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handbook of modern sensors

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9.2 Tactile Sensors 327<br />

9.2 Tactile Sensors<br />

Tactile <strong>sensors</strong> are a special class <strong>of</strong> force or pressure transducers, which are characterized<br />

by small thickness. This makes the <strong>sensors</strong> useful in applications where force<br />

or pressure can be developed between two surfaces being in close proximity to one<br />

another. Examples include robotics, where tactile <strong>sensors</strong> can be positioned on the<br />

“fingertips” <strong>of</strong> a mechanical actuator to provide a feedback upon developing a contact<br />

with an object—very much like tactile <strong>sensors</strong> work in human skin. They can be used<br />

to fabricate “touch screen” displays, keyboards, and other devices where a physical<br />

contact has to be sensed. A very broad area <strong>of</strong> applications is in the biomedical field,<br />

where tactile <strong>sensors</strong> can be used in dentistry for the crown or bridge occlusion investigation<br />

and in studies <strong>of</strong> forces developed by a human foot during locomotion. They<br />

can be installed in artificial knees for the balancing <strong>of</strong> the prosthesis operation and<br />

so on. In mechanical and civil engineering, the <strong>sensors</strong> can be used to study forces<br />

developed by fastening devices.<br />

Several methods can be used to fabricate tactile <strong>sensors</strong>. Some <strong>of</strong> them require<br />

the formation <strong>of</strong> a thin layer <strong>of</strong> a material which is responsive to strain. A simple<br />

tactile sensor producing an “on–<strong>of</strong>f” output can be formed with two leaves <strong>of</strong> foil and<br />

a spacer (Fig. 9.3). The spacer has round (or any other suitable shape) holes. One leaf<br />

is grounded and the other is connected to a pull-up resistor. A multiplexer can be used<br />

if more than one sensing area is required. When an external force is applied to the<br />

upper conductor over the opening in the spacer layer, the conductor flexes, and upon<br />

reaching the lower conductor, it makes an electric contact, grounded by that the pullup<br />

resistor. The output signal becomes zero, indicating the applied force. The upper<br />

and lower conducting leaves can be fabricated by a silkscreen printing <strong>of</strong> conductive<br />

ink on the backing material, like Mylar ® or polypropylene. Multiple sensing spots can<br />

be formed by printing rows and columns <strong>of</strong> a conductive ink. Touching <strong>of</strong> a particular<br />

Fig. 9.3. Membrane switch as a tactile sensor.

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