Development of circuit solution and design of capacitive pressure sensor array for applied robotics

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-307
Author(s):  
Konstantin Krestovnikov ◽  
Aleksei Erashov ◽  
Аleksandr Bykov
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Output Signal ◽  
Sensor Array ◽  
Applied Pressure ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Capacitive Pressure Sensor ◽  
Cell Parameters ◽  
Linear Pattern ◽  
Sensor Structure

This paper presents development of pressure sensor array with capacitance-type unit sensors, with scalable number of cells. Different assemblies of unit pressure sensors and their arrays were considered, their characteristics and fabrication methods were investigated. The structure of primary pressure transducer (PPT) array was presented; its operating principle of array was illustrated, calculated reference ratios were derived. The interface circuit, allowing to transform the changes in the primary transducer capacitance into voltage level variations, was proposed. A prototype sensor was implemented; the dependency of output signal power from the applied force was empirically obtained. In the range under 30 N it exhibited a linear pattern. The sensitivity of the array cells to the applied pressure is in the range 134.56..160.35. The measured drift of the output signals from the array cells after 10,000 loading cycles was 1.39%. For developed prototype of the pressure sensor array, based on the experimental data, the average signal-to-noise ratio over the cells was calculated, and equaled 63.47 dB. The proposed prototype was fabricated of easily available materials. It is relatively inexpensive and requires no fine-tuning of each individual cell. Capacitance-type operation type, compared to piezoresistive one, ensures greater stability of the output signal. The scalability and adjustability of cell parameters are achieved with layered sensor structure. The pressure sensor array, presented in this paper, can be utilized in various robotic systems.

scholarly journals Modeling of a square-shape ZnO, ZnS and AlN membrane for mems capacitive pressure-sensor applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Ahmad Dagamseh ◽  
Qais Al-Bataineh ◽  
Zaid Al-Bataineh ◽  
Nermeen S. Daoud ◽  
Ahmad Alsaad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Membrane Structure ◽  
Applied Pressure ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Membrane Thickness ◽  
Capacitive Pressure Sensor ◽  
The Finite Element Method ◽  
Sensor Applications ◽  
Opposite Behavior

In this paper, mathematical modeling and simulation of a MEMS-based clamped square-shape membrane for capacitive pressure sensors have been performed. Three types of membrane materials were investigated (i.e. Zinc Oxide (ZnO), Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) and Aluminum Nitride (AlN)). Various performance parameters such as capacitance changes, deflection, nonlinearity, the sensitivity of the membrane structure for different materials and film-thicknesses have been considered using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and analytically determined using the FORTRAN environment. The simulation model outperforms in terms of the effective capacitance value. The results show that the membrane deflection is linearly related to the applied pressure. The ZnS membrane provides a capacitance of 0.023 pico-Farad at 25 kPa with a 42.5% relative capacitance changes to reference capacitance. Additionally, the results show that for ZnO and AlN membranes the deflection with no thermal stress is higher than that with thermal stress. However, an opposite behavior for the ZnS membrane structure has been observed. The mechanical and capacitance sensitivities are affected by the membrane thickness as the capacitance changes are inversely proportional to the membrane thickness. Such results open possibilities to utilize various materials for pressure sensor applications by means of the capacitance-based detection technique.

scholarly journals Highly Sensitive Textile-Based Capacitive Pressure Sensors Using PVDF-HFP/Ionic Liquid Composite Films

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 442
Author(s):  
Kyobin Keum ◽  
Jae Sang Heo ◽  
Jimi Eom ◽  
Keon Woo Lee ◽  
Sung Kyu Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Liquid ◽  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Sensor Array ◽  
Vinylidene Fluoride ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Capacitive Pressure Sensor ◽  
Electronic Textiles ◽  
Poly Vinylidene Fluoride

Textile-based pressure sensors have garnered considerable interest in electronic textiles due to their diverse applications, including human–machine interface and healthcare monitoring systems. We studied a textile-based capacitive pressure sensor array using a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP)/ionic liquid (IL) composite film. By constructing a capacitor structure with Ag-plated conductive fiber electrodes that are embedded in fabrics, a capacitive pressure sensor showing high sensitivity, good operation stability, and a wide sensing range could be created. By optimizing the PVDF-HFP:IL ratio (6.5:3.5), the fabricated textile pressure sensors showed sensitivity of 9.51 kPa−1 and 0.69 kPa−1 in the pressure ranges of 0–20 kPa and 20–100 kPa, respectively. The pressure-dependent capacitance variation in our device was explained based on the change in the contact-area formed between the multi-filament fiber electrodes and the PVDF-HFP/IL film. To demonstrate the applicability and scalability of the sensor device, a 3 × 3 pressure sensor array was fabricated. Due to its matrix-type array structure and capacitive sensing mechanism, multi-point detection was possible, and the different positions and the weights of the objects could be identified.

