Patent ID: 8121800
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
1. A method of measuring the distribution of pressure forces over a selected area comprising the steps of: (a) placing a sensor over the selected area, the sensor having a plurality of linear conductor columns and a plurality of linear conductor rows, wherein the columns are not parallel to the rows, and an array of sensor cells each formed at the intersection of a column and a row, and wherein the columns and rows are respectively disposed on opposite sides of a sheet of a compressible dielectric, and wherein each sensor cell has a capacitance that varies in accordance with compression of the insulating material at said intersection; (b) selecting a single column and applying a voltage to the selected column; (c) selecting a single row; (d) measuring an electrical current of the selected row to thereby measure the capacitance of the sensor cell at the intersection of the selected column and row while grounding each of the non-selected columns and each of the non-selected rows to isolate the sensed sensor cell from the effects of changes in capacitance of non-sensed sensor cells; (e) providing a fixed reference capacitance for the selected row; and (f) determining by a processor a pressure measurement for the sensed sensor cell by comparing the measured capacitance of the sensed sensor cell and the fixed reference capacitance.