Transparent Crack Thin-Film Sensor for Flexible Pressure Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensors for measuring tension and pressure are limited by corrosion, low output, environmental sensitivity, and opacity, making them unsuitable for flexible and transparent applications, particularly for artificial skin and precision measurements.
Innovation Solution
A transparent highly sensitive sensor is developed using a cracked transparent conductive thin film on a substrate, where the crack faces contact each other, measuring external stimuli by changes in electrical resistance due to crack movement, allowing for flexible and transparent measurement of tension and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional strain gauge sensors use metal wires, then they can measure tension and pressure, but they are vulnerable to corrosion and have low output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional metal wire-based strain gauges with a transparent conductive thin film that utilizes electrical resistance changes instead of mechanical wire structures. This substitution eliminates corrosion vulnerability while providing sufficient output signal through the conductive film's electrical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining a transparent substrate with a transparent conductive thin film. This composite material approach achieves both corrosion resistance from the non-metallic composition and adequate electrical output through the conductive film's properties.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sensors are made opaque, then they can be manufactured with current materials, but they cannot be applied to artificial skin requiring transparency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a transparent conductive thin film as the sensing element, which is inherently transparent and flexible. This thin film structure enables both the required transparency for artificial skin applications and the mechanical flexibility to conform to curved surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters from conventional opaque metals to transparent conductive materials, achieving the desired transparency while maintaining electrical functionality through careful selection of conductive material properties.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sensors lack flexibility, then they can be manufactured with rigid structures, but they cannot be applied to curvy human body surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible transparent conductive thin film that can conform to curved and irregular surfaces of the human body. This thin film structure provides the necessary flexibility while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through deposition techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic, flexible sensing structure that can adapt to various body shapes and movements, transitioning from rigid to flexible configurations to match the application requirements.
4Measurement precision
If conventional sensors are influenced by environmental factors, then they can be driven in specific environments, but measurement accuracy is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a disposable or replaceable transparent conductive thin film sensor that can be discarded after use, eliminating the need for complex environmental compensation circuits and ensuring consistent measurement accuracy throughout the sensor's operational life.
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 achieves high sensitivity and accuracy with flexibility and transparency, enabling precise measurements in various fields, including artificial skin and biomedical applications, with a simple and economical mass-production process.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor measures the external stimulus by measuring the electrical change caused by the change of contact area or short or re-contact as the crack faces move according to the external physical stimulus
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a highly sensitive sensor comprising a cracked transparent conductive thin film. The highly sensitive sensor relates to a sensor which is acquired by means of forming a fine crack in a transparent conductive thin film formed on a substrate and is for measuring external tension and pressure by means of measuring the change of electrical resistance due to changes, shorting or opening in a fine interconnection structure formed by the fine crack. Such highly sensitive transparent conductive crack sensor can be applied to high-precision measurement or an artificial skin, can also be utilized as a positioning detecting sensor by means of pixelating the sensor, and can be utilized in fields of precise measurements, biometric devices used on the human skin and the like, human motion measurement sensors, display panel sensors and the like.