Patent ID: 7460027
Filing Date: 2008-12-02
Classification: G01L,H01H

Abstract:
1. A sensing device comprising: a plurality of sensor cords provided in a parallel or substantially parallel arrangement, each of the sensor cords including a plurality of sensors disposed adjacent one another, each of the plurality of sensors comprising: a resilient top portion having at least one resilient conductive member; a resilient lower portion having a plurality of active sections and a plurality of resilient lower portion conductive members channeled and interconnected through the lower portion, the lower portion conductive members being separated by non-conductive material; each active section further comprising a layer of resilient conductive material at a top of the lower portion, resilient non-conductive material arranged over the lower conductive members to insulate the lower portion conductive members from the conductive layer, and a communicating conductive material passing through the non-conductive material to connect one of the conductive members to the resilient conducting material on top of the active section; at least one control circuit respectively provided at one end of each of said sensor cords, wherein said at least one control circuit is an integrated circuit that provides at least one of power, ground and signaling to said each of said sensor cords; and a non-conductive spacer provided between the resilient top portion and the resilient lower portion, wherein a gap in which no spacer material exists is also provided between the resilient top portion and the resilient lower portion, wherein the non-conductive spacer is made of a flexible material such that when a predetermined force is applied thereto, the resilient top portion and the resilient lower portion meet at a region corresponding to the gap.