TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR DESIGNED TO FUNCTION AS AN ELECTRIC SWITCH

Abstract: A conductor comprising a first (1) and second electric con­ ducting element (2), each in the form of a flat plate, and at least a third electric conducting element (3a, 3b) also in the form of a flat plate. The first and second conducting elements are arranged with one surface (5, 7) contacting a sur­ face (4, 6) on the third conducting element; and a spacer element (10) formed form insulating material is placed between the mat­ ing surfaces of two of the aforementioned conducting ele­ ments, so as to at least partially shield the aforemen­ tioned surfaces. The structure of the material from which the third electric conducting element is formed comprises a supporting matrix (14) formed from flexible, electrically-­ insulating material and particles (15) of electrically-conduct­ ive material scattered in random, substantially uniform manner inside cells on the aforementioned matrix; which cells communicate at least partially with one another, and are at least partially larger in size than the respec­ tive particles of electrically-conductive material housed inside the same.

Description: The present invention relates to a two-dimensional electric conductor designed to function as an electric switch and enabling the formation of an electric circuit comprising any number of electric switches located at any point on a flat surface. The two-dimensional electric conductor according to the present invention is designed to solve the problem of closing an electric circuit by applying given pressure at any point on a flat surface. Such performance is frequently required in a number of technical applications, e.g. for producing an electric signal for activating a relay, for example, and so indicating that external pressure is being applied at any point on a surface. At present, this problem can only be solved approximately, e.g. as shown in US-A-3.830.991 or in Fr-A-2246959, by setting out a number of separate switches having their terminals connected to conductors on an electric line. Such a system, however, only enables control of a limited number of points on the surface. What is more, the said electric line is unreliable and involves the use of numerous switches and electric conductors, connection of which is both time-consuming and expensive. The aim of the present invention is to provide a two-dimensional electric conductor designed to function as an electric switch, and to solve the aforementioned problem without involving any of the aforementioned drawbacks. With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided a two-dimensional electric conductor, as defined in Claim 1. The structure of the said material from which the said third electric conducting element is formed is as described in Italian Patent n. 1206890 filed on 5 February, 1987, by the present Applicant and entitled: "Electric resistor designed for use as an electric conducting element in an electric circuit, and relative manufacturing process", to which the reader is referred for further details. The present invention will be described, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig.1 shows a cross section of a first embodiment of a two-dimensional electric conductor in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Fig.2 shows a larger-scale detail of the Fig.1 section; Fig.s 3 and 4 show cross sections of a second and third embodiment respectively of the two-dimensional electric conductor according to the present invention. With reference to Fig.1, the two-dimensional electric conductor according to the present invention is substantially in the form of a flat plate, and comprises a first and second electric conducting element 1 and 2, and at least a third electric conducting element 3, each in the form of a flat plate. In the Fig.1 embodiment, provision is made for a pair of third conducting elements 3a and 3b. The said conducting elements are arranged one on top of the other, so as to form a structure in which upper surface 4 of element 3a contacts lower surface 5 of element 1, and lower surface 6 of element 3b contacts surface 7 of element 2. Between surfaces 8 and 9 of elements 3a and 3b, there is provided a spacer element 10 formed from electrically-insulating material; and on the outer surfaces of elements 1 and 2, there are provided layers of insulating material 12 and 13. The material of the said third conducting element (3a and 3b in the Fig.1 embodiment) presents a structure comprising a supporting matrix 14 (Fig.2) formed from flexible, electrically-insulating material, and particles 15 of electrically-conductive material scattered in random, substantially uniform manner inside cells in the said matrix. The said cells communicate, at least partially, with one another, and are, at least partially, larger than the respective particles of electrically-conductive material housed inside the same, so as to define gaps 16 between the surfaces of particles 15 and the said cells. A material presenting the aforementioned structure is described in Patent Application n. 67072-A/87 filed on 5 February, 1987, by the present Applicant and entitled: "Electric resistor designed for use as an electric conducting element in an electric circuit, and relative manufacturing process;" As stated in the aforementioned Patent Application, the said material is electrically conductive, and presents the favourable property of increasing in electrical conductivity as increasing pressure is applied on it. Such favourable performance is due to improved electrical conductivity of chains of particles 15. In fact, as increasing pressure is applied on the material, this improves the conductivity of chains of contacting particles 15, while at the same time rendering conductive any chains of non-contacting particles 15, when sufficient pressure is applied for reducing or eliminating gaps 6 between the said non-contacting particles 15. Conducting elements 1 and 2 may be formed from wire mesh. Instead of a pair of conducting elements 3a and 3b formed from the said material, the conductor in the Fig.3 embodiment comprises only one such element 17. The Fig.3 embodiment presents the same conducting elements as in the previous embodiment, which elements are indicated using the same numbering system, and spacer element 10 is located between elements 17 and 2 as shown clearly in Fig.3. In the Fig.4 