A force sensing method, applied to a force sensing system comprising a plurality of force sensors and a touch sensing surface, comprising: (a) determining a first location of a first object on the touch sensing surface; (b) defining a first force sensing region according to the first location; and (c) computing a first system sensing force which the first object causes to the touch sensing surface according to the first location, and according to at least one sensor sensing force of a first part of the force sensors corresponding to the first force sensing region. The present invention also discloses a force sensing system which uses the above-mentioned force sensing method, and an efficient force sensor calibration method. Noises can be reduced and power consumption can be decreased, since only sensor sensing forces of force sensors near the object are used for computing the system sensing force.

A force sensing method, applied to a force sensing system comprising a plurality of force sensors and a touch sensing surface, comprising: (a) determining a first location of a first object on the touch sensing surface; (b) defining a first force sensing region according to the first location; and (c) computing a first system sensing force which the first object causes to the touch sensing surface according to the first location, and according to at least one sensor sensing force of a first part of the force sensors corresponding to the first force sensing region. The present invention also discloses a force sensing system which uses the above-mentioned force sensing method, and an efficient force sensor calibration method. Noises can be reduced and power consumption can be decreased, since only sensor sensing forces of force sensors near the object are used for computing the system sensing force.

According to one embodiment, a calibration method includes placing a pressure sensor on a base material having magnetic properties, placing a magnet on the pressure sensor, attracting the magnet to the base material while interposing the pressure sensor therebetween and applying a predetermined pressing force onto the pressure sensor, detecting a sensor output of a pressure-sensitive portion pressed by the magnet, estimating the deterioration of the pressure sensor by comparing the sensor output with a specified value corresponding to characteristics of the magnet, generating correction data to calibrate the degradation and inputting the generated correction data to the pressure sensor.

A system and method are provided related to replacing components of a fully assembled torque sensor system having been previously calibrated, whereby the new system with its new components, which may be installed in a larger system, can be recalibrated at the location where the component replacement or servicing occurs. Individual components are provided with individual characteristics information, either on or associated with the shipped component, so the end user may retrieve the information and enter it in the software, such as that associated with a control unit, which is used with the fully assembled torque sensor. A database storing information about each manufactured component and their respective characteristics information, and fully assembled systems and their collective characteristics information, may be maintained and accessible by end users.

The present disclosure relates to an electronic torque tool, a calibration fixture, and a method for calibrating the electronic torque tool. The calibration includes applying a torque to the torque wrench and releasing the applied torque once the applied torque reaches a full scale calibration torque. The calibration fixture holds and displays a peak value of the applied torque and the torque wrench holds and displays a measured peak value of the applied torque. The measured peak value on the torque wrench may then be adjusted, by incrementing or decrementing the displayed value, to match the peak value displayed on the calibration fixture.

A stator angle is determined to correct a value measured by a wheel force transducer. A mounting bracket is rigidly attached to a vehicle and supports a housing within which a rotary encoder is mounted. A stator rod retainer is aligned with a rotational axis of the rotary encoder and has a through-bore extending perpendicular to the rotational axis. The stator rod retainer rotates relative to a stationary portion of the rotary encoder using at least one bearing, and the stator rod retainer supports a first end of a stator rod for substantially free movement through the through-bore. A controller determines, when the second end of the stator rod is fixedly attached to an encoder stator attached to a wheel, a stator angle of the stator rod used for adjusting at least one value associated with the wheel that is measured using the encoder stator.

A stator angle is determined to correct a value measured by a wheel force transducer. A mounting bracket is rigidly attached to a vehicle and supports a housing within which a rotary encoder is mounted. A stator rod retainer is aligned with a rotational axis of the rotary encoder and has a through-bore extending perpendicular to the rotational axis. The stator rod retainer rotates relative to a stationary portion of the rotary encoder using at least one bearing, and the stator rod retainer supports a first end of a stator rod for substantially free movement through the through-bore. A controller determines, when the second end of the stator rod is fixedly attached to an encoder stator attached to a wheel, a stator angle of the stator rod used for adjusting at least one value associated with the wheel that is measured using the encoder stator.

A method for reducing hysteresis error and high frequency noise error of capacitive tactile sensors includes the following steps: step 1: calibration, specifically including positive stroke calibration to form n positive stroke curves and negative stroke calibration to form n negative stroke curves; step 2: averaging, specifically including positive stroke averaging to form an average positive stroke curve, negative stroke averaging to form an average negative stroke curve, and comprehensive averaging to form a comprehensive stroke curve; step 3: fitting modeling, to obtain a positive stroke fitting function, a negative stroke fitting function, and a comprehensive fitting function; step 4: measurement; step 5: noise filtering; step 6: stroke direction discrimination; and step 7: resolving, to obtain the force at the current time by using a corresponding fitting function based on the stroke direction discrimination result.

A method for reducing hysteresis error and high frequency noise error of capacitive tactile sensors includes the following steps: step 1: calibration, specifically including positive stroke calibration to form n positive stroke curves and negative stroke calibration to form n negative stroke curves; step 2: averaging, specifically including positive stroke averaging to form an average positive stroke curve, negative stroke averaging to form an average negative stroke curve, and comprehensive averaging to form a comprehensive stroke curve; step 3: fitting modeling, to obtain a positive stroke fitting function, a negative stroke fitting function, and a comprehensive fitting function; step 4: measurement; step 5: noise filtering; step 6: stroke direction discrimination; and step 7: resolving, to obtain the force at the current time by using a corresponding fitting function based on the stroke direction discrimination result.

A baseline unit for use in a sensor system, the sensor system comprising N force sensors which output N sensor signals, respectively, where N≥1, the baseline unit configured to: monitor a measure of a rate of change of a sensor test signal, the sensor test signal being one of said N sensor signals or a signal derived from one or more of said N sensor signals; and in dependence upon the measure of the rate of change, control a stored baseline setting to control how a baseline test signal is calculated from said N sensor signals using a baseline-calculation method, the baseline-calculation method configured by the currently-stored baseline setting.