Peeling Mode Capacitive Pressure Sensor for Sub-KPA Pressure Measurements

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeahyeong Han ◽  
Shunzhou Yang ◽  
Mark A. Shannon
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Applied Pressure ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Capacitive Pressure Sensor ◽  
Resistance To Deformation ◽  
Fixed Electrode ◽  
Electrostatic Pressure ◽  
Nonlinear Signal ◽  
Low Pressures

Capacitive pressure sensors measure changes in pressure typically by the deflection of a flexible conducting membrane towards a fixed electrode. The deflection in the membrane produces a quadratic change in capacitance, which often yields higher sensitivity to changes in pressure compared to piezo-resistive pressure sensors, which measures the resistance changes proportional to the applied pressure. However, residual stresses in the membrane can provide a substantial resistance to deformation compared to the driving force created by the applied pressure, which decreases the sensitivity at low pressures and produces a nonlinear signal. If the membrane is made compliant enough to increase sensivitiy, pull-in of the membrane can occur, reducing the effective pressure range of the capacitive manometer type pressure sensor. Hence, these type of sensors are typically not used to measure very low pressure differences over several hundred Pascals. To overcome this limitation, a capacitive pressure sensor was developed that operates in a peeling mode while under applied electrostatic actuation, which counters the residual stresses. The changes in capacitance can be detected if the pressure is just enough to overcome the interfacial electrostatic pressure. This type of pressure sensor can potentially be used for very low differential pressure differences, well below 100 Pa, over ~ 1 kPa range.

scholarly journals Novel Design and Fabrication of High Sensitivity MEMS Capacitive Sensor Array for Fingerprint Imaging

2009 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 239-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitra Damghanian ◽  
Burhanuddin Yeop Majlis
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Sensor Array ◽  
Fem Analysis ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Capacitive Sensor ◽  
Capacitive Pressure Sensor ◽  
Structural Modifications ◽  
Enhanced Sensitivity ◽  
Sensor Structure ◽  
Novel Design

A novel MEMS capacitive pressure sensor array is designed and fabricated for fingerprint acquisition application. Based on analytical investigations and FEM analysis, the designed structure of pressure sensor cells assist from an aluminum clamped-clamped wide beam as the movable electrode of variant capacitor, instead of usual membrane structure. A rectangular base T-shape protrusion is also used on top of the deflecting electrode to concentrate pressure and increase the sensitivity. Proven by the real test of the fabricated sensor structure, this design has enhanced sensitivity and linearity of the device compared to all membrane based reported prototypes without crossing the dpi limits. Structural modifications have resulted in a simpler fabrication process as well.

scholarly journals Flexible Wireless Passive LC Pressure Sensor with Design Methodology and Cost-Effective Preparation

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 976
Author(s):  
Zhuqi Sun ◽  
Haoyu Fang ◽  
Baochun Xu ◽  
Lina Yang ◽  
Haoran Niu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
Applied Pressure ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Capacitive Pressure Sensor ◽  
Intimate Contact ◽  
Physical Motion ◽  
Readout Device ◽  
Wearable Electronic Device

Continuous monitoring of physical motion, which can be successfully achieved via a wireless flexible wearable electronic device, is essential for people to ensure the appropriate level of exercise. Currently, most of the flexible LC pressure sensors have low sensitivity because of the high Young’s modulus of the dielectric properties (such as PDMS) and the inflexible polymer films (as the substrate of the sensors), which don’t have excellent stretchability to conform to arbitrarily curved and moving surfaces such as joints. In the LC sensing system, the metal rings, as the traditional readout device, are difficult to meet the needs of the portable readout device for the integrated and planar readout antenna. In order to improve the pressure sensitivity of the sensor, the Ecoflex microcolumn used as the dielectric of the capacitive pressure sensor was prepared by using a metal mold copying method. The Ecoflex elastomer substrates enhanced the levels of conformability, which offered improved capabilities to establish intimate contact with the curved and moving surfaces of the skin. The pressure was applied to the sensor by weights, and the resonance frequency curves of the sensor under different pressures were obtained by the readout device connected to the vector network analyzer. The experimental results show that resonant frequency decreases linearly with the increase of applied pressure in a range of 0–23,760 Pa with a high sensitivity of −2.2 MHz/KPa. We designed a coplanar waveguide-fed monopole antenna used to read the information of the LC sensor, which has the potential to be integrated with RF signal processing circuits as a portable readout device and a higher vertical readout distance (up to 4 cm) than the copper ring. The flexible LC pressure sensor can be attached to the skin conformally and is sensitive to limb bending and facial muscle movements. Therefore, it has the potential to be integrated as a body sensor network that can be used to monitor physical motion.