embodiment, conducting elements 1 and 2 are formed in such a manner as to define a number of strips arranged alternately and substantially in the same plane, so as to present adjacent strips pertaining to different elements. Spacer element 10 is located between the said strips and the third conducting element which, in this case, is numbered 18 and consists of a flexible pad 18a, formed from the same conducting material as element 3 in the Fig.1 embodiment, and a conducting mesh 18b having no external electrical connections. Spacer element 10 may, as in the previous case, be formed from a mesh of insulating material. The two-dimensional electric conductor according to the present invention may be connected to an electric circuit comprising a current source, of which terminals 19 are shown in the attached drawings, and a user device, such as a relay 20. The said circuit is formed so as to connect the said components to conducting elements 1 and 2, as shown in the attached drawings. When so arranged, and when no pressure is applied on the outer surfaces of the two-dimensional electric conductor according to the present invention, the said circuit is maintained open and current prevented from circulating inside the same by virtue of spacer element 10, which separates the surfaces of the conducting elements facing the respective surfaces of spacer element 10 itself. When, on the other hand, pressure is applied on a given portion 21 (Fig.2) of at least one of the other surfaces of the conductor according to the present invention, this produces localised flexing of the said portion of the third conducting element (3a, 3b, 17 or 18), thus causing a surface of the said conducting element to contact the respective surface of the adjacent conducting element. Should both cnducting elements 3a and 3b in the Fig.1 embodiment be flexed, this results in contact between portions 21 of surfaces 8 and 9 (Fig.2), thus closing the electric circuit and allowing current to circulate inside the same, for activating user device 20. As shown clearly in Fig.2, closure of the circuit is made possible by surfaces 8 and 9 contacting on the portion left exposed by spacer element 10. The same applies also to the conductors in the Fig.3 and 4 embodiments, in the first of which, flexing of element 17 produces electrical contact element 17 and the underlying conducting element 2, and, in the second, contact is established between two of the adjacent strips of conducting elements 1 and 2. In addition to conducting current, the two-dimensional electric conductor according to the present invention clearly also provides for forming an infinite number of electric switches, each of which may be activated by pressure applied on any given point on the conductor itself. Furthermore, by virtue of the material of the said third conducting element increasing in conductivity alongside increasing pressure, the said pressure, in addition to closing the said circuit, also provides for producing a signal proportional to the amount of the pressure applied. To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims: A substantially two dimensional electric conductor comprising a first (1) and a second (2) electric conducting element, each of flat shape, at least one resilient conducting element (3,17,18) and a spacer element (10) formed from electrically-insulating material; the structure of the material from which said at least one resilient conducting element (3,17,18) is formed comprising a supporting matrix (14) formed from flexible, electrically-insulating material and having cells communicating at least partially with one another, and particles (15) of electrically-conductive material homogeneously dispersed inside the cells of said matrix (14), said cells being at least partially larger in size than the respective particles (15) housed therein; characterized in that: i - said at least one-resilient conducting element (3,17,18) is in the shape of a continuous flat plate parallel to said first and second conducting elements (1,2) and having one surface (8) against said spacer element (10) and partially shielded thereby; ii - said at least one resilient conducting element (3,17,18) being able to selectively assume, a first, unwarped shape in which said surface (8) of the resilient conducting element (3,17,18) is spaced apart from at least one of the said first and second conducting elements (1,2) or another at least one resilient conducting element (3,17,18) by said spacer element such that said first and second electric conducting elements (1,2) are electrically isolated from one another, and in response to a localized pressure exerted on a portion of said conductor, a second, warped shape in which said surface (8) contacts, through said spacer element (10), at least one of the said first and second conducting elements (1,2) or another at least one resilient conducting element (3,17,18) such that an electrical connection is made between said first and second conducting elements (1,2). An electric conductor as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said spacer element (10) is located between the adjacent surfaces of the said third conducting element (17,18) and one of the said first and second conducting elements (1,2). An electric conductor as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises a pair of the said third electric conducting elements (32,36); the said spacer element (10) being located between the adjacent surfaces of the said third elements (32,36). An electric conductor as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that each of the said first and second conducting elements (1,2) defines a series of strips lying in the same plane; the said third conducting element (18) being located over the said strips, and the said spacer element (10) being located between the said strips and the said third element (18). An electric conductor as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims from 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that each of the said first and second electric conducting elements (1,2) consists of a wire mesh. An electric conductor as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said spacer element (10) consists of a mesh of insulating material.

Inventors: LODINI, PAOLO
Applicants: LEDA LOGARITHMIC ELECTRICAL DEVICES FOR AUTOMATION S.R.L.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H01H3
IPC codes: H01H13, H01H3, H01B5, H01H1