CN209230835U - A pressure sensor array - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of flexible electronics, and specifically discloses a pressure sensing array, wherein the pressure sensing array includes: two-layer cable structure, each layer of cable structure includes a plurality of elastic cable lines arranged in parallel , the cable structure on one layer is arranged horizontally, and the cable structure on the other side is arranged vertically, and the contact position of every two elastic cables in the two-layer cable structure forms a sensing node with position information, and each elastic cable includes The casing and the wire layer inside the casing, the wire layer forms a capacitor electrode, and the casing and the air interlayer of the two-layer cable structure form a capacitor dielectric layer. The electronic product formed by the pressure sensing array provided by the utility model meets the requirement of flexibility and has the ability of elastic deformation, and because it is different from the existing cable structure, it solves the problem of complicated process and high cost in the prior art, and has the advantages of Simple structure saves manpower and time and other costs.

Description

A pressure sensor array

technical field

The utility model relates to the technical field of flexible electronics, in particular to a pressure sensing array.

Background technique

With the continuous advancement of science and technology, more and more electronic products are turning to flexibility and customization, such as wearable devices, flexible circuits, antennas, microwave cables, electronic skins, etc. These electronic products not only require the normal operation of electronic components , It is also required that the electronic components can be elastically deformed according to the needs of users, and the connecting cables must also be elastically deformed. Such requirements undoubtedly pose a huge challenge to traditional manufacturing. The relevant research and manufacture of the existing elastic cables is to embed the conductive material into the elastic material by means of a mold and carry out encapsulation and molding. However, there are the following limitations in the research and manufacture of existing elastic cables: (1) The existing elastic cables are manufactured by traditional casting methods, which need to manufacture molds in advance, and the production cost is very high, and if different processes are carried out according to different needs Adjustment, but also the replacement of molds according to needs, resulting in a lot of waste of manpower, time and cost; (2) Due to the above factors, the existing elastic cables are difficult to meet the increasing customization requirements of users.

Contents of the invention

The utility model aims at at least solving one of the technical problems in the prior art, and provides a pressure sensing array to solve the problems in the prior art.

As one aspect of the present invention, a pressure sensing array is provided, wherein the pressure sensing array includes: two layers of cable structure, each layer of cable structure includes a plurality of elastic cables arranged in parallel, one layer The cable structure is arranged horizontally, and the cable structure on the other side is arranged vertically. The contact position of every two elastic cables in the two-layer cable structure forms a sensing node with position information. Each elastic cable includes a housing and The conductor layer located inside the housing.

Preferably, the pressure sensing array includes a capacitive pressure sensing array, the wire layer forms a capacitive electrode, and the shell of the two-layer cable structure and the air interlayer form a capacitive dielectric layer.

Preferably, the pressure sensing array includes a resistance pressure sensing array, and each layer of cable structure forms a resistance sensing unit.

Preferably, the material for making the wire layer includes one of carbon-based conductive liquid, carbon-based conductive paste, conductive ionic liquid, conductive polymer solution, conductive polymer hydrogel, conductive ionic gel and gallium indium tin alloy or more, the electrical conductivity of the material of the wire layer is in the range of 10 ⁵ S/m to 10 ⁸ S/m.

Preferably, the housing is made of one or more of thermosetting or thermoplastic rubber, thermosetting/thermoplastic resin and nylon.

Preferably, the included angle between the horizontally arranged cable structures and the longitudinally arranged cable structures is between 10° and 90°.

The pressure sensing array provided by the utility model is provided with two-layer cable structures, and the two-layer cable structures are alternately arranged vertically and horizontally, and sensor nodes with position information are formed at the contact positions of the two-layer cable lines. The formed electronic products meet the requirements of flexibility, have the ability of elastic deformation, and because they are different from the existing cable structure, it solves the problem of complex process and high cost in the prior art, and has the advantages of simple structure and saving manpower and time costs. Advantage.

Description of drawings

The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the utility model, and constitute a part of the description, together with the following specific embodiments, are used to explain the utility model, but do not constitute a limitation to the utility model. In the attached picture:

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a pressure sensing array provided by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for preparing a pressure sensing array provided by the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of the extruding device provided by the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the method for preparing a pressure sensing array provided by the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of path planning of the printing process of the pressure sensing array provided by the present invention.

Detailed ways

The specific embodiment of the utility model will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described here are only used to illustrate and explain the utility model, and are not intended to limit the utility model.

