Stretchable 3D Tactile Sensor with Frustum Hairs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sensors with electronic whiskers or cilia are non-stretchable and rigid, limiting their ability to detect out-of-plane forces with enhanced sensitivity, stretchability, and strain-direction recognition.

Innovation Solution

A sensor with a flexible structure featuring a frustum-shaped portion and an elongated portion, integrated with a stretchable conducting film, allowing for effective strain transfer and accurate force measurement across multiple directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional sensors with electronic whiskers or cilia are used, then the sensor structure is simple and rigid, but the sensor cannot detect out-of-plane forces with enhanced sensitivity and stretchability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidstretchability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible structure comprising a frustum-shaped portion and an elongated portion with a stretchable conducting film to replace rigid electronic whiskers. This flexible design enables the sensor to withstand large deformations (stretchability up to 5mm with 0.2N peak force) while maintaining detection sensitivity for out-of-plane forces, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from conventional 2D flat film sensors to a 3D structured flexible sensor with frustum-shaped and elongated portions. This dimensional change enables the sensor to detect out-of-plane forces (forces perpendicular to the sensor plane) in addition to in-plane forces, enhancing measurement precision while the flexible material maintains stretchability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If rigid electronic whiskers are used for strain detection, then the sensor structure is stable, but the sensor cannot accommodate large deformations from sudden pulling or stretching forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoiddeformation accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible structure with frustum-shaped portion and stretchable conducting film provides both structural stability for consistent force detection and flexibility to accommodate large deformations. The elongated portion acts as a stress amplifier that transfers external forces to the sensing unit while the flexible material allows the structure to return to its original configuration after deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor design incorporates dynamic flexibility through the stretchable conducting film and flexible structure, allowing the sensor to adapt its rigidity based on applied forces. The structure can undergo large deformations during sudden pulling events and then recover, providing both stability during normal operation and adaptability during extreme events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If 3D structured sensors are developed to detect out-of-plane forces, then detection capability is enhanced, but the sensor becomes non-stretchable and rigid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveout-of-plane force detectionVSAvoidstretchability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent successfully combines 3D structural features (frustum-shaped portion and elongated portion) with flexible stretchable conducting film material. This combination enables the sensor to detect out-of-plane forces through the 3D structure while the flexible material maintains stretchability, simultaneously achieving enhanced measurement precision and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor utilizes composite construction with the stretchable conducting film integrated into the flexible structure. This composite approach allows the sensor to exhibit both the geometric complexity needed for out-of-plane force detection and the material flexibility needed for stretchability, resolving the contradiction between 3D structure and stretchability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 flexible structure enhances sensitivity and stretchability, enabling accurate detection of out-of-plane forces from multiple directions and withstanding significant deformation without losing measurement accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

the flexible structure acts as a stress amplifier that transfers the external force acting on the tip of the hair to the root of the hair

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStrain transfer:

Data Source

PatentUS11572270B23D-structured sensors having stretchable multi-functional tactile electronic hairs

Publication Date: 2023.02.07 NANYANG TECH UNIV

AI summary

A sensor comprising a support and a flexible structure arranged on the support is provided. The flexible structure comprises a frustum-shaped portion having a wider end and a narrower end, wherein the wider end of the frustum-shaped portion is arranged proximal to the support, and an elongated portion extending from the narrower end of the frustum-shaped portion, wherein the flexible structure further comprises a stretchable conducting film arranged on the frustum-shaped portion. A method of preparing such a sensor is also provided.