DE102019121504A1 - Surface device for measuring pressure and / or humidity - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for measuring pressure and humidity, and a method for measuring pressure and humidity. The device comprises at least one sensor for measuring pressure and humidity, the sensor comprising at least one capacitor with at least two electrodes, which are arranged in relation to one another, in particular in a horizontal direction along and on an, in particular flexible, carrier material. At least one dielectric layer is arranged between the electrodes. The invention is characterized in that at least one electrode and / or the dielectric layer, at least in places, at least one, at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer, is arranged on a side facing away from a carrier material. The at least one electrode and / or the dielectric layer are thus arranged in a transverse direction between the carrier material and the moisture layer. For example, a capacitance changes at least partially due to the liquid at least partially striking the dielectric layer, a processing unit being set up and provided for measuring and / or storing this change, so that a capacitive humidity sensor is created.

Description

The present invention relates to a surface device for measuring pressure and / or humidity and a method for measuring pressure and / or humidity, comprising the respective preambles of claims 1 and 8.

The surface device according to the invention for measuring pressure and / or moisture comprises at least one sensor for measuring pressure and / or moisture, the sensor comprising at least one capacitor with at least two electrodes which, in particular in a horizontal direction, along and on a, in particular flexible, carrier material are arranged to one another, with at least one dielectric layer being arranged between the electrodes. The surface device can be designed in the form of a seat, armrest and / or doormat.

The two electrodes can be arranged in the same plane. For example, these two electrodes are the only electrodes arranged in the same plane. In a stacked embodiment, as described later, there are then, for example, pairs of electrodes arranged one above the other. The electrodes of a sensor (that is to say of the same sensor) preferably do not overlap in a plane relative to the arrangement (horizontal plane) of two electrodes (which form a capacitor). The two electrodes can therefore, in at least one embodiment, be arranged next to one another exclusively in the horizontal plane, and preferably also at the same height.

The horizontal direction is preferably a main direction of extent of the flexible carrier material.

In this context, “flexible” means that the carrier material is at least in places flexible and therefore elastic.

In particular, the carrier material can be a woven fabric or some other clothing material such as a polyester.

However, the carrier material can also be a carrier substrate, for example a semiconductor substrate, which is flexible at least in places. In the context of the invention, however, in particular no piece of furniture, such as a table or a bed, is considered as the carrier material. Among other things, this is because this furniture is not to be regarded as flexible within the meaning of the invention. In the context of the invention, these are rather static, non-flexible objects.

For example, the carrier material is different from paper or cardboard. It was found that paper and cardboard as carrier materials are difficult to handle and have little dimensional stability. In addition, paper and cardboard are at least partially saturated with moisture. The entire sensor described here, and in particular also the entire device described here, is preferably free of paper and cardboard-based materials.

The dielectric layer thus separates the two electrodes in a horizontal and / or in a transverse direction perpendicular thereto.

According to the invention, at least one electrode and / or the dielectric layer, at least in places, at least one, at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer is arranged on a side facing away from the carrier material, with the at least one electrode and / or dielectric layer in a transverse direction between the carrier material and the moisture layer are arranged so that a capacitance is at least partially changed by the liquid at least partially hitting the dielectric layer, a processing unit being set up and provided to measure and / or store this change, so that a, in particular capacitive, Pressure and / or humidity sensor arises, in particular wherein the surface device has at least one second sensor, which is constructed in the same way as the sensor and is arranged in the horizontal direction next to the first sensor.

The two electrodes are preferably different from a comb-like structure with several individual teeth.

The present object is also achieved by a surface device such as that presented below.

The surface device presented here for measuring pressure and / or moisture comprises at least one sensor for measuring pressure and / or moisture, the sensor having at least one capacitor with at least two electrodes which, in particular in a horizontal direction along a particularly flexible Carrier material and are arranged on a particularly flexible carrier material to each other, with at least one dielectric layer being arranged between the electrodes,

In a transverse direction between the carrier material and at least one electrode, at least one at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer is arranged at least in places, so that a capacitance changes at least partially due to the liquid at least partially hitting the dielectric layer, with a processing unit set up for this and for this provision is made to measure and / or store this change so that a capacitive pressure and / or humidity sensor is created, in particular wherein the surface device has at least one second sensor which is constructed in the same way as the sensor and in a horizontal direction is arranged next to the first sensor.

