Sensor

1. A sensor for generating electrical signals indicating a positional property and an extent property of a mechanical interaction within a sensing zone, said sensor comprising a plurality of conductive layers, the plurality of conductive layers being placed on first and second sheets:

said first sheet carrying a first conductive layer having a first conductive area;

a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal in electrical connection with said first conductive area;

said first conductive area being configured to enable an electrical potential gradient to be established between said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal in a first direction extending across said first conductive layer;

said second sheet carrying a second conductive layer having a second conductive area;

a third electrical terminal in electrical connection with said second conductive area;

said sensor being configured such that an electrical path is established between said first conductive area and said second conductive area during a mechanical interaction within said sensing zone; and

at least one of said first sheet and said second sheet comprises a pressure-sensitive conductive layer comprising a quantum tunnelling conductance (qtc) material;

said sensor being configured such that direct electrical contact between said first and second conductive layers is permitted during the absence of a mechanical interaction within said sensing zone.

2. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said third electrical terminal is a sheet terminal.

3. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said second conductive area has a fourth electrical terminal connected thereto and is configured to allow an electrical potential gradient to be established between said third electrical terminal and said fourth electrical terminal, in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to said first direction.

4. The sensor of claim 3 , wherein

said first conductive layer presents a plurality of conductive rows, each row electrically insulated from the others, each row having a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal in electrical connection therewith and configured to allow an electrical potential gradient to be established between said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal, in a first direction, and

said second conductive layer presents a plurality of conductive columns, each column electrically insulated from the others, each column having a third electrical terminal and a fourth electrical terminal in electrical connection therewith and configured to allow an electrical potential gradient to be established between said third electrical terminal and said fourth electrical terminal, in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to said first direction.

5. A method of generating electrical signals indicating a positional property and an extent property of a mechanical interaction within a sensing zone of a sensor, comprising the steps of:

receiving the sensor of claim 3 ,

establishing an electric potential gradient across said first conductive layer, between said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal, in said first direction,

receiving a first voltage from one of said third electrical terminal and said fourth electrical terminal of said second conductive layer, to produce a first positional value,

processing said first positional value to produce a first positional value of a mechanical interaction,

establishing an electric potential gradient across said second conductive layer, between said third electrical terminal and said fourth electrical terminal, in said second direction,

receiving a second voltage from one of said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal of said first conductive layer, to produce a second positional value,

processing said second positional value to produce a second positional value of a mechanical interaction,

establishing an electric potential from one of said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal of said first conductive layer, to produce a first current,

measuring said first current from one of said third electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal of said second conductive layer, to produce a first current value,

establishing an electric potential from the other of said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal of said first conductive layer, to produce a second current,

measuring said second current from the other of said third electrical terminal and said fourth electrical terminal of said second conductive layer, to produce a second current value, and

processing said second current value in combination with said first current value to produce an extent property of a mechanical interaction.

6. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein a first pressure-sensitive conductive layer comprising a quantum tunnelling conductance (qtc) material provides said first conductive layer,

a second pressure-sensitive conductive layer comprising a quantum tunnelling conductance (qtc) material provides said second conductive layer, and

said sensor comprises said first conductive layer and said second conductive layer only.

7. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein a pressure-sensitive conductive layer provides a third conductive layer that is disposed between said first conductive layer and said second conductive layer.

8. The sensor of claim 7 , wherein a second pressure-sensitive conductive layer comprising a quantum tunnelling conductance (qtc) material provides a fourth conductive layer, and said fourth conductive layer and said second conductive layer are configured as a separate sheet to said first sheet.

9. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said extent property is one of:

magnitude of applied force, magnitude of applied pressure, area of mechanical interaction.

10. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said sensing zone is non-planar, said sensor being constructed of a plurality of molded parts assembled together.

11. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein at least one conductive layer comprises textile fibres.

12. A method of generating electrical signals indicating a positional property and an extent property of a mechanical interaction within a sensing zone of a sensor, comprising the steps of:

receiving the sensor of claim 1 ,

establishing an electric potential gradient across said first conductive layer, between said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal, in said first direction,

receiving a first voltage from said third electrical terminal, to produce a first positional value,

processing said first positional value to produce a first positional property of a mechanical interaction,

establishing an electric potential from one of said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal of said first conductive layer, to produce a first current,

measuring said first current from said third electrical terminal of said second conductive layer, to produce a first current value,

establishing an electric potential from the other of said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal of said first conductive layer, to produce a second current,

measuring said second current from said third electrical terminal of said second conductive layer, to produce a second current value, and

processing said second current value in combination with said first current value to produce an extent property of a mechanical interaction.