Measurement and valuation of touch sensation (Warm feeling compared with PVDF sensor output)

Abstract

This paper is a study on the development of a sensor for measuring tactile sensation. The sensor using the pyroelectric effect of a PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride) film is fabricated for measuring the human warm feeling. The base of the sensor is an aluminum block, around which a synthetic rubber layer overlaid with Nichrome wire, a PVDF film and a protective layer of acetate film are stacked in sequence. Furthermore a thermistor is attached on the side of the sensor. The sensor is heated and kept at a constant temperature by PID control. The heated sensor is contacted with the object to obtain the pyroelectric output from the PVDF film. Through experiments on several fabrics, the results show that the PVDF sensor using the pyroelectric effect is available to obtain information on the warm feeling.