This embodiment is in particular also aimed at positioning the moisture layer below the electrodes of the capacitor in the transverse direction, while in the first variant presented above the moisture layer is arranged above the electrodes of the capacitor. In the second variant now presented, the moisture layer therefore no longer closes the sensor at the top, but can close the sensor at the bottom in the transverse direction.

For example, the carrier material itself can be or form the moisture layer. A separate arrangement of the carrier material can therefore be dispensed with.

In both variants it is also conceivable that the carrier material is already the material to which the sensor is attached. In this respect, the carrier material can already be a fastening layer of the vehicle. For example, the carrier material is formed with a glass, a plastic or a woven material

A differential humidity sensor can therefore be produced on the basis of this arrangement.

According to at least one embodiment, the two sensors do not overlap in the vertical direction.

According to at least one embodiment, the two sensors are arranged at the same height to one another in the horizontal direction. A shift outside the scope of a manufacturing tolerance is therefore avoided.

According to at least one embodiment, the two sensors are arranged next to one another in the horizontal direction, but are arranged at different height levels.

According to at least one embodiment, four sensors arranged in a matrix-like manner in the horizontal direction, in particular of the same type, are arranged. In this context, “matrix-like” means an arrangement of the sensors in the form of rows and columns.

According to at least one embodiment, sensors arranged next to one another are arranged at a distance from one another by a separating layer arranged in the vertical direction. All or some of the sensors can be in mechanical and / or electrical contact with one another, but the separating layer separates the sensors so that side surfaces of the sensors do not touch one another, preferably at no point.

According to at least one embodiment, the separating layer runs along the vertical direction between two sensors. This allows the individual sensors and / or sensor side surfaces to be separated.
According to at least one embodiment, measures and / or reads out and / or processes at least one of the sensors and / or the processing unit assigned to the sensor either only pressure or only humidity values.

According to at least one embodiment, the sensors arranged in the manner of a matrix measure only pressure values within a first matrix field and within a second, different from the first matrix field, further sensors in a second matrix field only measure moisture values and / or the processing unit.

A capacitive humidity sensor is basically a capacitor whose dielectric preferably consists of a hygroscopic polymer layer, which absorbs (absorbs) or releases (desorbed) humidity according to the humidity of the ambient air until a state of equilibrium (diffusion gradient = 0) is reached. The dielectric constant of the polymer material changes as a function of the moisture content.

The task of the processing unit is, among other things, to determine the relative humidity as precisely as possible from a measured ambient temperature and the humidity-dependent capacitance value of the sensor.

According to at least one embodiment, the device for measuring pressure and / or humidity comprises at least one sensor for measuring pressure and / or humidity, wherein the sensor comprises at least one capacitor with at least two electrodes, which in particular in a horizontal direction along one and on one especially flexible carrier material are arranged to one another, wherein at least one dielectric layer is arranged between the electrodes.

According to the invention, at least one electrode and / or dielectric layer, at least in places, at least one, at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing layer (= moisture layer) is arranged on a side facing away from the carrier material, with the at least one electrode and / or dielectric layer in the transverse direction between the carrier material and the moisture layer are arranged so that a capacitance is at least partially changed by the liquid at least partially hitting the dielectric layer, a processing unit being set up and provided to measure and / or store this change, so that a capacitive Humidity sensor arises, in particular wherein a second sensor is arranged in the horizontal direction next to the first sensor, which is constructed in the same way as the sensor and is arranged in the horizontal direction next to the first sensor.

The moisture layer can be formed with a dielectric material. The material of the moisture layer can be different from the material of the water-impermeable layer.

The sensor and / or the processing unit can be supplied with electrical energy by means of a battery or a landline power supply.

Alternatively or in addition, it is possible to generate electrical energy to supply the sensor and / or processing unit by means of so-called “energy harvesting”.

Energy harvesting is the term used to describe the production of small amounts of electrical energy from sources such as ambient temperature, vibrations or air currents for mobile devices with low power. The structures used for this are also referred to as nanogenerators. With wireless technologies, energy harvesting avoids restrictions due to wired power supply or batteries.

• • Piezoelektrische Kristalle erzeugen bei Krafteinwirkung, beispielsweise durch Druck oder Vibration, elektrische Spannungen. Diese Kristalle können an oder auf dem Trägermaterial angeordnet sein.
• • Thermoelektrische Generatoren und pyroelektrische Kristalle gewinnen aus Temperaturunterschieden elektrische Energie. Diese Generatoren können an oder auf dem Trägermaterial angeordnet sein.
• • Über Antennen kann die Energie von Radiowellen, eine Form von elektromagnetischer Strahlung, aufgefangen und energetisch verwendet werden. Ein Beispiel dafür sind die passiven RFIDs. Diese Antennen können an oder auf dem Trägermaterial angeordnet sein.
• • Photovoltaik, elektrische Energie aus der Umgebungsbeleuchtung.
• • Osmose.

