The invention relates to a tire comprising an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a first, second, third, fourth and fifth layer, the third layer being optional, characterized in that: a) the first layer comprises a first electrode material, b) the second layer comprises a first intermediate material, c) the third layer comprises an insulation material, d) the fourth layer comprises a second intermediate material, and e) the fifth layer comprises a second electrode material, wherein the second or fourth layer has a layer thickness in the range from 10 to 1000 μm, the first intermediate material of the second layer and the second intermediate material of the fourth layer are different, and the four or five layers are arranged one above the other according to the above sequence. The invention also relates to uses of the apparatus.

A thin film sensor includes an insulating layer provided on a surface of a measurement target, and a sensor layer that is laminated on the insulating layer, and includes a plurality of regions partitioned by a groove that is provided by irradiation of a laser and penetrates in a thickness direction. Among the plurality of regions, at least one region corresponds to a sensor region that senses a pressure applied to the measurement target or a temperature of the measurement target, and other regions each correspond to a non-sensor region that does not sense a pressure applied to the measurement target or a temperature of the measurement target.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a measurement device is provided that includes an actuator module, a control module, a load cell module, a processing module, and a notification module. The actuator module includes an actuator. The control module includes one or more actuator controllers configured to control the actuator. The load cell module includes one or more motors configured to set orientation of attachments points for the actuator with respect to a component relative to a location of a user. The processing module includes a processor configured to receive and analyze information from the load cell module pertaining to an insertion force for the component. The notification module is configured to provide a notification based on the analyzing performed by the processing module.

A low power consumption multi-contact micro electro-mechanical strain/displacement sensor and miniature autonomous self-contained systems for recording of stress and usage history with direct output suitable for fatigue and load spectrum analysis are provided. In aerospace applications the system can assist in prediction of fatigue of a component subject to mechanical stresses as well as in harmonizing maintenance and overhauls intervals. In alternative applications, i.e. civil structures, general machinery, marine and submarine vessels, etc., the system can autonomously record strain history, strain spectrum or maximum values of the strain over a prolonged period of time using an internal power supply or a power supply combined with an energy harvesting device. The sensor is based on MEMS technology and incorporates a micro array of flexible micro or nano-size cantilevers. The system can have extremely low power consumption while maintaining precision and temperature/humidify independence.

A magnetic load sensor unit (1) is provided which can detect the magnitude of an axial load applied by a linear motion actuator (14) to a friction pad (22). The magnetic load sensor unit (1) includes a magnetic target (4) which generates a magnetic field, and a magnetic sensor (5) designed to move relative to the magnetic target (4) corresponding to the axial load.

A method of processing a liquid material. The method includes mixing a liquid material with a solvent, wherein the solvent has a constituent capable of coating the particles of the material. The liquid material mixed with the solvent is then particlized, deposited on a substrate and activated to form a pre-defined electrically conductive pattern. Particlization methods include sonication and the deposition methods include ink-jet printing. Activation methods include applying mechanical pressure. The method can be used to produce electronic devices. The electronic devices made by the method include strain gauges. The substrates utilized for making the electronic devices utilizing the method can be wearable or stretchable or both.

An integrated polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) thin-film sensor produced by laser pyrolysis and additive manufacturing and a fabrication method thereof are provided. Using a metal component or an insulating material as a substrate, a PDC-doped composite insulating film layer with high density, high insulation, and high temperature resistance is formed by a layer-by-layer laser pyrolysis and additive manufacturing on the surface of the metal component, and a strain sensitive layer with excellent electrical conductivity is obtained by Weissenberg direct writing process PDC-doped filler sensitive grid on the composite insulating film layer and laser pyrolysis enhancing graphitization of PDC. In this way, the in situ integrated laser fabrication of highly insulating film layer, sensitive grid with excellent electrical conductivity, and metal substrate based on PDC materials is developed, which achieves the laser processing of “liquid-solid-function” transformation of PDC composites and allows the successful use thereof in strain sensing of metallic materials.

A surface mounted monitoring system is disclosed that is useful for detecting the presence of both ordinary and excessive loads on a surface, and for providing real-time or near real-time trending data. The system includes an array of force transducers disposed on the exterior surface of a structural member such as a roof. In an exemplary embodiment, transducers may be placed on an interior surface, such as embedded within insulation. The force transducers detect the magnitude of a load force acting on the surface. A data analysis module (DAM) may record force readings in a circular memory buffer, so that recent data can be recovered in the event of a catastrophic collapse. The DAM may also communicate with a monitoring device that can display real-time loading data to a user and perform other analysis.

A stress compensated oscillator circuitry comprises a sensor arrangement for providing a sensor output signal S.sub.Sensor, wherein the sensor output signal S.sub.Sensor is based on an instantaneous stress or strain component a in the semiconductor substrate, a processing arrangement for processing the sensor output signal S.sub.Sensor and providing a control signal S.sub.Control depending on the instantaneous stress or strain component σ in the semiconductor substrate, and an oscillator arrangement for providing an oscillator output signal S.sub.osc having an oscillator frequency f.sub.osc based on the control signal S.sub.Control, wherein the control signal S.sub.Control controls the oscillator output signal S.sub.osc, and wherein the control signal S.sub.Control reduces the influence of the instantaneous stress or strain component σ in the semiconductor substrate onto the oscillator output signal S.sub.osc, so that the oscillator circuitry provides a stress compensated oscillator output signal.

An overvoltage arrester for high voltages having a high-voltage terminal that is connected to an arrester block forming a nonlinear resistor, and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the arrester block. In order to enable a simple and reliable detection of the temperature of the arrester block continually during the operation thereof, the temperature sensor detects a change of the longitudinal extent of the arrester block.