Deformable sensors and methods for modifying membrane stiffness are provided. A deformable sensor may include a membrane coupled to a housing to form a sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may further include a rotational element having an adjustable vertical position and a modifiable rotation. The rotational element may be supported at a base of the sensor cavity. The rotational element may be configured to establish and withdraw contact with respect to the membrane to modify stiffness of the membrane. The rotational element may further be configured to modify stiffness of the membrane by withdrawing the rotational element from the membrane.

A compact device for controlling the supply of a textile or metal thread to a processing machine, such as a textile machine or a spooling or winding machine, includes a body, at least one rotary member with which the thread cooperates, the member associated with a rotation velocity detector for detecting the rotation velocity thereof, the detector connected to a control unit, a tension detector provided for detecting the thread tension connected to such control unit. The rotary member is idle and is placed in rotation by the thread which is moved thereon, in proximity to such member the tension detector being placed. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the supply of thread actuated by such device.

A load suspension and weighing system for a removable reservoir unit of a portable dialysis machine includes a centrally located flexure assembly. The flexure assembly includes magnets and a number of flexure rings which allow for movement of the magnets about a fixed circuit board. Sensors in the circuit board sense changes in the magnetic field as the magnets move in relation to the circuit board. The magnetic field changes produce a voltage output which is used by a processor to generate weight calculations. The top of the flexure assembly is attached to the interior of the dialysis machine. The entirety of the reservoir unit is suspended by a first internal frame that is attached to the bottom of the flexure assembly. Having a single flexure assembly positioned above the reservoir unit provides more accurate weight measurements while also preventing damage to the assembly from water spillage.

A load suspension and weighing system for a removable reservoir unit of a portable dialysis machine includes a centrally located flexure assembly. The flexure assembly includes magnets and a number of flexure rings which allow for movement of the magnets about a fixed circuit board. Sensors in the circuit board sense changes in the magnetic field as the magnets move in relation to the circuit board. The magnetic field changes produce a voltage output which is used by a processor to generate weight calculations. The top of the flexure assembly is attached to the interior of the dialysis machine. The entirety of the reservoir unit is suspended by a first internal frame that is attached to the bottom of the flexure assembly. Having a single flexure assembly positioned above the reservoir unit provides more accurate weight measurements while also preventing damage to the assembly from water spillage.

A load-sensing device is arranged in a package forming a chamber. The package has a deformable substrate configured, in use, to be deformed by an external force. A sensor unit is positioned in direct contact with the deformable substrate and is configured to detect deformations of the deformable substrate. An elastic element within of the chamber is arranged to act between the package and the sensor unit to generate, on the sensor unit, a force keeping the sensor unit in contact with the deformable substrate. The deformable substrate may be a base of the package, and the elastic element may be a metal lamina arranged between the lid of the package and the sensor unit. The sensor unit may be a semiconductor die integrating piezoresistors.

A robotic actuator may include a series elastic actuator (SEA) that includes an elastic element made of a viscoelastic material. The viscoelastic material may have hardness, stiffness, hysteresis, or damping properties suitable for a particular robotic application. The elastic element may include two portions of the viscoelastic material in compression with each other in the SEA. The SEA may include a motor to generate mechanical power, a speed reduction element to amplify motor torque, an encoder to measure deflection of the viscoelastic elastomer due to an applied force, and a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism may be connected to the motor using a pulley and may route mechanical power to an output joint. The SEA may be a prismatic SEA or another type of linear actuator. The motor may include a 3D printed liquid cooling jacket that includes removable fluid seals and that is assembled and disassembled using removable screws.

A sensing device comprising a first array of electrodes encapsulated in a first elastomeric layer; a second array of electrodes encapsulated in a second elastomeric layer; a third elastomeric layer intermediate the first and second elastomeric layer and comprising an array of micro-structures, wherein said electrodes and elastomeric layers are configured such that a displacement of said micro-structures, in response to one or more forces and/or pressures applied to said device, causes a capacitance of said device to vary as a function of said forces and/or pressure applied.

The present disclosure provides a device for evaluating a mechanical property of a material. The device comprises a sensing layer that has a contact surface for contacting a surface area of the material. The sensing layer has a property or dimension that is pressure sensitive. The device also comprises a detector arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation that propagates through at least the sensing layer. The device is arranged such that, when the contact surface of the sensing layer is in contact with the surface area of the material and a load is applied on at least a portion of the surface area of the material, the detected electromagnetic radiation can be used to determine stress within a portion of the sensing layer, the determined stress being indicative of the mechanical property of the material.

The present disclosure provides a device for evaluating a mechanical property of a material. The device comprises a sensing layer that has a contact surface for contacting a surface area of the material. The sensing layer has a property or dimension that is pressure sensitive. The device also comprises a detector arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation that propagates through at least the sensing layer. The device is arranged such that, when the contact surface of the sensing layer is in contact with the surface area of the material and a load is applied on at least a portion of the surface area of the material, the detected electromagnetic radiation can be used to determine stress within a portion of the sensing layer, the determined stress being indicative of the mechanical property of the material.

The invention relates to a load detection unit having a spring-elastic load carrier assembly for receiving the load (10) and a sensor (3) for the deformation of the load carrier assembly, which occurs under the load (10) that is to be detected, wherein a deformation transmission unit (6) is operatively arranged between the load carrier assembly and the sensor (3). A method, in which additionally a deformation transmission unit is used, is thus provided, which during operation picks up the deformation of the load carrier assembly and transmits it to the sensor as a changed force/path load.