Energy harvesting options:

• • Piezoelectric crystals generate electrical voltages when a force is applied, for example through pressure or vibration. These crystals can be arranged on or on the carrier material.
• • Thermoelectric generators and pyroelectric crystals generate electrical energy from temperature differences. These generators can be arranged on or on the carrier material.
• • The energy of radio waves, a form of electromagnetic radiation, can be captured and used energetically via antennas. Passive RFIDs are an example of this. These antennas can be arranged on or on the carrier material.
• • Photovoltaics, electrical energy from ambient lighting.
• • osmosis.

According to at least one embodiment, the sensor is additionally a capacitive pressure sensor, the processing unit also being set up and provided to measure and / or store a change in capacitance of the capacitor caused by external pressure.

In principle, a capacitive sensor is a sensor that works on the basis of the change in the electrical capacitance of an individual capacitor or a capacitor system. The capacity to be measured can be influenced in various ways, which are primarily determined by the intended use.

• - Eine Platte wird durch den zu messenden Effekt verschoben und/oder verformt, wodurch sich der Plattenabstand und damit die elektrische messbare Kapazität ändern.
• - Die Platten sind starr und die Kapazität an sich ändert sich dadurch, dass ein elektrisch leitendes Material oder ein Dielektrikum in unmittelbare Nähe gebracht wird.
• - Die wirksame Plattenfläche ändert sich, indem die Platten wie bei einem Drehkondensator gegeneinander verschoben werden.

A capacitive sensor is based, among other things, on the fact that two electrodes, one of which can be the surface to be measured, form the "plates" of an electrical capacitor whose capacitance or change in capacitance is measured, which can be influenced as follows:

• - A plate is displaced and / or deformed by the effect to be measured, as a result of which the plate spacing and thus the electrically measurable capacitance change.
• - The plates are rigid and the capacitance itself changes when an electrically conductive material or a dielectric is brought into close proximity.
• - The effective plate area changes when the plates are shifted against each other like a rotary capacitor.

In order to be able to detect even small changes better, the actual measuring electrode can often be surrounded by a shielding electrode, which shields the inhomogeneous edge area of the electric field from the measuring electrode. This results in an approximately parallel electrical field with the known characteristics of an ideal plate capacitor between measuring electrodes, usually grounded counter electrodes.

A capacitive pressure sensor is in particular one in which the change in capacitance due to the bending of a membrane and the resulting change in the plate spacing is evaluated as a sensor effect. For example, the membrane is the above-mentioned dielectric or else the individual capacitor electrodes, which can in particular be designed in the form of a plate. In other words, in such an embodiment, a capacitive humidity sensor is combined with a capacitive pressure sensor in a novel way, but without these components forming separate elements or two separate sensors, rather the present embodiment is a “two in one” “Concept in which the same sensor functions as both a humidity sensor and a pressure sensor.

According to at least one embodiment, at least one of the electrodes is L-shaped, that is to say only in each case with only two bars running perpendicular to one another within the horizontal direction and making electrically conductive contact.

According to at least one embodiment, a separation distance of the two electrodes from respectively adjacent bars of different electrodes in the horizontal direction is greater than 5 micrometers. It was recognized that from this value onwards a particularly simple application, for example by printing and / or in the context of a thin-film process, is possible. Lower values led to high production costs due to the high resolution requirements.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the separation distance in the horizontal direction between adjacent bars of different electrodes varies in the horizontal direction and is therefore not constant. This can mean that at least one electrode is designed in a meandering shape within the horizontal plane of a sensor.

According to at least one embodiment, bars of different electrodes run at a predetermined angle to one another. For example, the angle is greater or less than 90 degrees. If the two electrodes are L-shaped, in such an embodiment the two electrodes are rotated relative to one another in the horizontal direction.

According to at least one embodiment, the carrier material is a woven fabric, in particular in which electrical conductor tracks for electrical contacting of the sensor and the processing unit are woven.

For the purposes of the invention, a woven fabric is therefore a fabric that has been woven manually or by machine on the basis of individual threads.

The electrical conductor tracks can therefore also be integrated in a tissue in addition to the usual fibers and tissue strands, or they can replace individual tissue strands which form the tissue network.

