The University of Akron

Jae-Won Choi

Erik Daniel Engeberg

Md Omar Faruk Emon

Ho-Chan Kim

Kye-Shin Lee

Morteza Vatani

Thomas Swiger

A tactile sensor including a first insulating layer, a first sensing layer of a first conductive soft polymer material, a second sensing layer of a second conductive soft polymer material and a second insulating layer. The first sensing layer includes first electrically conductive strip located therein and the first sensing layer is positioned above the first insulating layer. The second sensing layer includes second and third electrically conductive strips located therein and the second sensing layer is positioned above the first sensing layer. The second and third electrically conductive strips are arranged within a first plane located within the second sensing layer, separated by the second conductive soft polymer material. The first and second electrically conductive strips are arranged within a second plane transverse to the first plane, separated by the first conductive soft polymer material. The second insulating layer is positioned above the second sensing layer. The first and second electrically conductive strips are connected to a first impedance measuring device. The second and third electrically conductive strips are connected to a second impedance measuring device.

Combined flexible tactile sensors

A tactile sensor including a first insulating layer, an intermediate layer of conductive soft polymer material, and a second insulating layer. The intermediate layer includes first and second electrically conductive strips located therein and the intermediate layer is positioned above the first insulating layer. The first and second electrically conductive strips are located within the same horizontal plane within the intermediate layer and the first and second electrically conductive strips are connected to an impedance measuring device.

Flexible tactile sensors

A flexible sensor for monitoring operating parameters, including pressure and temperature, of a flexible structure, such as a tire, provides electrodes and an active area that are formed of flexible materials. In particular, the active area may be formed from an elastomeric piezoresistive material, such as an ionic liquid-polymer. The flexible properties of the sensor allow it to be readily incorporated into the body of a tire during manufacture. This allows the operating parameters of the tire to be monitored, such as in real-time, while the tire is in operation. Furthermore, the sensor is formed of materials that allow the sensor to be formed using additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3D (three-dimensional) printing. As such, the sensor may be 3D printed together with another structure, such as a tire tread, so that the sensor is integrated therein.

Flexible sensors and methods for making the same

A tactile sensor includes a first insulating layer having a first array of electrically conductive strips embedded therein and extending in a first direction. An intermediate layer of conductive soft polymer material is positioned above the first insulating layer and the first array of said electrically conductive strips. A second insulating layer having a second array of electrically conductive strips embedded therein, which extend in a second direction which is different than the first direction, is positioned above the intermediate layer. The first array of electrically conductive strips are connected to the second array of electrically conductive strips, and both the first and second array of electrically conductive strips are also connected to an impedance measuring device.

Flexible tactile sensors and methods of making

A tactile sensor includes a flexible medium having electrically conductive strips embedded therein and extending in a first direction, said electrically conductive strips including conductive nanostructures dispersed in a flexible support material, said nanostructures selected from conductive nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, wherein each electrically conductive strip is connected at each end to an impedance measuring device that measures the impedance across each electrically conductive strip. The electrically conductive strips may be formed on a first layer of the flexible medium by using direct-write technology.

Growing community of inventors

Copley, OH, United States of America

Jae-Won Choi