Tactile sensor using elastomeric imaging

摘要

A tactile sensor includes a photosensing structure, a volume of elastomer capable of transmitting an image, and a reflective skin covering the volume of elastomer. The reflective skin is illuminated through the volume of elastomer by one or more light sources, and has particles that reflect light incident on the reflective skin from within the volume of elastomer. The reflective skin is geometrically altered in response to pressure applied by an entity touching the reflective skin, the geometrical alteration causing localized changes in the surface normal of the skin and associated localized changes in the amount of light reflected from the reflective skin in the direction of the photosensing structure. The photosensing structure receives a portion of the reflected light in the form of an image, the image indicating one or more features of the entity producing the pressure.

主权项

id="REI-00011" date="20141007" 1. A tactile sensor comprising:
a photosensing structure; a volume of elastomer capable of transmitting an image; and a reflective skin covering said volume of elastomer, said reflective skin being illuminated through said volume of elastomer by one or more light sources, said reflective skin having particles that non-directionally reflect light incident on the reflective skin from within the volume of elastomer, said reflective skin being geometrically altered in response to pressure applied by an entity touching said reflective skin, said geometrical alteration causing localized changes in the surface normal of said skin and associated localized changes in the amount of light reflected from said reflective skin in the direction of said photosensing structure; wherein said photosensing structure is positioned to receive a portion of said reflected light in the form of an image, said image indicating one or more features of the entity producing said pressure.