High-resolution flexible tactile imager system based on floating comb electrode

Tactile sensors are being developed for transduction of touch, force and pressure in the field of robotics, contact sensing and gait analysis. Sensors are employed to measure and register interactions between contact surfaces and the surrounding environment. Since these sensors are being used in the field of robotics and gait analysis, there is a need for sensors to be ultra-flexible, highly reliable and capable of measuring pressure and two-axial shear simultaneously. The sensors that are currently available are limited in their capabilities.

Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a flexible tactile imager that detects changes in capacitance in response to force and pressure. The Imager uses an array of capacitive pressure and shear sensors with a comb-like fingered floating electrode for added sensitivity. Each cell of the array includes multiple overlapping, fingered capacitors that detect pressure and shear force by determining the change in capacitance in each fingered capacitor. The device utilizes a multiplexer that receives the capacitance inputs from each of the capacitive sensor cells and processes the capacitance inputs and can be used to determine the direction and bearing of the applied forces.

Benchtop Prototype

Detect pressure and shear forces for many potential uses.

Using the sensor and an inertial motion unit to precisely determining zero velocity points and bearing changes, it can be used to detect footsteps for navigating in a GPS-denied environment.

Patent #9,599,524 Publication US 2014-0298921-A1

Patent #8,694,249 Publication US-2012-0029819-A1

Publication Number: US-2012-0029819-A1
Patent Title: Microfabricated Flexible Ground Reaction Sensor Cluster for Navigation in GPS-Denied Environments
Jurisdiction/Country: United States
Application Type: Non-Provisional

Jonathan Tyler
801-587-0515
jonathan.tyler@utah.edu