Patent ID: 6155120
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: A61B,G01L

Abstract:
A device for measuring forces exerted on a discrete location of a surface, said device comprising at least a first normal force sensing element (30), said element containing a piezoresistive material defined as having a hulk electrical resistance that varies in a predetermined way with normal forces exerted thereon, said piezoresistive material being in the form of a resilient pad (33) sandwiched between a pair of first and second conductor strip laminations comprising thin, flexible insulating sheets having formed on the inner facing surfaces thereof at least one row (32) and at least one column (31) conductor strip, respectively, said row and column conductor strips being in electrically conductive contact with opposite sides of said piezoresistive pad, at least one of said resilient pads, said row and said column conductor strips comprising a woven mesh fabric (34) impregnated with electrically conductive material, whereby the electrical resistance between a selected row and column conductor intersection defining a particular region normally aligned with said pads in a predetermined function of the normal force exerted on said region.