expanding force and contracting force acting on the sensor part (400), thereby effectively preventing poor contact between the first electrode part (210) and the sensor part (400).

[0065] Meanwhile, to explain the dummy electrode portion (430) in more detail, refer to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, a fourth electrode (440) is disposed on the upper surface in the first direction of the dummy electrode portion (430), and the fourth electrode (440) may not come into contact with the first electrode (200), the second electrode (300), and the conductive film portion (410). That is, the fourth electrode (440) may correspond to the dummy electrode of the first electrode (200).

[0066] At this time, a plurality of fourth electrodes (440) may be spaced apart along the second direction. Additionally, although not illustrated, the fourth electrode (440) and the first-third electrode section (230) may overlap each other in the third direction. That is, similar to how the upper surface of the dummy electrode section (430) in the first direction in FIG. 3 is placed on the same plane as the upper surface of the first electrode (200) in the first direction, the upper surface of the first electrode (200) in the first direction may be placed on the same plane as the upper surface of the fourth electrode (440) in the first direction.

[0067] If, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper surface of the dummy electrode part (430) in the first direction is placed on the same plane as the upper surface of the first electrode (200) in the first direction, the first surface (101) and the upper surface of the dummy electrode part (430) in the first direction may be formed with a step difference from each other in the area where the first electrode (200) is spaced apart from each other in the second direction. To prevent this, a plurality of fourth electrodes (440) are arranged to overlap with each of the plurality of first- and third electrode parts (230) in the third direction, and a plurality of fourth electrodes (440) may be arranged spaced apart in the second direction. By arranging a plurality of fourth electrodes (440) on the upper surface of the dummy electrode part (430) in the first direction in this way, the sense of incongruity occurring in the first surface (101) can be prevented.

[0068] Meanwhile, the conductive film portion (410), the flexible electrode portion (420), the dummy electrode portion (430), and the fourth electrode (440) may be arranged to be spaced apart from the first-second electrode portion (220) in a third direction. That is, the first-second electrode portion (220) and the sensor portion (400) may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance in a third direction. A first shield layer may be disposed in the space between the first-second electrode portion (220) and the sensor portion (400) in the aforementioned third direction. Accordingly, as the fourth electrode (440) bends, it is possible to prevent an error from occurring due to contact with the first-third electrode portion (230), and to prevent the first-second electrode portion (220) from being damaged by external factors.

[0069] At this time, although the first electrode (200) has been described as being limited to including a first-1 electrode part (210), a first-2 electrode part (220), and a first-3 electrode part (230), the step portion (110) may be arranged to have a step difference with the second surface (102), and the second electrode (300) and the sensor part (400) may be electrically connected. At this time, the second surface (102) and the step portion (110) are connected through the fourth surface, and the first electrode (200) does not include the first-1 electrode portion (210), the first-2 electrode portion (220), and the first-3 electrode portion (230), and the second electrode (300) may include the second-1 electrode portion which is placed on the step portion (110) and electrically connected to the sensor portion (400), the second-2 electrode portion which extends from the second-1 electrode portion and is placed on the fourth surface, and the second-3 electrode portion which is placed on the second surface (102).

[0070] Here, the configuration in which the step portion (110) forms a step with the first surface (101) and is electrically connected to the sensor portion (400) is described as the first-1 electrode portion (210), and the configuration in which the step portion (110) forms a step with the second surface (102) and is electrically connected to the sensor portion (400) is described as the second-1 electrode portion. However, to describe it differently, a third electrode may be disposed on the step portion (110), and the third electrode may be connected to the first electrode (200) or the second electrode (300). That is, the first-1 electrode portion (210) and the second-1 electrode portion are the third electrode, the first-2 electrode portion (220) and the first-3 electrode portion (230) are the first electrode (200), and the second-2 electrode portion and the second-3 electrode portion may be the second electrode (300).

[0071] However, to prevent misinterpretation that may occur when explaining without limiting to the first surface (101) or the second surface (102), or the first electrode (200) or the second electrode (300) as described above, the third electrode was described as the first-1 electrode part (210) based on the first electrode (200). However, when the second electrode (300) of the second surface (102) described above and the sensor part (400) are connected, it may be preferable to understand the third electrode as the second-1 electrode part.

[0072] We have examined preferred embodiments according to the invention, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that, in addition to the embodiments described above, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

[0073] Therefore, the embodiments described above should be regarded as exemplary rather than limiting, and accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the description above but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. Elastic dielectric; A first electrode disposed on the first surface of the above elastic dielectric part; A second electrode disposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface; and It includes a sensor unit connected to the first electrode or the second electrode to sense a change in distance in a first direction toward the second surface from the first surface of the first electrode and the second electrode, and The above elastic dielectric part includes a stepped portion formed with a step difference in the first direction with either the first surface or the second surface, and Either the first electrode or the second electrode is a pressure sensing device connected on the sensor part and the step part.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above step portion is a pressure sensing device formed on the periphery of either the first surface or the second surface.

3. In Paragraph 2, A third electrode connected to the first electrode of the first surface or the second electrode of the second surface is disposed on the stepped portion above, and A pressure sensing device in which the sensor part is disposed on the upper surface of the third electrode.

4. In Paragraph 2, A pressure sensing device in which the length in the first direction from the center of the sensor part to the first surface or the second surface is 0.4 to 0.6 times the length in the first direction from the first surface to the second surface.

5. In Paragraph 4, A pressure sensing device in which the length in the first direction from the center of the sensor part to the first surface or the second surface is 0.5 times the length in the first direction from the first surface to the second surface.

6. In Paragraph 3, The sensor unit above is, A conductive film portion disposed on the above-mentioned stepped portion; A flexible electrode portion disposed on the upper part of the conductive film portion; and A pressure sensing device comprising a dummy electrode portion disposed on the upper surface of the flexible electrode portion in the first direction.

7. In Paragraph 6, A pressure sensing device in which the length from the stepped portion to the upper surface of the dummy electrode portion in the first direction in the first direction is the same as the length from the stepped portion to the outer surface of the first electrode in the first direction in the first direction or from the stepped portion to the outer surface of the second surface in the first direction in the first direction.

8. In Paragraph 6, A pressure sensing device further comprising a fourth electrode disposed on the upper surface of the dummy electrode portion in the first direction.

9. In Paragraph 8, The above-mentioned fourth electrode is a pressure sensing device that does not come into contact with the above-mentioned first electrode, the above-mentioned second electrode, the above-mentioned third electrode, and the above-mentioned conductive film portion.

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