Multi-purpose sensors using conductive Iono-elastomers

1. A sensor module comprising:

a first contact;

a second contact;

a third contact; and

one or more sensing elements electrically coupling the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact, the one or more sensing elements made from an iono-elastomer having a conductivity that varies at least in response to changes in strain or deformation and variations in an environmental factor,

wherein the sensor module is configured to measure respective conductivities between two or more pairs of the contacts, at least one of the conductivities corresponding to a respective first environmental factor, and each other of the conductivities corresponding to a respective second environmental factor, a respective strain, or a respective deformation.

2. A sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein a first conductivity of the one or more sensing elements, measured between the first contact and the second contact, varies in response to one of: temperature, humidity, spectral irradiance, atmospheric pressure, and partial vapor pressure of a chemical solvent.

3. A sensor module according to claim 2 , wherein the spectral irradiance is from an ultraviolet light.

4. A sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein a first conductivity of the one or more sensing elements, measured between the first contact and the second contact, varies in response to partial vapor pressure of a chemical solvent that is one or more of: ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, and a water-miscible solvent.

5. A sensor module according to claim 1 , further comprising an encapsulation layer that encapsulates a first portion of the one or more sensing elements that extends between the first contact and the second contact, the encapsulation layer impervious to moisture.

6. A sensor module according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a first substrate on which the first contact and the second contact are disposed;

a fourth contact;

a second substrate on which the third contact and the fourth contact are disposed; and

an encapsulation layer;

wherein the one or more sensing elements are further electrically coupled to the fourth contact;

wherein the first conductivity of the one or more sensing elements, measured between the first contact and the second contact, varies in response to variations in temperature;

wherein a second conductivity of the one or more sensing elements, measured between the first contact and the third contact, varies in response to strain or deformation of a second portion of the sensing element extending between the first contact and the third contact;

wherein a third conductivity of the one or more sensing elements, measured between the third contact and the fourth contact, varies in response to humidity experienced by a third portion of the sensing element extending between the third contact and the fourth contact; and

wherein the encapsulation layer further encapsulates the second portion of the one or more sensing elements, but does not encapsulate the third portion of the one or more sensing elements.

7. A sensor module according to claim 5 , wherein the encapsulation layer comprises a deformable acrylic elastomer tape.

8. A sensor module according to claim 1 , further comprising a first substrate, wherein the first contact and the second contact are both disposed on the first substrate.

9. A sensor module according to claim 8 , wherein the third contact is disposed on a second substrate, and wherein a second conductivity of the one or more sensing elements, measured between the first contact and the third contact, varies in response to strain or deformation of a portion of the one or more sensing elements extending between the first contact and the third contact.

10. A sensor module according to claim 9 , further comprising an encapsulation layer that encapsulates the portion of the one or more sensing elements that extends between the first contact and the third contact, the encapsulation layer exhibiting the property of elasticity.

11. A sensor module according to claim 9 , wherein the second conductivity of the one or more sensing elements varies in response to strain or deformation that is an elastic deformation along a longitudinal axis of the portion of the one or more sensing elements extending between the first contact and the third contact.

12. A sensor module according to claim 9 , wherein the second conductivity of the one or more sensing elements varies in response to strain or deformation that is an elastic deformation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the portion of the one or more sensing elements extending between the first contact and the third contact.

13. A sensor module according to claim 8 , wherein the first substrate is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

14. A sensor module according to claim 8 , wherein the first substrate includes one of: ceramic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymer film, thermoplastic volcanizates (TPV), polyethylene, polypropylene, polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, and Nylon.

15. A sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein the iono-elastomer is (i) ionic gel or (ii) hydrogel.

16. A sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein the iono-elastomer is (i) F127-DA/d 3 EAN or (ii) F127-DA/hEAN.

17. A sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact each include graphite.

18. A sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact each are one of the group consisting of: graphite, graphene, or carbon black.

19. A sensor module according to claim 1 , wherein a voltage applied between the first contact and the second contact is an AC signal.