Development of Soft Tribo-Sensor Using PVDF Film for Skin Surface Contour Measurement

This paper is concerned with a basic experimental study on the development of a tactile sensor for skin surface contour measurement. The sensor, imitating the finger, was constructed from an aluminum pipe as the digital phalanx, a sponge rubber sheet as the digital pulp and PVDF film as the sensory...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of intelligent material systems and structures 1999-06, Vol.10 (6), p.481-488
Main Authors: Jiang, Zhongwei, Funai, Katsuyoshi, Tanaka, Mami, Chonan, Seiji
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Biological and medical sciences
Dermatology
Exact sciences and technology
General equipment and techniques
Industrial metrology. Testing
Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Mechanical engineering. Machine design
Medical sciences
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Physics
Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.)
remote sensing
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Summary:This paper is concerned with a basic experimental study on the development of a tactile sensor for skin surface contour measurement. The sensor, imitating the finger, was constructed from an aluminum pipe as the digital phalanx, a sponge rubber sheet as the digital pulp and PVDF film as the sensory receptor. Furthermore, the sensor was covered with cellophane tape or a piece of gauze, which seemed to be an effective substitution for a fingerprint. The sensor is supposed to be moved directly along the skin surface and the skin texture would be estimated by measuring the output of the sensor. Since the signals from sensor are complex, three data processing methods, so-called Ten-point Average, Symmetrized Dot Pattern and Wavelet Transform, were introduced to evaluate the surface roughness both qualitatively and quantitatively. The experimental results obtained on some different types of paper and some parts of skin are presented. Furthermore, an efficient visual display technique and a quantitative evaluation method were proposed for the determination of skin roughness. The proposed tactile sensor shows great potential for skin surface contour measurement.
ISSN:1045-389X
1530-8138
DOI:10.1106/66AY-88MD-LFMP-KCU5