Depending on the spacing and properties of the individual threads (twisted up, fluffy, etc.), very loose fabrics such as bandages or dense fabrics such as brocade fabric can arise. Textiles are used longitudinally elastic through rubber threads used as warp threads (more ribbons used) or crimped and bulked yarns. They are tense, processed and contract when at rest. Bulky yarns consist of textured, i.e. crimped synthetic fibers. The crimp changes the properties of the synthetic fibers. The yarns spun on it are very elastic and voluminous and have good thermal insulation.

For example, the carrier material can be part of a cover material for a seat, in particular a vehicle seat or an office chair. In this respect, the sensor, but preferably the entire device, can be applied to the cover material of such a seat or integrated into such a seat.

For example, the processing unit is set up and provided to record the individual humidity and pressure values and to determine at least one respective characteristic value from a combination of the individual humidity and pressure values, from which it can be derived which individual (with weight and / or height) ) currently occupies the vehicle seat.

For example, a weight of the respective person can be derived and determined from the pressure measurement by the processing unit. The respective humidity that the respective person emits to the sensor can also be measured, the respective characteristic value being, for example, a product of the relative humidity value times the load weight determined by the processing unit.

If such a characteristic value exceeds a corresponding limit value, the processing unit can issue a warning, in particular by means of a connection to the electronics of the vehicle. This warning could be that the seat is overcrowded or the driver is sweating too much. However, this warning can also be replaced by a corresponding display indicating which occupancy type is using the seat. An occupancy type can be a Acting weight classification of a respective user, or also acting on whether the user is an animal, a person or a thing. The processing unit can therefore preferably be integrated into display electronics of the vehicle, but at least can be connected to such.

For this purpose, it is conceivable that the processing unit connects to a receiving unit of the vehicle, for example by means of Bluetooth or another wireless connection, and the respective characteristic or limit value and / or the respective warning and / or the respective identification of the user is reproduced on a display of the vehicle become.

Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that these individual values and / or identifications can also be called up and / or displayed externally. For example, the car can be monitored for overcrowding by an external controller.

For example, the processing unit can be connected to a triggering unit of an airbag by means of a data connection, so that the processing unit can also control and / or regulate the triggering unit, in particular with regard to a triggering time of the airbag. Additionally and / or alternatively, it is possible for the processing unit to supply a controller unit of the airbag with data, for example with regard to an occupancy type, position and / or weight of a user of the vehicle seat.

These data can lead to the deployment time and the deployment sequence of the airbag being adapted to the user, so that personal injury to the user is avoided.

According to at least one embodiment, at least one electrode and / or dielectric layer is printed on the carrier material or on a, in particular water-impermeable, layer arranged on the carrier material or applied by means of a thin-film method.

This means that at least one element, preferably both the electrode and the dielectric layer, is printed by means of a printing process on the carrier material or a preferably electrically non-conductive, further preferably water-impermeable layer applied between the sensor and the carrier material.

The printing process can be an inkjet process, for example.

For example, the processing unit is applied to the carrier material in the same way as the sensor. For this purpose, it is conceivable that the processing unit, but at least one, in particular conductive, layer of the processing unit is, for example, printed onto the carrier material. The data communication between the processing unit and the sensor can then take place via the conductor tracks mentioned above. These conductor tracks can be at least partially, but preferably completely, woven into the woven fabric or even form individual fibers of the woven fabric itself.

For example, at least one electrode is designed to be flat. This means that a thickness of the electrode is negligible compared to its surface area. Such an electrode can therefore be produced in particular by means of a printing process.

Alternatively, a thickness of at least one electrode can be at most 5 mm. To this end, the printing process can be used several times, so that at least two, but then preferably more, individual printing layers are stacked on top of one another.

Furthermore, the electrode can also be arranged on the carrier material by means of a 3D printing process.

The FDM process (Fused Deposition Modeling)

Alternative names: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Fused Layer Modeling (FLM)

The process refers to the application of layers (extrusion) of a material through a hot nozzle. The consumables are in the form of a long wire (so-called filament) on a roll and are pushed into a print head by the conveyor unit, where they are melted and placed on a print bed. The print head and / or print bed can be moved in three directions. In this way, layers of plastic can be applied to one another in stages.

