Development of an Array-Type Flexible Tactile Sensor Using PVDF and Flexible Circuitry

This paper represents the development of an array-type flexible tactile sensor using PVDF(polyvinylidene fluoride) film and flexible circuitry. The tactile sensor which has $8{\times}8$ taxels is made by using PVDF film and FPC(flexible printed circuit) technique. Experimental results on static and dynamic properties are obtained by applying arbitrary forces and frequencies generated by the shaker. In the static characteristics, the threshold and the linearity of the sensor are investigated. Also dynamic response of the sensor subjected to the variable frequencies is examined. The signals of a contact force to the tactile sensor are sensed and processed in the DSP system in which the signals are digitalized and filtered. Finally, the signals are integrated for taking the force profile. The processed signals of the outputs of the sensor are visualized on a personal computer, the shape and force distribution of the contacted object are obtained using two and three-dimensional image in real time. The reasonable performance for the detection of contact state is verified through the experiment.