• 센서학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.145-150
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• 2022

The importance of flexible polymer-based pressure sensors is growing in fields like healthcare monitoring, tactile recognition, gesture recognition, human-machine interface, and robot skin. In particular, health monitoring and tactile devices require high sensor sensitivity. Researchers have worked on sensor material and structure to achieve high sensitivity. A simple and effective method has been to employ three-dimensional pressure sensors. Three-dimensional (3D) structures dramatically increase sensor sensitivity by achieving larger local deformations for the same pressure. In this paper, the performance, manufacturing method, material, and structure of high-sensitivity flexible pressure sensors based on 3D structures, are reviewed.

• 한국기계가공학회지
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• 제20권9호
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• pp.104-109
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• 2021

Tactile sensors and integrated circuits that detect external stimuli have been developed for use in various industries. Most tactile sensors have been developed using the MEMS(micro electro-mechanical systems) process in which metal electrodes and strain sensors are applied to a silicon substrate. However, tactile sensors made of highly brittle silicon lack flexibility and are prone to damage by external forces. Flexible tactile sensors based on polydimethylsiloxane and using a multi-walled carbon nano-tube mixture as a pressure-sensitive material are currently being developed as an alternative to overcome these limitations. In this study, a manufacturing process of pressure-sensitive materials with low initial electrical resistance is developed and applied to the fabrication of flexible tactile sensors. In addition, flexible tactile sensors are developed with pressure-sensitive materials dispensed on a substrate with flexible mechanical properties. Finally, a study is conducted on the change in electrical resistance of pressure-sensitive materials according to the modulus of elasticity of the substrate.

• 한국산업융합학회 논문집
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.233-243
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• 2017

This paper proposes a structure of direct-printed flexible tactile-sensor. These flexible tactile sensors are based on pressure-sensing materials that allow pressure to be measured according to resistance change that in turn results from changes in material size because of compressive force. The sensing material consists of a mixture of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and TangoPlus, which gives it flexibility and elasticity. The tactile sensors used in this study were designed in the form of array structures composed of many lines so that single pressure points can be measured. To evaluate the performance of the flexible tactile sensor, we used specially designed signal-processing electronics and tactile sensors to experimentally verify the sensors' linearity. To test object grasp, tactile sensors were attached to the surface of the fingers of grippers with three degrees of freedom to measure the pressure changes that occur during object grasp. The results of these experiments indicate that the flexible tactile sensor-based robotic gripper can grasp objects and hold them in a stable manner.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2014년도 제46회 동계 정기학술대회 초록집
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• pp.277.2-277.2
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• 2014

For next-generation electronic applications, human-machine interface devices have recently been demonstrated such as the wearable computer as well as the electronic skin (e-skin). For integration of those systems, it is essential to develop many kinds of components including displays, energy generators and sensors. In particular, flexible sensing devices to detect some stimuli like strain, pressure, light, temperature, gase and humidity have been investigated for last few decades. Among many condidates, a pressure sensing device based on organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) is one of interesting structure in flexible touch displays, bio-monitoring and e-skin because of their flexibility. In this study, we have investigated a flexible e-skin based on highly sensitive, pressure-responsive OFETs using microstructured ferroelectric gate dielectrics, which simulates both rapidly adapting (RA) and slowly adatping (SA) mechanoreceptors in human skin. In SA-type static pressure, furthermore, we also demonstrate that the FET array can detect thermal stimuli for thermoreception through decoupling of the input signals from simultaneously applied pressure. The microstructured highly crystalline poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) possessing piezoelectric-pyroelectric properties in OFETs allowed monitoring RA- and SA-mode responses in dyanamic and static pressurizing conditions, which enables to apply the e-skin to bio-monitoring of human and robotics.

• 한국염색가공학회지
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.179-187
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• 2023

In this study, we developed a microfiber-based flexible pressure sensor with high sensitivity and excellent skin breathability. A nonwoven fabric composed of microfibers was prepared by electrospinning, which resulted in excellent moisture permeability of the sensor (143 g∙m^-2∙h^-1). In particular, high-pressure sensitivity (0.36 kPa^-1) was achieved by introducing submicron structures on the microfiber surface by controlling the ambient humidity during electrospinning. The fabrication technology of the microfiber-based flexible pressure sensors reported in this study is expected to contribute to the commercialization of flexible pressure sensors applicable to long-term wearable health monitoring as well as virtual/augmented reality and electronic skin applications.