Silicon Carbide MEMS Capacitive Pressure Sensor for Harsh Environments

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhibang Chen ◽  
Wei Du ◽  
Feng Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Silicon Carbide ◽  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Applied Pressure ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Capacitive Pressure Sensor ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sensor Structure ◽  
Nuclear Station ◽  
Oil Gas

In this paper, we investigated a new capacitive pressure sensor structure on a silicon carbide (SiC) platform for high sensitivity and harsh environment operation capability. The superior material properties of SiC ensure robustness of the new sensor to withstand large-scale pressure at high temperature and in chemical/biological medium. The sensor structure consists of a circular SiC diaphragm suspended by four arms over a SiC substrate, with design to enable diaphragm to deflect nearly uniformly with applied pressure. This configuration results in improved sensing properties. With high sensitivity and operation capability in hostile environment, this new pressure sensor is promising for use in a wide range of applications such as automotive, nuclear station, aerospace, and oil/gas exploration, etc.

CMOS-MEMS Based Current Mirror MOSFET Embedded Pressure Sensor for Healthcare and Biomedical Applications

2013 ◽  
Vol 647 ◽  
pp. 315-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep Kumar Rathore ◽  
Brishbhan Singh Panwar
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Circuit Simulation ◽  
Applied Pressure ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Cmos Technology ◽  
Current Mirror ◽  
Sensing Element ◽  
Pressure Sensing ◽  
Cmos Mems

This paper reports on the design and optimization of current mirror MOSFET embedded pressure sensor. A current mirror circuit with an output current of 1 mA integrated with a pressure sensing n-channel MOSFET has been designed using standard 5 µm CMOS technology. The channel region of the pressure sensing MOSFET forms the flexible diaphragm as well as the strain sensing element. The piezoresistive effect in MOSFET has been exploited for the calculation of strain induced carrier mobility variation. The output transistor of the current mirror forms the active pressure sensing MOSFET which produces a change in its drain current as a result of altered channel mobility under externally applied pressure. COMSOL Multiphysics is utilized for the simulation of pressure sensing structure and Tspice is employed to evaluate the characteristics of the current mirror pressure sensing circuit. Simulation results show that the pressure sensor has a sensitivity of 10.01 mV/MPa. The sensing structure has been optimized through simulation for enhancing the sensor sensitivity to 276.65 mV/MPa. These CMOS-MEMS based pressure sensors integrated with signal processing circuitry on the same chip can be used for healthcare and biomedical applications.

Micromachined Pressure Sensors on Optical Fiber Tip

2009 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 149-152
Author(s):  
X.M. Zhang ◽  
M. Yu ◽  
Silas Nesson ◽  
H. Bae ◽  
A. Christian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Fiber ◽  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Linear Response ◽  
Applied Pressure ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Outer Diameter ◽  
Sensor Element ◽  
Batch Fabrication ◽  
In Vitro Measurements

This paper reports the development of a miniature pressure sensor on the optical fiber tip for in vitro measurements of rodent intradiscal pressure. The sensor element is biocompatible and can be fabricated by simple, batch-fabrication methods in a non-cleanroom environment with good device-to-device uniformity. The fabricated sensor element has an outer diameter of only 366 μm, which is small enough to be inserted into the rodent discs without disrupting the structure or altering the intradiscal pressures. In the calibration, the sensor element exhibits a linear response to the applied pressure over the range of 0 - 70 kPa, with a sensitivity of 0.0206 μm/kPa and a resolution of 0.17 kPa.

scholarly journals A Highly Sensitive and Flexible Capacitive Pressure Sensor Based on a Porous Three-Dimensional PDMS/Microsphere Composite

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Jung ◽  
Wookjin Lee ◽  
Kyungkuk Jung ◽  
Byunggeon Park ◽  
Jinhyoung Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Sacrificial Layer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Capacitive Pressure Sensor ◽  
Mechanical Stimuli ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Flexible Pressure Sensors ◽  
Fast Rise ◽  
Better Than

In recent times, polymer-based flexible pressure sensors have been attracting a lot of attention because of their various applications. A highly sensitive and flexible sensor is suggested, capable of being attached to the human body, based on a three-dimensional dielectric elastomeric structure of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and microsphere composite. This sensor has maximal porosity due to macropores created by sacrificial layer grains and micropores generated by microspheres pre-mixed with PDMS, allowing it to operate at a wider pressure range (~150 kPa) while maintaining a sensitivity (of 0.124 kPa−1 in a range of 0~15 kPa) better than in previous studies. The maximized pores can cause deformation in the structure, allowing for the detection of small changes in pressure. In addition to exhibiting a fast rise time (~167 ms) and fall time (~117 ms), as well as excellent reproducibility, the fabricated pressure sensor exhibits reliability in its response to repeated mechanical stimuli (2.5 kPa, 1000 cycles). As an application, we develop a wearable device for monitoring repeated tiny motions, such as the pulse on the human neck and swallowing at the Adam’s apple. This sensory device is also used to detect movements in the index finger and to monitor an insole system in real-time.

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