Tactile sensor

摘要

A tactile sensor includes a pressure transducer encapsulated in an elastic material that defines a contact surface and provides a transmission path that transmits contact forces or pressure distributions applied to the contact surface to the pressure transducer. The pressure transducer can be enclosed in a protective housing that defines a chamber around the transducer. The housing can include one or more openings that expose the chamber to the exterior pressure. The tactile sensor can be made by applying the elastic material in liquid form and exposing the housing to a vacuum that removes air inside the chamber allowing the liquid elastic material to flow into the chamber. Once cured, the elastic material defines a contact surface of the tactile sensor and serves to transfer contact forces applied to the contact surface to the transducer.

主权项

1. A tactile sensor comprising
a transducer mounted to a substrate; a housing enclosing the transducer and forming a chamber between the housing and the transducer, the housing having at least one opening connecting the chamber and the transducer to an area outside the housing; and a force transmission medium encapsulating the housing and defining a contact surface and providing a path to transmit a contact force applied to the contact surface to the transducer whereby the transducer produces a signal indicative of the contact force, wherein the force transmission medium includes a substantially incompressible elastic material.