SBIR Phase I: Highly-sensitive, Self-calibrating Pressure and Temperature Sensors for Next Generation Human-computer Interfaces

SBIR 第一阶段：用于下一代人机界面的高灵敏度、自校准压力和温度传感器

• 批准号: 1549292
• 负责人: Ranulfo Allen
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: Pascalor Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1549292&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Highly; sensitive; Self

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project begins first are foremost with integration of these 3-d interactive displays with mass produced electronic devices. From the small scale (watches, smartphones) to the large scale (collaborative workplace displays), adding pressure and temperature sensitivity could introduce a whole new level of input and functionality. In addition to improving functionality and productivity, these displays could widen the capabilities of gesture-based input for the elderly and disabled. The multi-touch display market exceeds $10 billion and continues to grow, indicating a massive commercial opportunity. However, combined pressure- and temperature-sensitive films can have broader applications beyond displays. A natural extension for these sensors is wearable devices, especially those aimed at preventative and diagnostic healthcare (e.g. monitoring blood pressure, core temperature, wound healing). Another logical application is robotics, where combined pressure and temperature sensor arrays can function as ?electronic skin?, mimicking the pressure and temperature sensitivity of human skin. Finally, since this class of sensors is compatible with large-scale semiconductor manufacturing processes, they are expected to be low in cost, which would enable a future in which walls, windows, floors, and other surfaces can be infused with pressure and temperature sensitivity, adding significantly to the Internet of Things.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is focused on developing multi-touch displays that are responsive to both pressure and temperature, in order to create a truly 3-dimensional interactive display experience. A handful of commercial touch displays already offer pressure sensitivity, which extends user input ?into the screen?, but including sensitivity to temperature could allow user input ?above the screen? as well. It may now be possible to introduce both temperature and pressure sensitivity to displays by using a new class of transparent, polymer-based, thin-film pressure and temperature sensor arrays. These sensor arrays utilize finely-tuned transparent polymers that are highly sensitive to either pressure or temperature. The goal of this research is to develop a single transparent film with both pressure and temperature sensitivity, and to integrate this film beneath the glass of a display. This will first require combining the pressure- and temperature-sensitive films without deteriorating the sensitivity of either one, by experimenting with lamination and deposition techniques. Another key activity will be to improve the transparency of the temperature-sensitive film by adjusting its material composition. Finally, the sensitivity of this film under a glass cover will need to be evaluated through extensive input testing.

该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力首先始于这些 3D 交互式显示器与大规模生产的电子设备的集成。 从小规模（手表、智能手机）到大规模（协作工作场所显示），增加压力和温度敏感性可以引入全新水平的输入和功能。 除了提高功能和生产力之外，这些显示器还可以扩大老年人和残疾人基于手势的输入功能。 多点触控显示器市场超过 100 亿美元并持续增长，蕴藏着巨大的商机。 然而，组合的压力和温度敏感薄膜可以在显示器之外拥有更广泛的应用。 这些传感器的自然延伸是可穿戴设备，特别是那些旨在预防和诊断医疗保健（例如监测血压、核心温度、伤口愈合）的设备。 另一个合乎逻辑的应用是机器人技术，其中组合的压力和温度传感器阵列可以充当“电子皮肤”，模仿人类皮肤的压力和温度敏感性。 最后，由于此类传感器与大规模半导体制造工艺兼容，因此预计成本较低，这将使未来墙壁、窗户、地板和其他表面可以注入压力和温度敏感性，从而显着增强物联网功能。这个小型企业创新研究 (SBIR) 第一阶段项目专注于开发对压力和温度都敏感的多点触控显示器，以便 打造真正的3维互动显示体验。 少数商用触摸显示器已经提供压力敏感性，将用户输入扩展到“屏幕内”，但包括对温度的敏感性可以允许用户在“屏幕上方”输入。以及。现在可以通过使用新型透明聚合物薄膜压力和温度传感器阵列来为显示器引入温度和压力敏感性。 这些传感器阵列采用精细调节的透明聚合物，对压力或温度高度敏感。 这项研究的目标是开发一种具有压力和温度敏感性的单一透明薄膜，并将该薄膜集成到显示器玻璃下方。 首先需要通过层压和沉积技术进行试验，将压力敏感膜和温度敏感膜组合在一起，而不降低任一薄膜的灵敏度。 另一个关键活动是通过调整热敏薄膜的材料成分来提高其透明度。 最后，需要通过大量的输入测试来评估玻璃盖下薄膜的灵敏度。