This invention describes a novel, superior pressure sensor, pressure sensing device, or pressure sensing system. This can act as a pressure sensor, device, or system for a fingertip-like tactile sensor or skin, comprising hydrophilic monomer(s), cross-linked with appropriate cross-linking agent(s), with appropriate solvent(s) or diluent(s), electrolyte(s), electrodes, and coating(s). This sensor is extremely sensitive, yet is also robust and has a wide pressure range. The sensor can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes as desired. The sensor can be used for a wide range of applications, from robotic grippers and prosthetic fingers and hands to health and medical monitoring and sports equipment, and other pressure sensing applications.

A pressure sensor device, a method for manufacturing the pressure sensor device, and a work management system mitigating a degree of a false detection is presented. The pressure sensor device detecting pressure includes a flexible substrate base material having flexibility; a comb-teeth shape electrode having an exposed metal surface formed in a predetermined area on the flexible substrate base material; and a pressure-sensitive material that is provided on the comb-teeth shape electrode, varies in a resistance value depending on an amount of a load, and has a curvature in a static state.

A touch sensor detector system and method incorporating an interpolated sensor array is disclosed. The system and method utilize a touch sensor array (TSA) configured to detect proximity/contact/pressure (PCP) via a variable impedance array (VIA) electrically coupling interlinked impedance columns (IIC) coupled to an array column driver (ACD), and interlinked impedance rows (IIR) coupled to an array row sensor (ARS). The ACD is configured to select the IIC based on a column switching register (CSR) and electrically drive the IIC using a column driving source (CDS). The VIA conveys current from the driven IIC to the IIC sensed by the ARS. The ARS selects the IIR within the TSA and electrically senses the IIR state based on a row switching register (RSR). Interpolation of ARS sensed current/voltage allows accurate detection of TSA PCP and/or spatial location.

A release switch device includes: a button; a first elastic member to be pressed and displaced by the button; a pressure-sensitive sensor to face the first elastic member at an interval, to be pressed and displaced by the button with interposition of the first elastic member, when the button is displaced exceeding a predetermined stroke amount; and a second elastic member to be pressed and displaced by the button with interposition of the first elastic member and the pressure-sensitive sensor. When the button is displaced by a first stroke amount equal to or larger than the predetermined stroke amount, the pressure-sensitive sensor receives a first repulsive force of the second elastic member and outputs a first output value. When the button is displaced by a second stroke amount larger than the first stroke amount, the pressure-sensitive sensor receives a second repulsive force larger than the first repulsive force of the second elastic member and outputs a second output value.

A release switch device includes: a button; a first elastic member to be pressed and displaced by the button; a pressure-sensitive sensor to face the first elastic member at an interval, to be pressed and displaced by the button with interposition of the first elastic member, when the button is displaced exceeding a predetermined stroke amount; and a second elastic member to be pressed and displaced by the button with interposition of the first elastic member and the pressure-sensitive sensor. When the button is displaced by a first stroke amount equal to or larger than the predetermined stroke amount, the pressure-sensitive sensor receives a first repulsive force of the second elastic member and outputs a first output value. When the button is displaced by a second stroke amount larger than the first stroke amount, the pressure-sensitive sensor receives a second repulsive force larger than the first repulsive force of the second elastic member and outputs a second output value.

Methods and apparatus are described that improve the reliability and configurability of sensor systems.

A method for printing a strain sensor on a component using an aerosol ink, the method including depositing the aerosol ink on the component using a print head, the aerosol ink comprising chromium containing particles, and monitoring a printing environment parameter associated with printing environment conditions to confirm the printing environment parameter is within a predetermined environmental range of a printing environment parameter baseline value while depositing the aerosol ink on the component using the print head, the printing environment parameter baseline value a predetermined preferred printing environment parameter value within the predetermined environmental range, the monitoring including monitoring an atmospheric composition of the printing environment.

Disclosed are a functional photoresist for patterning a nanoparticle thin film including nanoparticles on a substate and a method of patterning a nanoparticle thin film using the functional photoresist, wherein the functional photoresist includes a photoactive compound (PAC); and a functional ligand that is bound to the surfaces of the nanoparticles and controls the physical properties of the nanoparticles.

A system and method is provided for detecting fluid low-volume and occlusion in a device using force sensing resistor (FSR) sensor. One or more force sensing resistors are positioned in communication with a fluid channel at one or more of a pump intake and pump outlet to detect pressure in the fluid channel. The pressure is detected through communication with the force sensing resistor and indicates an irregular system condition including but not limited to, fluid low-volume level and occlusion. Also provided are a fluid flow sensor (e.g., FSR or MEMS sensor) disposed relative to an embedded fluid channel in the base of a wearable medicine delivery pump.

A system and method is provided for detecting fluid low-volume and occlusion in a device using force sensing resistor (FSR) sensor. One or more force sensing resistors are positioned in communication with a fluid channel at one or more of a pump intake and pump outlet to detect pressure in the fluid channel. The pressure is detected through communication with the force sensing resistor and indicates an irregular system condition including but not limited to, fluid low-volume level and occlusion. Also provided are a fluid flow sensor (e.g., FSR or MEMS sensor) disposed relative to an embedded fluid channel in the base of a wearable medicine delivery pump.