Deformable sensors with selective restraint

Abstract

A sensor may include a deformable sensing element having a deformable conductor arranged to deform in response to deformation of the sensing element, wherein the deformation of the sensing element is selectively controlled. The sensing element may be selectively controlled by a restraining element. The restraining element may control the deformation of the sensing element by distributing forces applied to the sensing element. The sensing element may include a deformable body with the deformable conductor arranged to respond to elongation of the deformable body. The deformable conductor may include a conductive gel. A sensor may include a deformable body, a deformable conductor arranged to deform in response to deformation of the deformable body, and a restraining element arranged to selectively control the deformation of the deformable body.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A sensor comprising:
 a sensing element, including at least two layers of an insulating material folded on themselves;   a deformable conductor disposed between the at least two layers to form a pattern, wherein the deformable conductor comprises a conducting shear thinning gel composition comprising a mixture of a eutectic gallium alloy and gallium oxide, wherein the mixture of eutectic gallium alloy and gallium oxide has a weight percentage (wt %) of between about 59.9% and about 99.9% eutectic gallium alloy, and a wt % of between about 0.1% and about 2.0% gallium oxide.   
     
     
         12 . The sensor of  claim 11 , further comprising a restraining element comprising a sheet of material, arranged to selectively control deformation of the sensing element, wherein the deformation of the sensing element is selectively controlled by the restraining element. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor of  claim 11  wherein the sensing element comprises a deformable body with the deformable conductor arranged to respond to elongation of the deformable body. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor of  claim 13  wherein the restraining element comprises a piece of material having a greater modulus of elasticity than the deformable body. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor of  claim 14  wherein the restraining element comprises a flat sheet disposed on top of the folded sensing element. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor of  claim 15  wherein the restraining element is a first restraining element and further comprising a second restraining element arranged to selectively control the sensing element. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor of  claim 16  wherein the second restraining element comprises a sheet of material disposed between the layers of the folded sensing element. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor of  claim 11  wherein the sensing element is elongated in a first direction. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor of  claim 18  wherein the restraining element restrains the sensing element in the first direction. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor of  claim 19  wherein the restraining element comprises a two-way stretch fabric. 
     
     
         21 . A method of making a sensor, comprising:
 forming a sensing element, the sensing element including at least two layers of an insulating material folded on themselves;   disposing a deformable conductor between the at least two layers to form a pattern, wherein the deformable conductor comprises a conducting shear thinning gel composition comprising a mixture of a eutectic gallium alloy and gallium oxide, wherein the mixture of eutectic gallium alloy and gallium oxide has a weight percentage (wt %) of between about 59.9% and about 99.9% eutectic gallium alloy, and a wt % of between about 0.1% and about 2.0% gallium oxide.   
     
     
         22 . The sensor of  claim 21 , further comprising arranging a restraining element, comprised of a sheet of material, to selectively control deformation of the sensing element, wherein the deformation of the sensing element is selectively controlled by the restraining element. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the sensing element comprises a deformable body with the deformable conductor arranged to respond to elongation of the deformable body. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the restraining element comprises a piece of material having a greater modulus of elasticity than the deformable body. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the restraining element comprises a flat sheet disposed on top of the folded sensing element. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the restraining element is a first restraining element and further comprising a second restraining element arranged to selectively control the sensing element. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the second restraining element comprises a sheet of material disposed between the layers of the folded sensing element. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the sensing element is elongated in a first direction. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the restraining element restrains the sensing element in the first direction. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the restraining element comprises a two-way stretch fabric.