Shape detection device and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A shape detection device which can detect the existence/absence or normal/abnormal state of an object and the shape and movement of the object by directly contacting the object. The shape detection device includes a shape detection section having two substrates on which a plurality of electrodes are formed and which are arranged to face each other or in the same direction with a predetermined space therebetween and bonded together by an insulating adhesive filled into the space between the substrates. The shape detection device is manufactured by forming the plurality of electrodes on the substrates, arranging the substrates to face each other or in the same direction with the predetermined space therebetween, bonding the substrates together by filling the insulating adhesive into the space between the substrates, and grinding edge portions of the electrodes formed on the substrates bonded together. The shape detection device can lengthen its life span and can be manufactured at a low cost with superior productivity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shape detection device comprising: 
 a shape detection section including two substrates each having a plurality of electrodes formed on one surface thereof, the substrates being arranged to face each other or in the same direction with a predetermined space therebetween and being bonded together by an insulating adhesive filled in the space between the substrates;    a shape discrimination section for discriminating a shape or the direction of the movement of an object in accordance with sensed signals outputted from the shape detection section; and    a display/control section for performing a display or control function in accordance with discriminated signals outputted from the shape discrimination section.    
     
     
         2 . The shape detection device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shape detection section comprises a plurality of substrate pairs which are laminated to detect the shape or direction of movement of a relatively large object all at once.  
     
     
         3 . The shape detection device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the width and thickness of the electrodes formed on the substrates are determined to be about 0.1 mm, and each space between the electrodes is determined to be about a maximum of 0.1 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The shape detection device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shape detection section further comprises a cover substrate to protect the electrodes formed on the substrates which are arranged to face in the same direction, and wherein the cover substrate has no electrode formed thereon and is bonded to the substrate with a predetermined space therebetween by filling insulating adhesive into the space between the substrates.  
     
     
         5 . The shape detection device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the width and thickness of the electrodes formed on the substrates are determined to be about a maximum of 0.1 mm; and each space between the electrodes is determined to be about 0.1 mm at maximum.  
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing a shape detection device comprising the steps of: 
 forming a plurality of electrodes on insulating substrates;    arranging the substrates to face each other or in the same direction with a predetermined space therebetween;    bonding the substrates together by filling an insulating adhesive into the space between the substrates; and    grinding edge portions of the electrodes formed on the substrates bonded together.    
     
     
         7 . The shape detection device manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the step of forming the plurality of electrodes comprises: 
 a first substep of forming a conductive metal plate on each of the insulating substrates;    a second substep of coating a photosensitive material on the metal plate;    a third substep of adhering on the photosensitive material a film for exposure to light which is composed of light-permeable negative portions formed corresponding to the shape of the electrodes and non-light-permeable positive portions;    a fourth substep of making a selective chemical change with respect to corresponding portions of the photosensitive material to the negative portions of the film by irradiating light to the film;    a fifth substep of removing the film for causing the photosensitive material to make the selective chemical change by light;    a sixth substep of forming chemically stable hardened portions on the metal plate by a developing and hardening process of the chemically changed photosensitive material;    a seventh substep of corroding and removing portions of the metal plate on which the chemically stable hardened portions are not formed by soaking the metal plate in a metal-corrosive solution; and    an eighth substep of excoriating and removing the chemically stable hardened portions.