Detector constructed from fabric including two layers constructed as a single composite fabric structure

Abstract

A position detector is constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements incorporated therein. It includes at least a first electrically conductive plane and a second electrically conductive plane, each conductive plane having at least two respectively associated electrical connections attached thereto. An electric potential is applied across at least one of the planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction. A second electrical property is also determined to identify additional properties of the mechanical interactions.

1 . A position detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements, comprising at least two electrically conducting planes, wherein 
 an electric potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction; and    a second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of said mechanical interactions.    
     
     
         2 . A position detector according to  claim 1 , configured to measure current or resistance as said second electrical property.  
     
     
         3 . A detector according to  claim 1 , configured to determine applied force, applied pressure, area of contact or orientation of an object as the additional property of said mechanical interactions.  
     
     
         4 . A detector according to  claim 1 , including processing means for modifying a second electrical characteristic with respect to a measurement made for said first electrical characteristic.  
     
     
         5 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said fabric is constructed to facilitate measurement of area or said fabric is constructed to facilitate the measurement of pressure or force.  
     
     
         6 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein composite layers of fabric are provided to enhance measurement of a property or to facilitate the measurement of multiple properties.  
     
     
         7 . A detector according to  claim 6 , wherein multiple properties are measured and a measurement of a first property is used to compensate measurement of a second property.  
     
     
         8 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein a stylus is applied to the detector such that a first electrical property of a mechanical interaction determines the position of the interaction and a second electrical property determines the force or pressure applied to the stylus.  
     
     
         9 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector interacts mechanically with parts of a human body; a first electrical property determines the position of a mechanical interaction and a second electrical property determines the area of coverage.  
     
     
         10 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein electronic switching means are provided to change electrical configurations to the detector and analogue to digital conversion means are configured to convert analogue signals to digital representations of said signals for subsequent mechanical property calculations.  
     
     
         11 . A method of detection, performed with respect to a detector constructed from fabric and having electrically conducting elements configured to provide at least two electrically conducting planes, comprising the steps of 
 applying a potential across at least one of said planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction; and    measuring a second electrical property to identify additional properties of said mechanical interactions.    
     
     
         12 . A detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements to define at least two electrically conductive planes and configured to produce an electrical output in response to a mechanical interaction, wherein 
 at least one of said planes includes first portions and second portions, said first portions have a higher resistance than said second portions and said first higher resistance portions are more flexible than said second portions.    
     
     
         13 . A detector according to  claim 12 , wherein said high resistance portions are configured as flexible portions to facilitate rotational movement about similar portions in a co-operating conductive plane.  
     
     
         14 . A detector according to  claim 13 , wherein said conductive elements are separated from similar elements of a co-operating plane by being supported by said flexible portions.  
     
     
         15 . A detector according to  claim 12 , wherein said second portions are further supported by solid portions.  
     
     
         16 . A detector according to  claim 15 , wherein said solid portions are constructed from rubber, silicon or plastics.  
     
     
         17 . A detector according to  claim 12 , wherein only one of said planes includes first high resistive flexible portions with second portions and a co-operating plane is substantially homogeneous.  
     
     
         18 . A detector according to  claim 17 , wherein said homogeneous plane facilitates elastic expansion.  
     
     
         19 . A method of constructing a detector from fabric, wherein 
 electrically conductive elements are configured to define at least two electrically conductive planes so as to produce an electrical output in response to a mechanical interaction; wherein    at least one of said planes includes first portions and second portions;    said first portions have a higher resistance than said second portions; and    said first higher resistance portions are more flexible than said second portions.    
     
     
         20 . A detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements and configured to produce electrical outputs in response to mechanical interactions, wherein 
 said detector is divided into a plurality of regions;    each of said regions includes a first conducting plane and a second conducting plane;    a mechanical interaction results in conducting planes of at least one of said regions being brought closer together; and    a potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of said mechanical interaction.    
     
     
         21 . A detector according to  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said conducting planes is unique to a region and the co-operating conducting plane is shared with a plurality of regions.  
     
     
         22 . A detector according to  claim 21 , wherein a single co-operating conducting plane is shared with all of said regions.  
     
