Unlike conventional metallic transducers, the silicone force sensor is made entirely of soft, elastic material. This design enables applications in safety-critical areas. Because the sensor does not contain any highly conductive metals that can cause sparks, it is suitable for applications in potentially explosive environments, for example. Due to its low tear propagation resistance, the silicone material offers little mechanical resistance, which can be important in vehicle technology, for example when used in the steering wheel, so that the sensor does not hinder the triggering of a steering wheel airbag.

The silicone force sensor from Sateco works according to the capacitive functional principle and can continuously measure both contact and pressure forces. It consists of three layers of conductive silicone, which are separated from each other by integrated resilient elements. When an external force acts on the sensor, the conductive layers are moved towards each other, which changes the electrical capacitance of the sensor. The change in capacitance is evaluated by special electronics and can be used as a measure of the force or pressure. The crimp contact ensures the electrical and mechanical connection between the silicone force sensor and the evaluation electronics. As a measuring cell with electrical connections, the sensor can therefore be integrated directly into a surface outside of a printed circuit board with little effort. The elastomer material of the sensor eliminates the need for additional elements for mechanical damping, preload and tolerance compensation. Both the base area and the dimensions of the sensor can be freely designed. This means that it can be adapted to curved surfaces as required and seamlessly integrated between the carrier material and the surface. This enables the ergonomic design of input devices, robots, prostheses and exoskeletons on both small and large surfaces.