Nissha’s film-based force sensor is slim and enables multi-point simultaneous detection, realizing force sensing in applications ranging from friction measurement to input interfaces.

Three-axis force sensor is designed to detect stress across the horizontal surface (friction and shear force) of a contact interface between two objects. Many conventional sensors were mechanical and made of metal at least 1 cm thick. This imposed restrictions on the products the sensors were built into as well as the contexts of sensor use.
Nissha took advantage of proprietary film processing technology to develop a brand new slim three-axis force sensor with a thickness of 1 mm or less. The slim, flexible sheet type friction and shear force sensor can be used in various applications.

The flexible sheet structure may be used as a tactile sensor in robot hands and as a fitting sensor for prosthetic legs.

A sensor array configured as a multi-point matrix enables distribution mapping of friction and shear force on the surface of the sheet type sensor, contributing to behavior analysis of the force on the tread of tires and shoes in the development stage.

The film type inputting force sensor is very slim, with a thickness of 200 μm or less, and can be built into any type of product. Production with the printing process means the sensor shape and arrangement can be customized according to customer requirements.

Applications to date center on user interfaces including musical keyboards. The sensor can also be used in various applications such as detecting pressure anomalies and verifying the presence or absence of items.