Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Force sensing sheet
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Application No.: US14341328Application Date: 2014-07-25
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Publication No.: US09642470B2Publication Date: 2017-05-09
- Inventor: Geoffrey L. Taylor
- Applicant: Stryker Corporation
- Applicant Address: unknown Kalamazoo
- Assignee: Stryker Corporation
- Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
- Current Assignee Address: unknown Kalamazoo
- Agency: Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
- Main IPC: G01L1/22
- IPC: G01L1/22 ; G01L3/00 ; G01D7/00 ; A47C27/08 ; G01L1/18 ; G01N3/08 ; H01L29/84 ; G01L1/20 ; G01L5/22 ; A61B5/103 ; A61B5/00 ; G01L1/16

Abstract:
A support apparatus includes a force sensing array positioned thereon that includes multiple layers of material that are arranged to define an elastically stretchable sensing sheet. The sensing sheet may be placed underneath a patient to detect interface forces or pressures between the patient and the support structure that the patient is positioned on. The force sensing array includes a plurality of force sensors. The force sensors are defined where a row conductor and a column conductor approach each other on opposite sides of a force sensing material, such as a piezoresistive material. In order to reduce electrical cross talk between the plurality of sensors, a semiconductive material is included adjacent the force sensing material to create a PN junction with the force sensing material. This PN junction acts as a diode, limiting current flow to essentially one direction, which, in turn, reduces cross talk between the multiple sensors.
Public/Granted literature
- US20140331412A1 FORCE SENSING SHEET Public/Granted day:2014-11-13
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