Patent ID: 8020456

Claim:
A thin film sensor for measuring pressure or mechanical displacement comprising: a first substrate having a load receiving side and an opposed conducting element side; a plurality of conducting elements located on the first substrate at the conducting element side in positions spaced apart from one another; a deformable second substrate located on the conducting element side of the first substrate; and at least one deformable electrolyte bridge located on the deformable second substrate and contacting each of the conducting elements at one or more contact points, said contact points having an aggregate contact area, wherein, upon formation of an ionic circuit between two of the conducting elements, a first resistivity exists between said two conducting elements when the first substrate is in an unloaded state at a location at or about said two conducting elements, and a second resistivity exists between said two conducting elements when the first substrate is in a loaded state at said location and the at least one deformable electrolyte bridge is deformed at or about said location in an amount to increase the aggregate contact area.