Piezoionic Polymer Sensor Array for Self-Powered Pressure Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pressure sensors require additional energy input to detect touch or pressure, and there is a need for improved sensors that can detect pressure characteristics, such as presence, location, and magnitude, on a two-dimensional sensing surface without external electrical signals.

Innovation Solution

A flexible sensor array comprising conductive electrodes arranged in an x and y direction with piezoionic polymer interposed between them, generating electrical signals based on deformation, allowing for pressure detection without external energy input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional pressure sensors (capacitive, piezo-resistive, piezoelectric, inductive, or optoelectronic) are used to detect pressure, then pressure detection capability is achieved, but additional energy input in the form of electrical signals is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy inputVSAvoidpressure detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The piezoionic polymer material generates its own electrical signal in response to applied pressure without requiring external electrical excitation. The material's ionic conductivity changes autonomously under mechanical stress, producing a measurable voltage or current signal that directly indicates pressure magnitude, thereby eliminating the need for external energy input while maintaining reliable pressure detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional electrical or optical sensing mechanisms with a materials-based ionic conduction mechanism. Instead of using external electrical fields to detect pressure (as in capacitive or piezo-resistive sensors), the system relies on the intrinsic piezoionic effect where mechanical stress directly modulates ionic conductivity within the polymer, substituting external energy-driven systems with a passive materials response

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a sensor array with multiple electrodes is implemented to detect pressure characteristics (presence, location, magnitude), then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure characteristics detectionVSAvoidsensor array structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing surface is divided into multiple discrete electrode elements arranged in arrays, with each electrode functioning as an independent pressure sensing unit. This segmentation allows the system to detect pressure characteristics at multiple locations simultaneously, providing spatial resolution and enabling precise mapping of pressure distribution across the surface through the collective response of individual electrode segments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The piezoionic polymer material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the active sensing element that converts mechanical stress to electrical signals, provides the structural matrix for electrode integration, and enables both qualitative detection (presence/absence of pressure) and quantitative measurement (pressure magnitude) across the entire sensor array through its uniform piezoionic response

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables effective detection of pressure characteristics on a sensing surface, providing a pressure map without the need for additional energy input, suitable for various applications including medical and electronic devices.

Implementation Method 1

the corresponding region of piezoionic polymer exhibits ionic conductivity which generates a corresponding first electrical signal at the one of the first plurality of electrodes relative to a first electrical signal reference and a corresponding second electrical signal at the one of the second plurality of electrodes relative to a second electrical signal reference, the first and second corresponding electrical signals depending on a state of deformation of the corresponding region of piezoionic polymer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoionic effect:

Data Source

PatentUS10401241B2Surface sensor arrays using ionically conducting material

Publication Date: 2019.09.03 THE UNIV OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

AI summary

Sensor arrays are provided for sensing pressure and/or moisture over a two-dimensional sensing surface. The sensor arrays comprise ionically conductive materials. Individual sensor elements in the sensor arrays may comprise piezoionic ionically conductive materials, piezoresistive ionically conductive materials and/or capacitive sensor elements having electrodes fabricated from ionically conductive materials. Two-dimensional pressure maps and/or moisture maps of the sensing surface may be obtained by implementing methods comprising scanning over individual sensor elements in the sensor arrays.