     
         23 . A detector according to  claim 20 , wherein signals are derived independently from a plurality of regions by a time division multiplexing operation.  
     
     
         24 . A detector according to claims  20 , wherein a second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of said mechanical interactions.  
     
     
         25 . A method of constructing a detector from fabric having electrically conductive elements and configured to produce electrical outputs in response to mechanical interactions, said detector being configured such that a potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of the mechanical interaction, said method comprising the steps of 
 dividing the detector into a plurality of regions;    providing a first conductive plane and a second conductive plane for each of said regions;    bringing together conductive planes of at least one of said regions in a response to a mechanical interaction.    
     
     
         26 . A fabric constructed from electrically conducting fibres and from electrically insulating fibres by a mechanical process, wherein electrical connection means are connected to electrically conducting fibres of said fabric during said mechanical process.  
     
     
         27 . A fabric according to  claim 26 , wherein said mechanical process is a knitting operation or a weaving operation.  
     
     
         28 . A fabric according to  claim 26 , wherein said connector is an insulation displacement connector.  
     
     
         29 . A fabric according to  claim 26 , wherein said connectors are enclosed within conducting epoxy resin, ink or silicone.  
     
     
         30 . A method of constructing a fabric from electrically conducting fibres and from electrically insulating fibres by a mechanical process, comprising the steps of 
 providing a supply of electrical connection devices for electrical connection to electrically conducting fibres of said fabric;    modifying the mechanical process at selected positions so as to incorporate the electrically conducting device as part of the fabric; and    applying sealing means to said electrically conducting device so as to secure said devices to the machined fabric.    
     
     
         31 . A detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements to define at least two electrically conducting planes and configured to produce an electrical output in response to a mechanical interaction, wherein 
 a potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction and said second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of said mechanical interactions; and    a conductivity non-uniformity is included in at least one of said planes so as to modify an electrical response to a mechanical interaction.    
     
     
         32 . A detector according to  claim 31 , wherein said conductivity non-uniformity includes a co-operating pair of conducting strips configured to generate a substantially linear electric field within said conducting planes.  
     
     
         33 . A detector according to  claim 32 , wherein said strips are applied to each of said conducting planes at mutually orthogonal locations.  
     
     
         34 . A detector according to  claim 31 , wherein all edges of a conducting plane are modified.  
     
     
         35 . A detector according to  claim 31 , wherein said conductivity non-uniformity is defined by adjusting the density of conducting threads.  
     
     
         36 . A detector according to  claim 31 , wherein said conductivity non-uniformity is created by printing conductive materials onto the detector.  
     
     
         37 . A method of constructing a detector from fabric configured to produce an electrical output in response to mechanical interactions said detector being configured such that a potential is applied across at least one of said planes to determine the position of a mechanical interaction and a second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of said mechanical interactions, said method comprising the steps of defining at least two electrically conducting planes from electrically conductive elements and introducing a conductivity non-uniformity in at least one of said planes so as to modify an electrical response to a mechanical interaction.  
     
     
         38 . A detector constructed from fabric having electrically conductive elements to define at least two electrically conductive planes and configured to produce an electrical output in response to a mechanical interaction, wherein 
 a second electrically conductive plane of said detector has at least one electrical characteristic that differs significantly in value from the value of said characteristic of the first plane.    
     
     
         39 . A detector according to  claim 38 , wherein one of said planes is used as a detector and voltages are applied sequentially in different directions to the other co-operating plane.  
     
     
         40 . A detector according to  claim 38 , wherein said electrical characteristic is electrical resistance.  
     
     
         41 . A position detector according to  claim 38 , wherein a second electrical property is determined to identify additional properties of said mechanical interactions.  
     
     
         42 . A detector according to  claim 38 , configured to measure current or resistance at said second electrical property and configured to determine applied force, applied pressure, area of contact or orientation of an object as the additional property of said mechanical interactions.  
     
     
         43 . A method of constructing a detector, comprising the steps of 
 constructing electrically conductive elements from fabric to define at least two electrically conducting planes configured to produce electrical output in response to a mechanical interaction; and    configuring a second electrically conductive plane of said detector with at least one electrical characteristic that differs significantly in value from the value of said characteristic of said first plane.