A method of processing a liquid material. The method includes mixing a liquid material with a solvent, wherein the solvent has a constituent capable of coating the particles of the material. The liquid material mixed with the solvent is then particlized, deposited on a substrate and activated to form a pre-defined electrically conductive pattern. Particlization methods include sonication and the deposition methods include ink-jet printing. Activation methods include applying mechanical pressure. The method can be used to produce electronic devices. The electronic devices made by the method include strain gauges. The substrates utilized for making the electronic devices utilizing the method can be wearable or stretchable or both.

Embodiments generally relate to an addressing circuit for a conductor array comprising intersecting row and column conductors. The addressing circuit comprises a switching circuit configured to selectively address an intersection between a selected row conductor and a selected column conductor for connection to a measuring circuit; and at least one voltage buffer selectively connectable to un-selected column conductors on opposite sides of and adjacent to the selected column conductor. The at least one voltage buffer is configured to equalise voltages between the un-selected column conductors and the selected column conductor.

Aspects of the subject technology relate to a sensor for a downhole tool. The downhole tool can include a collar and a sensor. The sensor can be secured to the collar for measuring one or more operational characteristics of the downhole tool during operation of the downhole tool including the performance characteristics of a drill motor. The sensor can include a substrate. The sensor can also include a plurality of strain gauges disposed on the substrate. The plurality of strain gauges can be configured to measure axial strains and torsional strains on the collar for measuring the one or more operational characteristics of the downhole tool.

The present invention relates to piezoresistive devices and pressure sensors incorporating such devices. At its most general, the invention provides a piezoresistive device, comprising a piezoresistive material positioned between an upper conductive layer and a lower conductive layer, wherein the piezoresistive material comprises carbon nanoparticles (most preferably graphene nanoplatelets, graphene or carbon nanotubes) dispersed in a polymer matrix material. The invention also relates to methods of manufacturing and using such devices.

Examples for force-sensing elements are disclosed. An example method for forming a force sensor includes printing a suspension of a hollow-sphere conductive polymer in a liquid carrier over an electrode pair on a substrate, evaporating the liquid carrier, and encapsulating the electrode pair and hollow-sphere conductive polymer to form a force sensor.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a processing unit configured for sensing electrical activity with improved temporal and spatial electrode configuration. The apparatus includes a first layer configured to collect pressure data and a second layer comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to sense electrical activity. The processing unit is communicatively coupled to the apparatus to select a subset of the plurality of electrodes of the second layer from which electrical activity is measured based on an orientation of a user determined by received pressure data from the first layer. In an example, a body map of an individual can be produced from pressure distribution information received from the apparatus. This body map can then be used to select specific electrodes to measure the individual's electrical activity based on the body map pressure distribution information.

Spatially-distributed resonant MEMS sensors are coordinated to generate frequency-modulated signals indicative of regional contact forces, ambient conditions and/or environmental composition.

A system and method for measuring resistance over an array. The array includes at least three electrodes. Nodes at each intersection between input electrodes and output electrodes have variable resistance. A driving voltage is applied to a selected input electrode and an output current is received at a selected output electrode. A selected node is at the intersection of the two selected electrodes and includes an electrical component with a resistive property. Remaining electrodes are connected with a ground for isolating the selected node from the effects of changes in impedance of the remaining nodes. The driving voltage is converted to an output current by resistance at the selected node. The output current is converted to an output voltage with a current-to-voltage converter circuit for measuring the resistance of the electrical component. The nodes may be measured as the selected node in sequential or non-sequential patterns.

According to an aspect, a detection device includes a pattern detector, a force detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to store reference data in advance, acquire new data, and determine whether an object pressed against a contact surface when the new data is acquired is a human finger based on difference between acquisition target data indicated by the reference data at a plurality of timings and the acquisition target data indicated by the new data at a plurality of timings. The timings are two timings or more that are included in a pressing operation period from start to end of pressing of an external object against the contact surface, and the force detected by the force detector is different between the timings.

In some examples, a method of operating a circuit may comprise performing a circuit function under normal conditions, performing the circuit function under aggravated conditions, predicting a potential future problem with the circuit function under the normal conditions based on an output of the circuit function under the aggravated conditions, and outputting a predictive alert based on predicting the potential future problem.