Triangular Electrode Arrangement for Minimizing Electrode Density and Footprint in Tactile Sensors and Flexible Electronics

Advancements in healthcare monitoring and personalized equipment have driven the development of wearable and implantable devices, necessitating sophisticated tactile sensors to enhance human-device interactions. However, conventional configurations suffer from high electrode density, causing performance degradation due to electrode corrosion, biocompatibility issues, and bulkiness. We present an electrode-minimized tactile sensor (EMTS) that reduces electrode density by utilizing triboelectric field propagation. The EMTS features a panel with triangularly arranged dot electrodes, optimized through theoretical modeling and experiments to minimize electrode usage. This configuration achieves high resolution, stability across diverse stimuli, and consistent performance with various objects. The EMTS demonstrates effectiveness in wearable keypads and implantable heart rate sensors. By minimizing electrode reliance, the EMTS enhances comfort and flexibility for wearables and improves biocompatibility and durability for implantables. This approach addresses electrode density challenges and advances tactile sensing in healthcare and consumer electronics.