Sealed Tactile Sensor Structure for Water and Dust Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tactile sensors are susceptible to water and dust penetration, which leads to reduced sensitivity in environments where these contaminants are present, affecting stress detection performance.
Innovation Solution
A tactile sensor design featuring a strain layer with a ring and tongue part, sealed by first and second sealing layers and a spacer layer, forming a closed space to isolate the strain gauge from external moisture and debris, while allowing adjustment of sensitivity through spacer layer thickness and material selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tactile sensor uses a conventional housing structure without sealing layers, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is easier, but water and dust can penetrate into the housing, causing reduction in sensitivity of stress detection
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into multiple functional layers including a strain layer with strain gauge, a first sealing layer, a spacer layer, and a second sealing layer. Each layer performs a specific function: the strain layer detects stress, the sealing layers prevent water and dust penetration, and the spacer layer maintains structural integrity. This segmentation allows the sensor to maintain sensitivity while achieving IP67 protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the strain gauge is embedded within the strain layer, which is then enclosed by the first sealing layer. The spacer layer is positioned within the housing, and the second sealing layer encloses the entire assembly. This nested arrangement protects the sensitive strain gauge from environmental contaminants while maintaining a compact form factor.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sealing layers are added to prevent water and dust penetration, then protection against contaminants is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film sealing layers that are flexible yet effective at preventing water and dust penetration. These sealing layers are integrated into the housing structure rather than being separate components, which provides IP67 protection while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity. The thin film approach allows contamination protection without adding significant bulk or complexity.
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
Prevents water and dust ingress, maintaining sensor sensitivity and enabling detection of stress and fine irregularities, with adjustable sensitivity and resolution for various environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a strain layer (11) including a ring part (11a) and a tongue part (11b) protruding inward from the ring part, the tongue part being provided with a strain gauge
Data Source
AI summary
A tactile sensor includes: a strain layer including a ring part and a tongue part protruding inward from the ring part, the tongue part being provided with a strain gauge; a first sealing layer stacked on one main surface of the strain layer to seal a first space surrounded by the ring part of the strain layer; a spacer layer including a ring part; and a second sealing layer stacked on one main surface of the spacer layer to seal a second space surrounded by the ring part of the spacer layer, the strain layer and the spacer layer being stacked so that the other main surface of the strain layer faces the other main surface of the spacer layer, and a closed space in which the first space and the second space communicate is formed.