The SLS process (selective laser sintering)

In contrast to the sintering process, in which substances are bonded together in powder form under the action of heat, in the SLS process this is done selectively by means of a laser (alternatively electron beam or infrared beam). So only a certain part of the powder is fused together.
For this purpose, a thin layer of powder is always applied to the printing bed by the coating unit. The laser (or other energy source) is now aimed precisely at individual points of the powder layer, around the first layer of the print data to train. The powder is melted or melted and then solidifies again by cooling it slightly. The unmelted powder remains around the sintered areas and serves as a support material. After a layer has solidified, the print bed lowers by a fraction of a millimeter. The coating unit now moves over the print bed and applies the next layer of powder. Then the second layer of the print data is sintered by the laser (or other energy source). This creates a three-dimensional object in layers.

Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP)

The 3DP process works very similarly to selective laser sintering, but instead of a directed energy source, a print head moves over the powder. This releases tiny droplets of binding agent onto the underlying powder layers, which are thus bonded together. Otherwise this procedure is the same as the SLS procedure.

Stereolithography (SLA)

Instead of a plastic wire or printing material in powder form, liquid resins, so-called photopolymers, are used in the stereolithography process. They are hardened in layers by UV radiation and thus create three-dimensional objects. To do this, the construction platform in the Harz Basin is gradually lowered. There are also variants (the so-called Polyjet process) without a whole basin with liquid resin. For this, an epoxy resin is applied drop by drop from a nozzle and immediately cured by a UV laser.

Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)

Alternative designation: Layer Laminated Manufacturing (LLM)

The process is based neither on chemical reactions nor on a thermal process. The contour is cut with a separating tool (e.g. a knife or carbon dioxide laser), a film or a plate (e.g. paper) and glued on top of each other in layers. By lowering the construction platform, a layered object is created from glued, overlapping foils.

One or more water-impermeable layers and / or also the moisture layer can be applied in the same type and / or thickness as the electrode.

According to at least one embodiment, the moisture layer completely covers the capacitor.

This can mean that the moisture layer delimits and closes off the sensor to the outside, that is to say in the transverse direction, so that the sensor is arranged between the moisture layer and the carrier material.

According to at least one embodiment, the sensor has at least one further capacitor, which is arranged in the transverse direction below or above the capacitor and spaced apart from the capacitor by a further water-impermeable layer or is arranged below this further water-impermeable layer, so that a capacitor stack is created.

The further capacitor can be constructed in the same way as the capacitor and can also be arranged on the further water-impermeable layer in the same way as the capacitor.

By means of such a capacitor stack, the sensor system can be refined in a particularly simple manner, namely to the extent that it is conceivable that, with two sensors forming the capacitor stack, both sensors perform the same tasks, but the individual sensors determine respective measured values which, taken together, are recorded on one Let mean value close. For example, the (relative) humidity of the environment is measured by each of the two sensors, the average humidity value being determined from these two measured values. The same can happen accordingly with the pressure measurement, so that the accuracy of the entire measurement, in particular a combination of the measurements of (relative) humidity and the respective pressure, can be configured particularly precisely.

Alternatively, the lowermost water-impermeable layer in the transverse direction can be exchanged for the uppermost moisture layer in the transverse direction. In this case, the stacked arrangement is closed in the transverse direction downwards by the moisture layer and in the transverse direction at the very top by the water-impermeable layer. This lowermost water-impermeable layer can then be in direct contact with the carrier layer.

According to at least one embodiment, the water-impermeable layer and / or the further water-impermeable layer at least partially remove the dielectric view itself.

This can mean that, instead of separately positioning a dielectric layer next to the water-impermeable layer and / or next to the further water-impermeable layer, this dielectric layer itself is formed by the water-impermeable layer and / or the further water-impermeable layer.

Such a production of the dielectric layer by the water-impermeable layer (s) therefore forms a particularly simple and cost-effective production method for an inexpensive device.

Apart from that, provision can in principle be made for the electrodes, the dielectric layer and the water-impermeable layer (s) to be arranged relative to one another in such a way that an electrical short circuit is prevented in any case.

According to at least one embodiment, a maximum thickness of the moisture layer is at least 30% and at most 80% of the maximum thickness of the water-impermeable layer and / or the maximum thickness of the further water-impermeable layer.

This not only ensures a particularly flat sensor, but also ensures a particularly fast response time to changes in humidity. The moisture acting on the moisture layer from the outside therefore does not have to travel long distances to the dielectric.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for measuring pressure and humidity, it being particularly noted that all features disclosed for the device described above are also disclosed for the method described here and vice versa.

According to at least one embodiment, the method for measuring pressure and / or moisture initially comprises a first step by means of which at least one sensor for measuring pressure and / or moisture is provided, the sensor having at least one capacitor with at least two electrodes, which, in particular are arranged in a horizontal direction along and on a, in particular flexible, carrier material to one another, wherein at least one dielectric layer is arranged between the electrodes.

