Patent ID: 6529122
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: G01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A tactile sensor comprising:a first conductive foam elastomer layer having a bottom surface and a top surface; a second conductive foam elastomer layer having a bottom surface and a top surface, said top surface of said second conductive foam elastomer layer bearing on said bottom surface of said first conductive foam elastomer layer at a bearing area; a first electrode in contact with said top surface of said first conductive foam elastomer layer; a second electrode in contact with said bottom surface of said second conductive foam elastomer layer; wherein each of said first and second conductive foam elastomer layers have variable surface resistance dependent on pressure placed thereon and wherein it is possible to measure a contact resistance between said first and second conductive foam elastomer layers, said contact resistance being dependent on at least a pressure placed on said bearing area; and wherein both conductive foam elastomer layers are shaped to correspond to a two-dimensional area, said area being part of a configurable flexible keyboard to provide an input interface to a computer or other device, said configurable flexible keyboard being flexible due to a flexing nature of said first and second conductive foam elastomer layers.