Iee International Electronics and Engineering S.a.

Edgard Theiss

Laurent Federspiel

Karl Billen

Reinhard Knecht

A switching element of foil construction is presented, with a triggering layer of first resistive material applied to a first carrier-foil and a sensor layer of a second resistive material applied to a second carrier-foil. The two carrier-foils are arranged a certain distance from each other by means of spacers, in such a way that the triggering layer and the sensor layer are opposite each other and, when the switching element is not operated, are not in contact with each other, whereas, when the switching element is triggered, the triggering layer and the sensor layer are initially in contact with each other at a first point of their surface, and the area of contact increases as the pressure on the switching element is increased. The first and second resistive materials are tuned to each other in such a way that, when there is contact between the triggering layer and the sensor layer, the resistive of the boundary layer between the triggering layer and the sensor layer is essentially determined by the extent of the contact area. According to the invention, the sensor layer is designed so that, starting from the first point, its electrical resistivity varies with the distance from the first point in the direction increasing contact-area, in such a way that a predetermined triggering behavior of the switching element as a function of the compressive force acting on the switching element is obtained.

Switching element produced in the form of a film

A pressure sensitive area sensor having a two-dimensional support structure which is made up essentially of flexible strips and of several pressure-sensitive switching elements which are distributed over the area of the supporting structure, with the switching elements being connected to each other by connecting means. The pressure-sensitive switching elements are supported, at least where the supporting structure is subjected to large three-dimensional deformations, by free-standing projections of the connecting strips.

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Kelmis, Belgium

Edgard Theiss