As a first aspect of the present invention, a pressure sensing array is provided, wherein, as shown in FIG. Two elastic cables 110 arranged in parallel, the cable structure 100 on one layer is arranged horizontally, and the cable structure 100 on the other side is arranged vertically, and the contact position of every two elastic cables 110 in the two-layer cable structure 100 forms a transmission with position information. The sense node 120, each of the elastic cables 110 includes a casing 111 and a wire layer 112 inside the casing.

The pressure sensing array provided by the utility model is provided with two-layer cable structures, and the two-layer cable structures are alternately arranged vertically and horizontally, and sensor nodes with position information are formed at the contact positions of the two-layer cable lines. The formed electronic products meet the requirements of flexibility, have the ability of elastic deformation, and because they are different from the existing cable structure, it solves the problem of complex process and high cost in the prior art, and has the advantages of simple structure and saving manpower and time costs. Advantage.

As a specific implementation, the pressure sensing array includes a capacitive pressure sensing array, the wire layer forms a capacitive electrode, and the shell and air interlayer of the two-layer cable structure 100 form a capacitive dielectric layer.

As another specific implementation manner, the pressure sensing array includes a resistive pressure sensing array, and each layer of cable structure 100 forms a resistive sensing unit.

Specifically, the material for making the wire layer 112 includes one of carbon-based conductive liquid, carbon-based conductive paste, conductive ionic liquid, conductive polymer solution, conductive polymer hydrogel, conductive ionic gel, and gallium indium tin alloy. one or more species.

Preferably, the electrical conductivity of the material of the wire layer 112 ranges from 10 ⁵ S/m to 10 ⁸ S/m.

Specifically, the material for making the housing 111 includes one or more of thermosetting or thermoplastic rubber, thermosetting/thermoplastic resin, and nylon.

Specifically, the included angle between the horizontally arranged cable structures 100 and the longitudinally arranged cable structures 100 is between 10° and 90°.

Preferably, the wall thickness of the housing is between 10 microns and 1 mm.

As a second aspect of the present utility model, a method for preparing a pressure sensing array is provided, wherein, as shown in FIG. 2 , the method for preparing the pressure sensing array includes:

S110, providing the substrate, the manufacturing materials of the housing, and the manufacturing materials of the wire layer;

S120, providing an extrusion device;

S130, loading the manufacturing materials of the housing and the wire layer into the extruding device;

S140, setting extrusion parameters of the extrusion device;

S150. According to the extrusion parameters, the extruding device simultaneously extrudes the material for the casing and the material for the wire layer onto the base, and extrudes on the base to form two layers of crisscross grid structure;

S160, heat curing;

S170. Encapsulation and molding.

The preparation method of the pressure sensing array provided by the utility model adopts the form of a casing and a wire layer, is extruded by an extrusion device, and is heated and solidified to finally obtain a pressure sensing array. The preparation of this pressure sensing array The method avoids the traditional cumbersome production process of using molds or manual work, and can meet the requirements of different users for any 3D graphics and geometric dimensions of cables. Uninterrupted, mass production and many other advantages save manpower, time and production costs.

Specifically, as a specific embodiment of the extruding device, as shown in FIG. 3 , the extruding device includes a first extruding mechanism 1, a second extruding mechanism 2, and a nozzle structure 3, and the nozzle structure 3 includes An inner core structure 31 and an outer cavity structure 32, the outer cavity structure 32 is isolated and arranged around the inner core structure 31, the inlet of the inner core structure 31 is connected with the outlet of the first extruding mechanism 1, the outer cavity structure The inlet of the cavity structure 32 is connected to the outlet of the second extruding structure 2, and the first extruding mechanism 1 is used to hold the manufacturing material of the wire layer and can extrude the manufacturing material of the wire layer to The inner core structure 31, the second extruding mechanism 2 is used to contain the manufacturing material of the shell and can squeeze the manufacturing material of the shell to the outer cavity structure 32, the inner core The outlet of the structure 31 and the outlet of the outer cavity structure 32 simultaneously eject the manufacturing material of the housing and the manufacturing material of the wire layer onto the substrate.

Specifically, the first extruding mechanism 1, the second extruding mechanism 2, and the nozzle 3 are installed at the execution end of the multi-degree-of-freedom movement; The production material of the shell is loaded into the pressing mechanism 2; the motion control technology and the extrusion system control can work together to extrude the elastic cable on the substrate during the movement, and use the high storage modulus of the shell material The characteristics of the self-supporting, while the internal extruded wire layer of the production material.

