Bending and Stretching-Insensitive, Crosstalk-Free, Flexible Pressure Sensor Arrays for Human-Machine Interactions

Accurate data acquisition from flexible sensors placed on deformable 3D freeform surfaces is of critical importance for many applications, such as wearable electronics, human-machine interfaces, and soft robotics. However, the mechanical coupling between the sensor and the deformable subject surface to bending and stretching deformations can significantly reduce the accuracy of the acquired data. This study combines a polyimide (PI) micropore isolation layer (PIL) and serpentine electrodes with a flexible piezoresistive sensor to mitigate the issue of mechanical coupling. As a mechanical buffer to distribute the external pressure and reduce the strain concentration, the PIL can avoid the bending interference for bending curvature up to 256 m^−1, while maintaining a high sensitivity of S > 21.5 kPa^−1. The serpentine electrode design further allows the sensor to reliably acquire data in the presence of stretching up to 45% without cross-talk. The versatility of the developed sensor is demonstrated in several human-machine interaction scenarios, including gesture recognition and motion detection. The design strategies on materials and structures from this study can also be applied for the development of other flexible sensors with high sensitivity and low deformation interference to avoid the mechanical coupling between the sensor and the deformable surface.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Bending and Stretching‐Insensitive, Crosstalk‐Free, Flexible Pressure Sensor Arrays for Human‐Machine Interactions. Advanced Materials Technologies 9, 5 (2024)], which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202301615. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions: https://authorservices.wiley.com/author-resources/Journal-Authors/licensing/self-archiving.html#3.

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Work Title Bending and Stretching-Insensitive, Crosstalk-Free, Flexible Pressure Sensor Arrays for Human-Machine Interactions
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Yangbo Yuan
  2. Hongcheng Xu
  3. Weihao Zheng
  4. Min Liu
  5. Sixin Li
  6. Junyu Yan
  7. Daren Wang
  8. Ke Liu
  9. Haiyan Zhang
  10. Gang Chen
  11. Weidong Wang
  12. Guirong Wu
  13. Chenyang Xue
  14. Huanyu Cheng
  15. Libo Gao
Keyword
  1. Microporous isolation layer
  2. Serpentine electrode
  3. Bending and stretching-insensitive
  4. Pressure sensor array
  5. Human-machine interaction
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Advanced Materials Technologies
Publication Date January 10, 2024
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202301615
Deposited February 18, 2025

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added Manuscript_clean.docx
  • Added Creator Yangbo Yuan
  • Added Creator Hongcheng Xu
  • Added Creator Weihao Zheng
  • Added Creator Min Liu
  • Added Creator Sixin Li
  • Added Creator Junyu Yan
  • Added Creator Daren Wang
  • Added Creator Ke Liu
  • Added Creator Haiyan Zhang
  • Added Creator Gang Chen
  • Added Creator Weidong Wang
  • Added Creator Guirong Wu
  • Added Creator Chenyang Xue
  • Added Creator Huanyu Cheng
  • Added Creator Libo Gao
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated Keyword, Publication Date Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Microporous isolation layer, Serpentine electrode, Bending and stretching-insensitive, Pressure sensor array, Human-machine interaction
    Publication Date
    • 2024-03-04
    • 2024-01-10
  • Updated Description Show Changes
    Description
    • Accurate data acquisition from flexible sensors placed on deformable 3D freeform surfaces is of critical importance for many applications, such as wearable electronics, human-machine interfaces, and soft robotics. However, the mechanical coupling between the sensor and the deformable subject surface to bending and stretching deformations can significantly reduce the accuracy of the acquired data. This study combines a polyimide (PI) micropore isolation layer (PIL) and serpentine electrodes with a flexible piezoresistive sensor to mitigate the issue of mechanical coupling. As a mechanical buffer to distribute the external pressure and reduce the strain concentration, the PIL can avoid the bending interference for bending curvature up to 256 m<sup>−1</sup>, while maintaining a high sensitivity of S &gt; 21.5 kPa<sup>−1</sup>. The serpentine electrode design further allows the sensor to reliably acquire data in the presence of stretching up to 45% without cross-talk. The versatility of the developed sensor is demonstrated in several human-machine interaction scenarios, including gesture recognition and motion detection. The design strategies on materials and structures from this study can also be applied for the development of other flexible sensors with high sensitivity and low deformation interference to avoid the mechanical coupling between the sensor and the deformable surface.
    • Accurate data acquisition from flexible sensors placed on deformable 3D freeform surfaces is of critical importance for many applications, such as wearable electronics, human-machine interfaces, and soft robotics. However, the mechanical coupling between the sensor and the deformable subject surface to bending and stretching deformations can significantly reduce the accuracy of the acquired data. This study combines a polyimide (PI) micropore isolation layer (PIL) and serpentine electrodes with a flexible piezoresistive sensor to mitigate the issue of mechanical coupling. As a mechanical buffer to distribute the external pressure and reduce the strain concentration, the PIL can avoid the bending interference for bending curvature up to 256 m^−1, while maintaining a high sensitivity of S > 21.5 kPa^−1. The serpentine electrode design further allows the sensor to reliably acquire data in the presence of stretching up to 45% without cross-talk. The versatility of the developed sensor is demonstrated in several human-machine interaction scenarios, including gesture recognition and motion detection. The design strategies on materials and structures from this study can also be applied for the development of other flexible sensors with high sensitivity and low deformation interference to avoid the mechanical coupling between the sensor and the deformable surface.