US Patent 11486744 Valve based deformable sensor having rigidity adjustment capability

A deformable sensor is provided. The deformable sensor includes a first deformable member defining a first cavity configured to be filled with a medium, a second deformable member defining a second cavity, a rigid component disposed between the first deformable member and the second deformable member such that the first deformable member is positioned on a first portion of the rigid component and the second deformable member is positioned on a second portion of the rigid component, the rigid component including an aperture disposed thereon, and a valve member configured to fluidly couple the first cavity of the first deformable member to the second cavity of the second deformable member via the aperture. The first deformable member has a first rigidity value when the valve member is configured in a first orientation, and a second rigidity value when the valve member is configured in the second orientation.