US Patent 7800362 Pressure distribution detector utilizing electromagnetic coupling

A pressure distribution detector is less influence by installation environment, that is, a pressure distribution detector that detection sensitivity or detection accuracy is less adversely affected even if the device is fitted not only to a flat surface but also a surface having an arbitrary shape such as a curved surface. The pressure distribution detector comprises a plurality of drive coils (1) provided on a substrate, a plurality of detection coils (2) electromagnetically coupled with the plurality of drive coils in pairs respectively, and a spacer (4) for keeping a constant distance between the plurality of drive coils and the plurality of detection coils, respectively. In order to vary the degree of electromagnetic coupling between the drive coil and the detection coil, a variable electromagnetic coupling (3) formed of a conductor or a magnetic body is provided movably adjacent to the drive coil and/or the detection coil. The drive coil is driven through a drive circuit and a change in the degree of electromagnetic coupling between the drive coil and the detection coil is detected by a detection circuit from the detection coil.