Abstract
The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background informa tion supplied by the inventors: “ “The present invention relates to a sensor device to detect a force resulting fr om contact of an object and proximity of an object. “Various sensors mounted on, for example, a robot hand or a human machine interf ace to enable various types of sensing such as proximity or contact of an object have been developed in recent years. “Japanese Patent No. 5089774 discloses a complex sensor attached to, for example , a robot hand. The complex sensor includes a touch sensor and a proximity senso r. The touch sensor includes a flexible pressure-sensitive sheet covering a fing ertip portion. The touch sensor can detect a load exerted on the pressure sensit ive sheet and the position of the load center. In the complex sensor according t o Japanese Patent No. 5089774, the pressure sensitive sheet of the touch sensor has a through-hole. The through-hole in the pressure sensitive sheet of the touc h sensor exposes a sensitive surface of the proximity sensor. Thus, the proximit y sensor can detect an approach of an object to be grasped.
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