• 한국기계가공학회지
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• 제19권10호
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• pp.111-116
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• 2020

Flexible tactile sensors, which are primarily used as grippers in robots, are mainly used to handle highly elastic or highly flexible objects. That is, flexible grippers are used when an object cannot be sufficiently controlled by applying a specific output force or taking a specific grabbing action. This is because a flexible tactile sensor needs to measure the pressure applied directly to held objects while deforming according to the shape of the object to be handled. CNT-based sensors used to be made from a highly flexible polymer to give flexibility and it is known that the sensors are greatly affected by the contact resistance of the terminal that connects the sensor to an electrical circuit; therefore, this paper clarifies the contact resistance of MWCNTs-based flexible tactile sensors and terminals. The effects of main and plating materials for terminals are investigated and the combinations of main and plating materials that exhibit contact resistance are measured in a typical industrial environment.

• 센서학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.31-38
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• 2023

Three-dimensional (3D) micro/nanostructures based on soft elastomers have received extensive attention in recent years, owing to their potential and advanced applicability. Designing and fabricating 3D micro/nanostructures are crucial for applications in diverse engineering fields, such as sensors, harvesting devices, functional surfaces, and adhesive patches. However, because of their structural complexity, fabricating soft-elastomer-based 3D micro/nanostructures with a low cost and simple process remains a challenge. Bio-inspired designs that mimic natural structures, or replicate their micro/nanostructure surfaces, have greatly benefited in terms of low-cost fabrication, scalability, and easy control of geometrical parameters. This review highlights recent advances in 3D micro/nanostructures inspired by nature for diverse potential and advanced applications, including flexible pressure sensors, energy-harvesting devices based on triboelectricity, superhydrophobic/-philic surfaces, and dry/wet adhesive patches.

• 한국기계가공학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.8-14
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• 2014

Many kinds of robots and machines have been developed to replace human laborin industrial and medical fields, as well as domestic life. In these applications, the device sneed to obtain environmental data using diverse sensors. Among such sensors, the tactile sensor is important because of its ability to get information regarding surface texture and force through the use of mechanical contact. In this research, a simple tactile sensor was developed using the direct writing of pressure sensitive material and layered fabrication of photocurable material. The body of the sensor was fabricated using layered fabrication, and pressure sensitive materials were dispensed between the layers using direct writing. We examined the line fabrication characteristics of the pressure sensitive material according to nozzle dispensing conditions. A simple $4{\times}4$ array flexible tactile sensor was successfully fabricated using the proposed process.

• 한국기계가공학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2020

While the demand for robots in the manufacturing industry has dramatically increased, the industrial robots' functionality is mainly determined by the effector attached to the end of their arms. They need a flexible gripping system that can act as a human hand and easily grasp a variety of objects, which requires resilient sensors. This study clarifies the electrical output characteristics of elastic tactile sensors according to contact terminals because the output characteristics of the tactile sensors vary greatly, depending on the contact material and the method of contact with the conductive wire. Our research considers the Three Roll Mill and Paste Mixer as the dispersion medium, and a nickel- and gold-plated brass electrode as the contact terminal.

• 마이크로전자및패키징학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.21-27
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• 2022

저렴한 전도성 흑연을 인쇄전자 공법으로 유연 압력 센서를 개발하였다. 유연 압력 센서는 의료, 게임, AI 등 미래 산업에 활용될 소재로 각광받고 있다. 유연 압력 센서용 인쇄전극을 다양한 전기-기계적 특성을 평가한 결과 최대인장률 20%, 30°의 인장/굽힘, 간이 맥박 시험에서 일정한 저항 변화율을 보였다. 이렇게 검증이 완료된 전극을 시뮬레이션하여 더 적합한 matrix 패턴을 설계하였다. Serpentine 패턴을 활용하여 matrix 패턴 제작과 인캡슐레이션을 동시에 진행할 수 있는 공정을 활용하였다. 인쇄된 흑연 전극의 한쪽 면에 접착력 증가를 위한 O₂ 플라즈마 표면처리하고, 90°회전시켜, 라미네이션 공정을 통해 2개의 전극을 하나로 제작하였다. 이렇게 제작된 matrix 패턴을 인체의 손목 맥박 위치에 부착하여 실측을 진행한 결과 남녀 상관없이 일정한 저항 변화율을 보였다.