Title: Self-powered, ultra-sensitive, flexible tactile sensors based on contact electrification

Abstract

A tactile sensor for sensing touch from a human finger includes a triboelectric layer and includes a material that becomes electrically charged after being in contact with the finger. The first side of a first conductive layer is in contact with the second side of triboelectric layer. The first side of a dielectric layer is in contact with the first conductive layer and the second side of the dielectric layer is in contact with a second conductive layer. When the triboelectric layer becomes electrically charged after being in contact with the finger, the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are subjected to an electric field, which has a first field strength at the first conductive layer and a second field strength, different from the first field strength, at the second conductive layer. A plurality of tactile sensors can be arranged as a keyboard.

Inventors:

Wang, Zhong Lin; Zhu, Guang

Issue Date:

Tue Mar 20 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1429366

Patent Number(s):

9921678

Application Number:

14/818,908

Assignee:

Georgia Tech Research Corporation (Atlanta, GA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03K - PULSE TECHNIQUE

Show more

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

G06F2203/04102 - Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
G06F2203/04103 - Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
G06F3/04144 - {using an array of force sensing means

H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03K - PULSE TECHNIQUE

H03K17/96 - Touch switches
H03K17/964 - {Piezo-electric touch switches}
H03K17/9643 - {using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard}

Show less

DOE Contract Number:  

FG02-07ER46394

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2015 Aug 05

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION