Open AccessA fluidics-based impact sensor
Author(s) -
Daigo Takahashi,
Keisuke Hara,
Tamon Okano,
Hiroaki Suzuki
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0195741
Subject(s) - accelerometer , acceleration , microelectromechanical systems , capacitive sensing , fluidics , electronics , electronic circuit , computer science , mechanical engineering , materials science , electrical engineering , acoustics , engineering , optoelectronics , physics , classical mechanics , operating system
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based high-performance accelerometers are ubiquitously used in various electronic devices. However, there is an existing need to detect physical impacts using low-cost devices with no electronic circuits or a battery. We designed and fabricated an impact sensor prototype using a commercial stereolithography apparatus that only consists of a plastic housing and working fluids. The sensor device responds to the instantaneous acceleration (impact) by deformation and pinch off of a water droplet that is suspended in oil in a sensor cavity. We tested the various geometrical and physical parameters of the impact sensor to identify their relations to threshold acceleration values. We show that the state diagram that is plotted against the dimensionless Archimedes and Bond numbers adequately describes the response of the proposed sensor.