A pressure sensor has a base layer, a supporting structure arranged on the base layer, and an elastic layer disposed above the base layer and the supporting structure. The elastic layer has a curved lower surface that is recessed away from the base layer. The curved lower surface, the supporting structure and the base layer define a cavity with an arched top wall. A first electrode, a second electrode, and an elastic body are all arranged within the cavity, such that when the elastic layer is elastically deformed in a direction of the base layer, the variable resistance elastic body electrically connects the first electrode with the second electrode, so as to generate a first signal related to the elastic deformation of the variable resistance elastic body.

The method of making a flexible elastic conductive material for strain sensor and resistance applications using rubbing-in technology is shown. The thin rubber or any conductive material (substrates) is fixed at strained condition on the solid plate, by rubbing-in technology. Nanopowder of nanomaterials (organic semiconductors, carbon nanotubes, copper doped tin oxide, manganese doped tin oxide) at room temperature are embedded into the rubber conductive material to make built-in structure of conductive flexible elastic substrates that can be used for strain sensors, gages and resistance applications. The resultant product showed good sensitivity, stability and reliability during and after the rubbing-in operation.

The present invention relates to control (apparatus 70). The control apparatus (70) comprises a mass of resilient conductive material (56) having an electrical property which changes in dependence on deformation of the conductive material. The control apparatus (70) further comprises at least three electrodes (74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84) in contact with the mass of resilient conductive material (56) at spaced apart locations to thereby define at least two electrical paths through the mass of resilient conductive material between different pairs of the electrodes. The control apparatus (70) is configured such that there is a change in a measurable electrical property between each of the at least two different pairs of electrodes in dependence on deformation of the mass of resilient conductive material. More than one of the at least three electrodes (74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84) move upon deformation of the mass of resilient conductive material (56).

An electrically responsive composite material (1110) specially adapted for touch screen, comprising a carrier layer (1301) having a length and a width and a thickness (1303) that is relatively small compared to said length and said width. The composite material also comprises a plurality of electrically conductive or semi-conductive particles (201). The particles (201) are agglomerated to form a plurality of agglomerates (104, 1403) dispersed within the carrier layer such that each said agglomerate comprises a plurality of the particles (201). The agglomerates are arranged to provide electrical conduction across the thickness of the carrier layer in response to applied pressure such that the electrically responsive composite material has a resistance that reduces in response to applied pressure.

A pressure sensor has a base layer, a supporting structure arranged on the base layer, and an elastic layer disposed above the base layer and the supporting structure, having a curved lower surface that is recessed away from the base layer. The curved lower surface, supporting structure and base layer define a cavity with an arched top wall. A first electrode and a second electrode are arranged on the lower surface of the elastic layer, the second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and a variable resistance elastic body is arranged on the base layer, opposite to the first and second electrodes; all arranged within the cavity. When the elastic layer is elastically deformed in a direction of the base layer, the elastic body electrically connects the first electrode with the second electrode, so as to generate a first signal related to the elastic deformation of the elastic body.