Claims
- 1. A sensor comprising:
a first conductor connected to a signal generator; a second conductor connected to a signal detector; and a crushable layer located between the first and second conductors wherein the first and second conductors are adapted to 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, wherein the crushable layer includes a thermoplastic.
- 4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the crushable layer includes a foam.
- 5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductors are adapted to pass the signal from the signal generator to the signal detector upon the touching of the first and second conductors.
- 6. A device comprising:
a first conductor; a second conductor; and a crushable layer located between said first and second conductors; wherein the first and second conductors are coaxial and adapted to pass a signal upon the deformation of the crushable layer.
- 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the crushable layer includes a thermoplastic.
- 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the crushable layer includes a foam.
- 9. A method of sensing contact between two objects, comprising:
generating a signal on a first conductor; deforming a crushable layer separating the first conductor from a second conductor; and detecting the signal on the second conductor.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first conductor is coaxial with the second conductor.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the crushable layer includes a thermoplastic.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the crushable layer includes a foam.
- 13. The method of claim 9,-wherein deformation of the crushable layer causes the first and second conductor to touch.
- 14. A method of sensing contact between two objects, comprising:
passing a signal through a crushable layer from a first conductor to a second conductor upon the deformation of the crushable layer.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal passes from the first conductor to the second conductor when they touch.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] 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.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60404019 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10113301 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Child |
10306498 |
Nov 2002 |
US |