According to the curing situation of different materials, auxiliary curing equipment such as thermal curing heating plate and heating light source can be selectively configured to heat and cure the coating material during the printing process in order to obtain better coating effect.

After printing the criss-cross grid structure, it is placed in a high-temperature environment to fully cure it. Connecting electrical wires are introduced into the obtained capacitive sensing grid structure, contacted with the wire layer, packaged and formed, and finally an elastic pressure sensing array is obtained.

As a third aspect of the present invention, a method for preparing a pressure sensing array is provided, wherein, as shown in FIG. 4 , the method for preparing the pressure sensing array includes:

S210. Provide a substrate, a liquid material, a material for making the shell, and a material for making the wire layer, wherein the liquid material is incompatible with the material for making the wire layer and the material for making the shell;

S220, providing an extrusion device and an injection device;

S230. Load the manufacturing material of the shell and the liquid material into the extruding device;

S240, setting extrusion parameters of the extrusion device;

S250. According to the extrusion parameters, the extrusion device simultaneously extrudes the manufacturing material of the shell and the liquid material onto the substrate, and extrudes on the substrate to form two layers of criss-cross grids structure;

S260, heating and curing for the first time, forming a structure in which the center is a liquid material and the outer layer is a shell;

S270, removing the liquid material to form a hollow channel;

S280, using an injection device to inject the production material of the wire layer into the hollow channel;

S290, the second heat curing;

S300, encapsulation molding.

The preparation method of the pressure sensing array provided by the utility model adopts the form of the casing and the wire layer. Firstly, the casing and the liquid material are extruded by an extrusion device, and then the liquid material is removed, and then the wire layer is made The material is injected, heated and solidified to finally obtain the pressure sensing array. The preparation method of this pressure sensing array avoids the traditional cumbersome production process of using molds or manual production, and can meet the needs of different users for any 3D graphics, At the same time, the sensor array produced by this manufacturing method has many advantages such as good shape, high degree of continuity, uninterrupted process, and mass production, which saves manpower, time and production costs. In addition, because the liquid material is firstly heated and solidified, removed, and then injected into the production material of the wire layer, the one-time extrusion distance can be longer and the replacement can be controlled.

It should be noted that the liquid material can be removed after heating and curing only if the liquid material is incompatible with the material for making the wire layer and the material for making the housing.

Specifically, the liquid material includes a volatile liquid material and a non-volatile liquid material, the volatile liquid material volatilizes after being cured by the first heating, and the non-volatile liquid material evaporates after the first heating Forms a solid shape after curing.

It can be understood that, when the liquid material is a volatile liquid material, it can be volatilized after being heated and solidified, and can be directly injected into the production material of the wire layer; The auxiliary injection device squeezes out the liquid material while injecting the material for making the wire layer.

Specifically, the extruding device can adopt the extruding device described above, the difference is that the first extruding mechanism 1 is used to contain the liquid material, and the inner core structure 31 is filled with liquid material, so The outlet of the inner core structure 31 and the outlet of the outer cavity structure 32 spray the shell material and the liquid material onto the substrate at the same time.

Specifically, the first extruding mechanism 1, the second extruding mechanism 2, and the spray head structure 3 are installed at the execution end of the multi-degree-of-freedom movement; the liquid material is filled in the first extruding mechanism 1, and the second extruding mechanism 2. Load the production material of the shell; use the motion control technology to work with the extrusion system control, and the elastic cable can be extruded on the substrate during the movement, and the high storage modulus of the shell material is used. Completely self-supporting while extruding liquid material inside.

According to the curing situation of different materials, auxiliary curing equipment such as thermal curing heating plate and heating light source can be selectively configured to heat and cure the coating material during the printing process in order to obtain better coating effect.

After printing the criss-cross grid structure, place it in a high-temperature environment to fully solidify it, and if the liquid material is a volatile material, the internal liquid will volatilize at high temperature and form an elastic hollow channel; The material for making the wire layer is injected into the channel.

Connecting electrical wires are introduced into the obtained capacitive sensing grid structure, contacted with the wire layer, packaged and formed, and finally an elastic pressure sensing array is obtained.

It should be noted that if the liquid material is a non-volatile material, the solidified non-volatile liquid material can be extruded to form a hollow channel by using such as air pressure, injection device, peristaltic feeding device, etc., so as to facilitate the injection into the wire layer. Materials. In addition, it is also possible to extrude the solidified non-volatile liquid material while injecting the material for making the wire layer.

