Claims
- 1. A sensor comprising:a cable comprising: a first conductor, a second conductor, and an extruded crushable layer located between the first and second conductors; a signal generator connected to the first conductor; and a signal detector connected to the second conductor, wherein the first and second conductors are adapted to touch and pass a signal from the signal generator to the signal detector upon deformation of the crushable layer.
- 2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductors are coaxial.
- 3. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a protective layer.
- 4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the crushable layer includes a foam.
- 5. The sensor of claim 1 further comprises a fault detection device.
- 6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the cable is hermetically sealed.
- 7. A device comprising:a cable comprising a first conductor; a second conductor; and an extruded crushable layer located between said first and second conductors, wherein the first and second conductors are coaxial and the crushable layer is adapted to permit the first and second conductors to touch and to pass a signal upon the deformation of the crushable layer.
- 8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a protective layer.
- 9. The device of claim 7, wherein the crushable layer includes a foam.
- 10. The device of claim 7 further comprises a fault detection device.
- 11. The device of claim 7, wherein the cable is hermetically sealed.
- 12. A method of sensing contact between two objects, comprising:generating a signal on a first conductor; deforming an extruded crushable layer separating the first conductor from a second conductor; and detecting the signal on the second conductor when the conductors touch.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first conductor is coaxial with the second conductor.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the crushable layer includes a thermoplastic.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the crushable layer includes a foam.
- 16. A method of manufacturing a sensor, comprising:extruding a crushable material onto a first conductor; and covering the extruded crushable material with a second conductor, wherein the crushable material is adapted to permit the first and second conductors to touch.
- 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising covering the second conductor with a protective covering.
- 18. The method of claim 16 further comprising connecting one of the first and second conductors to a signal generator and connecting the remaining conductor to a signal detector.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to U.S. provisional application No. 60/404,019, filed Sep. 23, 2002 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/113,301 filed on Mar. 29, 2002.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
International Search Report, PCT/US03/09382 dated Sep. 18, 2003. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/404019 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10/113301 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Child |
10/306498 |
|
US |