Flexible switches affected by lateral or vertical actuation

Abstract

A flexible switch has a deformable body and a plurality of electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being provided on the deformable body. The switch has a first state in which the electrodes are spaced apart and a second state in which the electrodes are in electrical contact, and the switch is configured to allow movement between the states when a force is applied to or removed from the deformable body.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A sensor comprising:
 a first flexible layer comprising a plurality of first electrodes configured in a two-dimensional array, the first electrodes being electrically connected in rows by conductive tracks which extend in a first direction across the first flexible layer,   a second flexible layer comprising a plurality of second electrodes configured in a two-dimensional array, the second electrodes being electrically connected in rows by conductive tracks which extend in a second direction across the second flexible layer, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction,   a central flexible layer comprising a plurality of apertures configured in a two-dimensional array,   wherein the central layer is provided between the first layer and the second layer, and the first electrodes, second electrodes and apertures are configured to be co-incident with each other whereby a force applied to one of the first or second layers toward the other of the first or second layers will cause one or more electrodes of the first layer and the second layer at a location of the applied force to make electrical contact.   
     
     
         21 . The sensor of  claim 20 , wherein the first layer or second layer is configured to move an electrode into an aperture of the central layer when the force is applied in use. 
     
     
         22 . The sensor of  claim 20 , wherein a one of the first or second layers further comprises a plurality of activator portions, each activator portion being configured to deform in use in response to the force to move an electrode. 
     
     
         23 . The sensor of  claim 22 , wherein each activator portion comprises a thickened portion of the first or second layer. 
     
     
         24 . The sensor of  claim 22 , wherein each activator portion is located proximate an aperture. 
     
     
         25 . The sensor of  claim 20 , further comprising a circuit connected to the conductive tracks and configured to detect whether electrodes of the first layer are in electrical contact with electrodes of the second layer. 
     
     
         26 . The sensor of  claim 20 , wherein the conductive tracks of the first layer are orthogonal to the conductive tracks of the second layer. 
     
     
         27 . The sensor of  claim 20 , wherein the first electrodes are spaced equidistantly along the conductive tracks of the first layer. 
     
     
         28 . The sensor of  claim 20 , wherein the second electrodes are spaced equidistantly along the conductive tracks of the second layer. 
     
     
         29 . A gripping apparatus comprising:
 a first flexible layer comprising a plurality of first electrodes configured in a two-dimensional array, the first electrodes being electrically connected in rows by conductive tracks which extend in a first direction across the first flexible layer,   a second flexible layer comprising a plurality of second electrodes configured in a two-dimensional array, the second electrodes being electrically connected in rows by conductive tracks which extend in a second direction across the second flexible layer, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction,   a central flexible layer comprising a plurality of apertures configured in a two-dimensional array,   wherein the central layer is provided between the first layer and the second layer, and the first electrodes, second electrodes and apertures are configured to be co-incident with each other whereby a force applied to one of the first or second layers toward the other of the first or second layers will cause one or more electrodes of the first layer and the second layer at a location of the applied force to make electrical contact.   
     
     
         30 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first layer, second layer and central layer are configured whereby gripping an object in use will cause the one or more electrodes of the first layer and the second layer at the location of the applied force to make electrical contact. 
     
     
         31 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the gripping apparatus is flexible, and the first layer, second layer and central layer are configured whereby bending the gripping apparatus in use will cause the one or more electrodes of the first layer and the second layer at the location of the applied force to make electrical contact. 
     
     
         32 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a circuit connected to the conductive tracks and configured to detect whether electrodes of the first layer are in electrical contact with electrodes of the second layer. 
     
     
         33 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the circuit is configured to detect a degree of flexure of the gripping apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a first flexible longitudinal structure on which the first layer, the second layer and the central layer are mounted. 
     
     
         35 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising a second flexible longitudinal structure which is connected to the first longitudinal structure by one or more spanning structures. 
     
     
         36 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the first or second longitudinal structures are configured to grip an object. 
     
     
         37 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein a one of the first or second layers further comprises a plurality of activator portions, each activator portion being configured to deform in use in response to the force to move an electrode. 
     
     
         38 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein each activator portion comprises a thickened portion of the first or second layer. 
     
     
         39 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein each activator portion is located proximate an aperture. 
     
     
         40 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 29 . wherein the conductive tracks of the first layer are orthogonal to the conductive tracks of the second layer. 
     
     
         41 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first electrodes are spaced equidistantly along the conductive tracks of the first layer. 
     
     
         42 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the second electrodes are spaced equidistantly along the conductive tracks of the second layer.