• Achieving high spatial resolution in tactile sensors is complex and costly due to the need for a large array of sensors.
• Many sensors are limited to capturing forces from finger-shaped probes, excluding other objects. Existing tactile sensors require tedious computational processes for accurate skin deformation estimation. Optical tactile sensors have limitations in achieving high resolution due to material & fiber constraints.
• Current sensors struggle with accurate pressure estimation and lack consistent multi-dimensional capability, especially when pressure is non-uniform.
• The present patent application aims to address these problems by proposing a tactile pressure sensor with a simpler construction & processing strategy that can provide high-resolution and accurate results in various uses.

1. The present patent application discloses A tactile pressure sensor and a method of sensing the position and magnitude of pressure.

2. This tactile imaging system combines optical and mechanical transduction processes to accurately measure and visualize forces applied to an elastically deformable porous material, enabling high-resolution, multi-point 3D touch input.

   Refer FIG: 1 and 2.

The present patent describes the invention’s objectives and outlines the key components and methods involved in a pressure-sensitive device and its corresponding method for determining force magnitude and position.

Pressure-Sensitive Device:

• Comprises a first medium.
• A third medium, which is an elastically deformable porous material, placed on top of the first medium.
• The gaps between the third medium and the first medium are filled with fluid, defining a second medium.
• Includes a radiation source that directs radiation through at least one edge of the first medium.
• The radiation incident through the first medium undergoes Frustrated Total Internal Reflection (FTIR) at points corresponding to spatial forces applied on the third medium.
• A radiation detector is placed facing the bottom side of the first medium to detect the radiation reaching the sensor.
• A processing means processes the radiation sensor output to determine at least the magnitude/position of the force.

Method for Determining Force:

• Involves providing a first medium.
• Providing a third medium, which is an elastically deformable porous material, above the first medium, with the distance between them defining a second medium.
• Directing radiation from a radiation source through at least one edge of the first medium.
• When force is applied to the third medium, the incident radiation on the first medium undergoes frustrated total internal reflection.
• Detecting the radiation using a radiation detector.
• Processing the radiation detector output in a processing means to determine at least the magnitude and/or position of the force.