Claims
- 1. A pressure sensor, comprising:
- an electrical component having
- (i) first and second, spaced apart, electrically conductive films, at least one of said first and second, spaced apart, electrically conductive films allowing light transmission therethrough, said first electrically conductive film capable of movement under the influence of an applied pressure relative to said second electrically conductive film,
- (ii) a liquid crystal positioned between said first and second, spaced apart, electrically conductive films, and
- (iii) a means for applying a voltage between said first and second, spaced apart, electrically conductive films; and
- an optical component having
- (i) a means for directing polarized light towards said liquid crystal, and
- (ii) a means for detecting polarized light emanating from said liquid crystal.
- 2. The pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting polarized light detects polarized light which is ninety degrees out of phase with polarized light directed towards said liquid crystal by said means for directing.
- 3. The pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting polarized light detects polarized light which is in phase with polarized light directed towards said liquid crystal by said means for directing.
- 4. The pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for directing polarized light is arranged to direct polarized light through a first side of said electrical component and said means for detecting polarized light is arranged to receive transmitted light from a second side of said electrical component.
- 5. The pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for directing polarized light is arranged to direct polarized light through a first side of said electrical component and said means for detecting polarized light is arranged to receive reflected light reflected from inside said electrical component out said first side of said electrical component.
- 6. The pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said liquid crystal is dispersed as droplets in a polymer matrix which forms a layer between said first and second, spaced apart, electrically conductive films.
- 7. The pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said liquid crystal is dispersed within cells of a grid which forms a layer between said first and second, spaced apart, electrically conductive films.
- 8. The pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said electrical component has a planar shape.
- 9. The pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said electrical component has a non-planar shape.
- 10. The pressure sensor of claim 1 further comprising a flexible, transparent, film connected to said first electrically conductive film.
- 11. The pressure sensor of claim 1 further comprising a transparent substrate connected to said second electrically conductive film.
- 12. The pressure sensor of claim 1 further comprising a reflective coating connected to said second electrically conductive film.
- 13. The pressure sensor of claim 1 further comprising a means for correlating a detected light intensity from said means for detecting with pressure.
- 14. The pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said first and second, spaced apart, electrically conductive films are the same material.
- 15. The pressure sensor of claim 14 wherein said first and second, spaced apart, electrically conductive films are indium-tin-oxide.
Government Interests
"This invention was made with government support under Contract NAS1-18584 awarded by NASA. The government has certain rights in this invention."
US Referenced Citations (3)