Patent ID: 7712373

Claim:
A strain-sensing device adapted to be operably engaged with a stretching or shrinking structure for assessing the movement thereof, the strain-sensing device comprising a first fabric substrate comprising a first non-compliant portion and a first compliant portion that is positioned to stretch only in a selected direction; a second fabric substrate disposed substantially parallel to the first fabric substrate, the second fabric substrate comprising a second non-compliant portion and a second compliant portion that is positioned to stretch only in the selected direction; a first electrode material disposed on the first non-compliant portion; and a second electrode material disposed on the second non-compliant portion such that the first electrode material and the second electrode material are positioned to cooperate to have an area of overlap that forms a parallel plate capacitive sensor having a variable capacitance corresponding to changes in the area of overlap of the first and second electrode materials that results from relative motion of the first fabric substrate and the second fabric substrate as the structure stretches or shrinks.