According to the invention, at least one electrode and / or the dielectric layer, at least in places, at least one, at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer is arranged on a side facing away from the carrier material, with the at least one electrode and / or the dielectric layer in a transverse direction are arranged between the carrier material and the moisture layer, so that a capacitance changes at least partially due to the liquid at least partially hitting the dielectric layer, a processing unit measuring and / or storing this change so that a capacitive moisture sensor is created.

The method described above has the same advantages and advantageous configurations as the device described above.

The invention described here is described in more detail below using two exemplary embodiments and the associated figures.

Components that are the same or have the same effect are provided with the same reference symbols.

In the 1 a device according to the invention for measuring pressure and / or humidity is shown in a first embodiment.

In the 2 a device according to the invention for measuring pressure and / or humidity is shown in a second embodiment.

In the 3 an exploded view shown in relation to the layer order is shown in a schematic perspective view.

In the 4th a further embodiment of a device described here is shown.

In the 5 are each sensors arranged in a matrix to one another 1 shown.

How now that 1 can be seen, there is a device 100 shown for measuring pressure and / or humidity.

An example is a sensor there 1 shown, the sensor 1 shows a capacitor stack with a capacitor 20th , as well as a capacitor 30th , with the individual electrodes 10 , 11 the capacitors 20th , 30th are arranged one above the other in the horizontal direction H1, although of course an arrangement of the individual electrodes as an alternative thereto 10 , 11 a single capacitor 20th , 30th in the transverse direction Q1, which runs perpendicular to the horizontal direction H1 and thus also perpendicular to the main direction of extent of the sensor shown there 1 can run or be arranged.

The individual electrodes 10 , 11 are on a carrier material 13 arranged. With the carrier material 13 it can in particular be a woven fabric, in particular a flexible woven fabric.

On the carrier material 13 is a waterproof layer 4th arranged, on this waterproof layer 4th the two electrodes 10 , 11 of the capacitor 20th are printed in the horizontal direction H1.

The electrodes 10 , 11 of the capacitor 20th are completely covered by another impermeable layer 14th surround. On this waterproof layer 14th is the further capacitor in the same way 30th with appropriate electrodes 10 , 11 imprinted. In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment there are exposed outer surfaces of the individual electrodes 10 , 11 of the further capacitor 30th preferably completely of a water-permeable and / or water-absorbing moisture layer 3 surround.

About this layer of moisture 3 can water on a dielectric layer 4th meet, which in the present case in the horizontal direction H1 between the respective electrodes 10 , 11 a capacitor 20th , 30th is arranged.

In the present embodiment of the 1 and 2 forms the waterproof layer 4th itself a dielectric layer 4th of the capacitor 20th on. The same applies to the further impermeable layer 14th in relation to the further capacitor 30th .

By impinging and penetrating the moisture over the moisture layer 3 are the dielectric properties in particular of the dielectric layer 4th of the further capacitor 30th changed.

In addition, there is a processing unit 5 recognizable which in the data-technical contract with the two capacitors 20th , 30th stands, this processing unit 5 set up and provided for this purpose, a change in the relative humidity of the environment and / or the moisture layer 3 to eat.

Through the in the 1 The “stackwise” arrangement shown and the fact that the further waterproof layer 14th prevents the capacitor 20th comes into contact with moisture, it can therefore be provided that only the further capacitor 30th and its dielectric layer 4th exposed to moisture. The processing unit 5 then a change in the capacitance of the further capacitor 30th compare with the stable capacitor capacitance of the capacitor 10 so that a particularly simple comparison can be made in the change in the relative humidity and / also in the respective loading pressure.

Through the in the 1 The arrow shown is also a pressure direction under which the sensor 1 is pressurized, shown. Both can preferably be done by the sensor 1 and in particular by the device 100 measured, evaluated and saved. The processing unit shown as essential in the invention is used for this purpose 5 , which also include corresponding pressure values and the associated changes in the capacity of the individual sensors 1 can measure and evaluate, so that the processing unit 5 additionally set up and intended for a change in capacitance of the capacitor caused by external pressure 20th and in particular also of the further capacitor 30th to measure and / or store.

