Patent ID: 6049327
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: G01B,G06F

Abstract:
A device for measuring flexure comprising:a printed flexible circuit board having a base region and a plurality of sensor electrodes extending outwardly therefrom, each of the sensors having a first side and a second side;a layer of resistive material applied to each side of each of the sensor electrodes without mechanical connections, the resistive material applied to each side of the electrode, such that each side thereof has a similar resistance value when the sensor is in an initial position;a power source for applying a different voltage level to each side of each sensor for establishing a voltage differential between the two sides and an initial voltage potential on each sensor,said circuit board, said sensor electrodes, and said resistive material forming an integral unit; wherein the layer of resistive material applied to each side of each sensor, without mechanical connections, comprises a variable resistance material that increases and decreases in value linearly in response to flexures thereof, such that each layer of resistive material has a similar resistance value when the sensor is in an initial position, the resistance material adapted to diverge in a linear manner upon any flexure of the sensor for shifting the voltage potential linearly to indicate flexure of the electrode and degree of flexure relative to the initial position thereof and wherein each layer of resistive material comprises a graphite based paint ranging in thickness from approximately 0.00025 inch to approximately 0.0010 inch.