Surfaces with embedded sensing and actuation networks using complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensing chips

摘要

A device and method for area sensing and actuation comprises highly scalable sensing and actuation network that can control a high density of sensing and actuation elements over a physical area. The device comprises a matrix of CMOS sensing chips that each comprise a plurality of sensing electrodes arranged in a matrix of columns and rows along horizontal wires and vertical wires. The vertical wires carry an activation signal to activate a column of sensing electrodes, and the vertical wires carry sensing and actuation signals between the column of sensing electrodes and a processing chip. The signals may be amplified by CMOS sensing chips between the source and destination of the signals. In this way, signals may be received from and sent to a dense matrix of sensing electrodes spanning a large geographic area with little or no degradation.

主权项

1. A device comprising:
a sensing chip comprising a plurality of sensing electrodes, each sensing electrode being connected to a sensing element and operable to receive sensed signals from the sensing element, and send actuation signals to the sensing element to control an output of the sensing element, wherein the plurality of sensing electrodes is arranged to form rows and columns of sensing electrodes; a plurality of decoders, each decoder being operable to activate a respective column of sensing electrodes; a plurality of selection transistors, each selection transistor being operable to select a respective row of sensing electrodes; and a processing chip configured to be in communication with the sensing chip, the plurality of decoders, and the plurality of selection transistors, the processing chip operable to:
receive sensed signals from the sensing electrodes;send the actuation signals to the sensing electrodes, wherein each actuation signal includes a time duration, and the actuation signals are effective to cause the sensing elements to produce a stimulation external to the device based on the time duration;control the plurality of decoders to activate one or more columns of sensing electrodes;receive a digital select signal;control the plurality of selection transistors to select one or more rows of sensing electrodes according to the digital select signal.