The moisture layer 3 can be flexible or inflexible. It is also possible that the moisture layer 3 is designed as a woven fabric. In particular, it can be a woven fabric, which was mentioned as an example in the introductory part of the present application. In addition, however, it is also possible that it is the moisture layer 3 is a substrate which, for example, in the form of an epitaxy or an adhesive process on the further capacitor 30th applied, for example glued on. The waterproof layer 14th and / or the waterproof layer 15th can be just as flexible and inflexible, in particular also in the form of a woven fabric or a substrate in the same way as the moisture layer 3 be trained.

In addition, it is advantageously conceivable that the electrodes 10 , 11 of the two capacitors 20th , 30th on the waterproof layer 14th and the further waterproof layer 15th in the form of a printing process, for example an inkjet printing process.

In the 2 is one to the 1 identical structure shown, but with the difference that the layers 3 and 4th are interchanged. This means that the bottom layer in the transverse direction Q1 is the moisture layer 3 is while the top layer 4th the waterproof layer 4th is. The ones in the 2 The embodiment shown can therefore be used as the 1 alternative embodiment in the form of a “flipped (= rotated) stacked” embodiment. The layers 3 and 4th can be formed with a different material.
In the 3 is an exploded view shown, in particular from the 3 the respective arrangement of the electrodes 10 , 11 the capacitors 20th , 30th emerges. The force acting on the sensor shown by the direction of the arrow can again be seen 1 , as well as moisture acting through the individual drops shown schematically. In particular, it can again be seen that the Moisture especially between the electrodes 10 , 11 penetrates and onto the respective water-permeable layer 14th has a significant effect on the electrical property, for example, so that the capacitance of at least the other capacitor 30th like in the 1 explains each changes.

It is particularly from the 3 It can be seen that the electrodes shown there are L-shaped and the current is supplied in each case in the direction of the arrow. The 2 therefore shows a stacked arrangement of two separate capacitors 20th , 30th with respective electrodes 10 , 11 . In the 2 are the electrodes 10 , 11 each in exactly the same plane, for example applied to the same carrier layer.

In the 4th is shown in a further embodiment of the invention described here that the sensor 1 from two electrodes 10 and an electrode 11 can exist. The electrodes 10 have one polarity (preferably the same polarity) while the electrode 11 has a polarity different therefrom, but in the right part of the figure 3 the exploded view of the left part of the 3 is shown and it can be seen that three water-impermeable layers 4th , 14th , 15th be used. The electrodes 10 can also have different polarities and / or electrical potentials. The electrodes 10 be electrically connected to each other.

All in the 4th The electrodes shown are L-shaped.

For example, the electrodes 10 , 11 also each have and / or generate a separate polarity and / or a separate electrical potential. The same can also apply to those in the following figures with regard to the electrodes.

For example, the lowermost water-impermeable layer is in turn the water-impermeable layer 14th , the subsequent waterproof layer 15th and the water-impermeable layer 16 arranged thereon in the transverse direction Q1 has a further water-impermeable layer, one electrode in each case being applied, in particular printed, to a separate water-impermeable layer.

In this stacking of the individual waterproof layers 4th , 14th , and 15th Therefore, by merging these layers, the left part of the 3 shown capacitor 20th generated, in this case in the transverse direction Q1, the electrodes 10 each, as can be seen in the corresponding partial image, are arranged on different levels.

Alternatively, the electrode 11 together with at least one of the electrodes 10 in a common plane, that is to say on or in a common water-impermeable layer 4th , 14th , 15th applied so that, for example, only the second of the electrodes 10 on a separate waterproof layer 4th , 14th , 15th needs to be stacked.

In principle, therefore, the individual electrodes 10 , 11 be arranged in different planes in the Q1 direction to each other. For example, there is a paired assignment between exactly one water-impermeable layer 4th , 14th , 15th with exactly one electrode 10 , 11 .

In the 5 are each sensors arranged in a matrix to one another 1 shown. The matrix-like on the carrier layer 13 arranged sensors 1 do not overlap in the vertical direction. That is, the sensors 1 can be on the, in particular common, carrier layer 13 be arranged so that the sensors 1 are at the same height. The sensors arranged next to one another are covered by a separating layer arranged in the vertical direction 26th arranged at a distance from one another. In at least one embodiment, the separating layer is 26th designed in the form of an electrical and / or thermal insulation layer.

The invention is not restricted by the description based on the exemplary embodiment. Rather, the invention encompasses every new feature, as well as every combination of features, which in particular includes every combination of features in the patent claims, even if this feature or this combination itself is not explicitly specified in the patent claims or in the exemplary embodiments.

