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Fabrication, modeling, and evaluation of a digital output tilt sensor with conductive microspheres

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posted on 2023-06-09, 06:24 authored by Lars Buthe, Christian Vogt, Luisa Petti, Giuseppe Cantarella, Niko Munzenrieder, Gerhard Troster
Recent advances in wearable computing ask for bendable and conformable electronic circuits and sensors, allowing an easy integration into everyday life objects. Here, we present a novel flexible tilt sensor on plastic using conductive microspheres as gravity sensitive pendulum. The sensor provides a digital output of the measurement signal without the need for any additional electronics (e.g., amplifiers) close to the sensing structure. The sensor is fabricated on a free-standing polyimide foil with SU-8 photoresist defining the cavity for the pendulum. The pendulum consists of freely movable conductive microspheres which, depending on the sense of gravity, connect different electric contacts patterned on the polyimide foil. We develop a model of the sensor and identify the amount of microspheres as one of the key parameters in the sensor design, which influences the performance of the sensor. The presented tilt sensor with eight contacts achieves an angular resolution of 22.5° with a hysteresis of 10° and less at a tilt of the sensor plane of 50°. Analysis of the microsphere movements reveals a response time of the sensor at ~ 50 ms.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

IEEE Sensors Journal

ISSN

1530-437X

Publisher

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Issue

12

Volume

17

Page range

3635-3643

Department affiliated with

  • Engineering and Design Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sensor Technology Research Centre Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-05-25

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-05-26

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-05-25

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