Grip Detection Sensor Spacer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grip detection sensors for flexible objects, such as tubes, often generate erroneous warnings due to the inability to distinguish between gripping and other forms of pressure application, leading to frequent false alerts.
Innovation Solution
A grip detection sensor comprising a piezoelectric film with electrodes on either surface and a spacer to maintain a space between the film and the object, allowing for accurate detection of deformation caused by gripping while minimizing false signals from object deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure detection sensor is applied directly to a flexible tube, then pressure application can be detected, but the sensor reacts even when the tube is not gripped causing frequent erroneous warnings
Solution Approach 1:
A rigid support member is introduced as an intermediary between the flexible tube and the pressure detection sensor. The support member has a first contact portion that contacts the tube and a second contact portion that contacts the sensor. This intermediary structure transmits only gripping forces (when the tube is held) to the sensor while filtering out other forces such as tube deformation during patient movement or simple touches, thereby improving both reliability and measurement precision of grip detection.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the sensor is made highly sensitive to detect gripping, then grip detection capability is improved, but false alerts increase due to inability to distinguish gripping from other pressure applications
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with specific local structural characteristics: a first contact portion with a first cross-sectional shape that contacts the tube, and a second contact portion with a second cross-sectional shape that contacts the sensor. This local quality differentiation allows the structure to selectively transmit forces - the geometry is optimized to transmit gripping forces effectively while filtering out other types of pressure applications, thus enabling high sensitivity grip detection without increasing false alerts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sensor effectively differentiates between gripping and other forms of pressure, reducing false alerts and providing reliable detection of when a flexible object is gripped by a person.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric film having a first main surface and a second main surface, either one of the first main surface and the second main surface being disposed at least partly on a periphery of a linearly shaped flexible object
Data Source
AI summary
A grip detection sensor that includes: a piezoelectric film having a first main surface and a second main surface, either one of the first main surface and the second main surface being disposed at least partly on a periphery of a linearly shaped flexible object, a first electrode on the first main surface, a second electrode on the second main surface, and a spacer configured to maintain a space between the object and the piezoelectric film.