It should also be noted that the temperature during curing is controlled between 40° and 200°.

The intersecting double-layer grid structure, such as the line width of a single cable, the line distance of adjacent cables, the diameter of the conductive layer inside the cable, etc., can be adjusted through extrusion parameters, motion parameters, and nozzle specifications.

Preferably, the liquid material may be water.

The preparation method of the pressure sensing array provided by the utility model is described in detail below, taking the method of injecting the production material of the wire layer as an example.

(1) Fill the first extrusion mechanism 1 with water, and the second extrusion mechanism 2 with Dow Corning SE1700 silicone rubber;

(2) Arrange the first extruding mechanism 1, the second extruding mechanism 2 and the nozzle structure 3 in parallel, and connect the first extruding mechanism 1 and the second extruding mechanism 2 to the inner core of the nozzle structure 3 respectively through the conduit The structure 31 communicates with the outer cavity structure 32; the inner diameter of the inner core structure 31 of the nozzle structure 3 is specifically 0.21 mm, the outer diameter of the inner core structure 31 is 0.4 mm, and the inner diameter of the outer cavity structure 32 is 13 mm;

(3) Set the flow rate of the injection pump of the first extrusion mechanism 1 to 5ul/s, the extrusion pressure of the second extrusion mechanism 2 to 70psi, and the nozzle structure 3 to print the coaxial line on the printing surface at a printing speed of 8mm/s. On the substrate; the printing path is shown in Figure 5, which can be stacked into a grid shape;

(4) The pressure sensor array obtained in step (3) is cured and formed by heating and curing at 80°C to obtain a double-layer sensor grid array with a length of 30*30mm, in which each coaxial line is about 1.4mm, the inner core diameter is about 0.4mm;

(5) Using a syringe, inject the eutectic alloy Ga75.5-In24.5 gallium indium tin alloy from the beginning of the grid array obtained in step (4) into the grid sensor array.

(6) Cut off both ends of the sensing grid array obtained in step (5), and insert copper wires with a diameter of 0.1mm into both ends of each coaxial line (the length of the submerged coaxial line is 3mm-5mm, this implementation The way is to mark 5mm in the figure as an example), and then use UV light curing glue to inject the two ends of the coaxial line to overflow, and use UV silicone to cure the packaging and molding.

Finally, the pressure sensing array made by using Keysight's E9480AL LCR meter measures the capacitance of a single node, and its value is about 1.5pf.

The preparation method of the capacitive sensor array provided by the utility model avoids the traditional cumbersome production process of using molds or manual work, and can meet the requirements of different users for any 3D graphics and geometric dimensions of cables. At the same time, the production method produced The sensor array has many advantages such as good molding, high degree of continuity, uninterrupted process, and mass production, saving manpower, time and production costs.

The utility model adopts the conductive material of liquid or colloid, and due to the fluidity of the liquid or the good elastic deformation of the colloid, the sensor array manufactured with it can be elastic. When silicone rubber is used as the covering material, because silicone rubber has good insulation and elastic deformation capabilities, and silicone rubber is non-toxic, tasteless, high temperature resistant, low temperature resistant, and has good inertia, our flexible capacitors have obvious advantages. .

It can be understood that, the above embodiments are only exemplary embodiments adopted to illustrate the principles of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and essence of the present utility model, and these variations and improvements are also regarded as the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims (5)

1. A pressure sensing array, characterized in that the pressure sensing array comprises: two layers of cable structures, each layer of cable structures comprising a plurality of elastic cables arranged in parallel, and one layer of cable structures arranged horizontally , the cable structure on the other side is arranged longitudinally, and the contact position of every two elastic cables in the two-layer cable structure forms a sensing node with position information, and each elastic cable includes a housing and a wire located in the housing Floor. 2. The pressure sensing array according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing array comprises a capacitive pressure sensing array, the wire layer forms a capacitive electrode, and the housing of the two-layer cable structure and the air interlayer Form the capacitor dielectric layer. 3 . The pressure sensing array according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensing array comprises a resistive pressure sensing array, and each layer of cable structure forms a resistive sensing unit. 4 . 4 . The pressure sensing array according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of one or more materials selected from thermosetting or thermoplastic rubber, thermosetting/thermoplastic resin and nylon. 5. The pressure sensing array according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the angle between the horizontally arranged cable structure and the longitudinally arranged cable structure is between 10° and 90° .