List of reference symbols

1

sensor

3

Moisture layer

4th

dielectric layer / waterproof layer

5

Processing unit

10

electrode

11

electrode

12

electrode

13

Carrier material

14th

waterproof layer

15th

waterproof layer

20th

capacitor

26th

Separating layer

30th

capacitor

100

contraption

200

Procedure

H1

horizontal direction

Q1

Transverse direction

TRD

Separation distance

Claims (11)

Surface device (100) for measuring pressure and / or humidity comprising at least one sensor (1) for measuring pressure and / or humidity, the sensor (1) - at least one capacitor (20) with at least two electrodes (10, 11), which are arranged, in particular in a horizontal direction (H1) along and on a, in particular flexible, carrier material (13) to one another, at least one dielectric layer (4) being arranged between the electrodes (10, 11) , characterized in that at least one at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer (3) is arranged at least in places on a side facing away from the carrier material (13) at least one electrode (10, 11) and / or the dielectric layer (4), wherein thus the at least one electrode (10, 11) and / or the dielectric layer (4) in a transverse direction (Q1) between the carrier material (13) and the moisture layer (3) are arranged so that a capacitance changes at least partially due to the liquid at least partially hitting the dielectric layer (4), a processing unit (5) being set up and provided to measure and / or store this change, so that a capacitive Pressure and / or humidity sensor arises, in particular wherein the surface device (100) has at least one second sensor (1) which is constructed in the same way as the sensor (1) and in the horizontal direction (H1) next to the first sensor (1) is arranged. Surface device (100) for measuring pressure and / or humidity comprising at least one sensor (1) for measuring pressure and / or humidity, the sensor (1) - at least one capacitor (20) with at least two electrodes (10, 11) which, in particular in a horizontal direction (H1) along an in particular flexible carrier material (13) and on an in particular flexible carrier material (13), are arranged relative to one another, with at least one dielectric layer ( 4) is arranged, characterized in that in a transverse direction (Q1) between the carrier material (13) and at least one electrode (10, 11) at least in places at least one at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer (3) is arranged so that a capacitance is at least partially changed by the liquid at least partially striking the dielectric layer (4), with processing ization unit (5) is set up and provided to measure and / or store this change so that a capacitive pressure and / or humidity sensor is created, in particular wherein the surface device (100) has at least one second sensor (1), which is constructed in the same way as the sensor (1) and is arranged in the horizontal direction (H1) next to the first sensor (1). Surface device (100) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the two sensors (1) do not overlap in the vertical direction. Surface device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two sensors (1) are arranged in the horizontal direction (H1) at the same height to one another. Surface device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two sensors (1) are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction (H1), but at different height levels in each case. Surface device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least four sensors (1), in particular of the same type, arranged in a matrix-like manner in the horizontal direction (H1). Surface device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sensors (1) arranged next to one another are arranged at a distance from one another by a separating layer (27) arranged in the vertical direction. Surface device (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the separating layer (26) runs along the vertical direction between two sensors (1). Surface device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the sensors (1) and / or the processing unit (5) assigned to the sensor (1) measures and / or reads either only pressure or only moisture values and / or processed. Surface device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the sensors (1) arranged like a matrix measure only pressure values within a first matrix field and within a second, different from the first matrix field, further sensors (1) in a second matrix field only measure moisture values and / or the processing unit (5) only measure corresponding values recorded and / or processed. A method (200) for measuring pressure and / or humidity comprising initially a first step by means of which - at least one sensor (1) is provided for measuring pressure and / or humidity, the sensor (1) - at least one capacitor (20) with at least two electrodes (10, 11), which are arranged, in particular in a horizontal direction (H1) along and on a, in particular flexible, carrier material (13) to one another, with at least one dielectric layer between the electrodes (10, 11) (4) is arranged, characterized in that on a side facing away from the carrier material (13) at least one electrode (10, 11) and / or the dielectric layer (4) at least in places, at least one, at least partially liquid-permeable and / or liquid-absorbing moisture layer (3) is arranged, thus the at least one electrode (10, 11) and / or the dielectric layer (4) in a transverse direction (Q1) between the Carrier material (2) and the moisture layer (3) are arranged so that a capacitance changes at least partially due to the liquid at least partially hitting the dielectric layer (4), a processing unit (5) measuring and / or storing this change so that a Pressure and / or humidity sensor is created, in particular with a second sensor (1) arranged in the horizontal direction (H1) next to the first sensor (1), which is constructed in the same way as the sensor (1) and in the horizontal direction ( H1) is arranged next to the first sensor (1).

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