A force sensor includes a strain body including a base portion, a displacement portion configured to make a displacement relative to the base portion under external force, and an elastic connection portion configured to elastically connect the base portion and the displacement portion, a board including a detection unit configured to detect the displacement of the displacement portion relative to the base portion in a first direction, and an interposed member interposed between the strain body and the board, the interposed member including an extending portion extending in a second direction intersecting a surface of the board and the first direction.

To improve the output signal quality of a load measurement by means of active magnetization, the invention provides a load measurement method for measuring a mechanical load on a test object (14), comprising: a) generating and applying a magnetic field to the test object (14); b) detecting a magnetic field changed by the test object (14) as a result of a mechanical load on the test object (14) by means of a first magnetic field detection device (20) to generate a first measurement signal (U1, UAB), c) detecting a magnetic field changed by the test object (14) as a result of a mechanical load on the test object (14) by means of a second magnetic field detection device (22) to generate a second measurement signal (U1, UAB), d) computationally determining a third measurement signal (UBT) from the first measurement signal (U1, UAB) and the second measurement signal (U2, UAT), and preferably comprising the steps of e) forming a difference from one (U2, UAT) of the first and the second measurement signals and the computationally determined third measurement signal (UBT) to produce an output signal, f) determining the mechanical load applied to the test object (14) based on the output signal. The invention also provides a corresponding load measurement device for carrying out the load measurement method.

To improve the output signal quality of a load measurement by means of active magnetization, the invention provides a load measurement method for measuring a mechanical load on a test object (14), comprising: a) generating and applying a magnetic field to the test object (14); b) detecting a magnetic field changed by the test object (14) as a result of a mechanical load on the test object (14) by means of a first magnetic field detection device (20) to generate a first measurement signal (U1, UAB), c) detecting a magnetic field changed by the test object (14) as a result of a mechanical load on the test object (14) by means of a second magnetic field detection device (22) to generate a second measurement signal (U1, UAB), d) computationally determining a third measurement signal (UBT) from the first measurement signal (U1, UAB) and the second measurement signal (U2, UAT), and preferably comprising the steps of e) forming a difference from one (U2, UAT) of the first and the second measurement signals and the computationally determined third measurement signal (UBT) to produce an output signal, f) determining the mechanical load applied to the test object (14) based on the output signal. The invention also provides a corresponding load measurement device for carrying out the load measurement method.

A magneto-elastically-based active force sensor, used with a tow coupling between a towed and a towing vehicle or a coupling between a vehicle body and a suspension of the vehicle, which outputs a signal useful for determining forces acting on the coupling. The outputted force information may be provided by processor-enabled embedded software algorithms that take inputs from the force sensor and other sensors, may be used by one or more vehicle systems during operating of the vehicle, such as engine, braking, stability, safety, and informational systems. The force sensor includes directionally-sensitive magnetic field sensing elements inside the sensor, and shielding may be used around the sensors to reduce the influence of external magnetic fields on the sensing elements. The force sensor may be used with different tow and vehicle weight sensing coupling devices installed on different types of automobile cars and trucks.

A magneto-elastically-based active force sensor, used with a tow coupling between a towed and a towing vehicle or a coupling between a vehicle body and a suspension of the vehicle, which outputs a signal useful for determining forces acting on the coupling. The outputted force information may be provided by processor-enabled embedded software algorithms that take inputs from the force sensor and other sensors, may be used by one or more vehicle systems during operating of the vehicle, such as engine, braking, stability, safety, and informational systems. The force sensor includes directionally-sensitive magnetic field sensing elements inside the sensor, and shielding may be used around the sensors to reduce the influence of external magnetic fields on the sensing elements. The force sensor may be used with different tow and vehicle weight sensing coupling devices installed on different types of automobile cars and trucks.

A magnetostrictive-type sensor temperature-detecting circuit configured to be used in a magnetostrictive-type sensor including an applied stress-detecting coil, and a driving section to output an alternating voltage, excite the coil with a resulting alternating electric current, and switch flow directions of the electric current flowing in the coil in response to switching voltage polarities of the output alternating voltage, to detect a temperature of the coil in the sensor. This temperature-detecting circuit includes an alternating electric current direction switching time-detecting section to detect an amount of time from when the voltage polarities of the output alternating voltage are switched until when the flow directions of the electric current flowing in the coil are switched, and a temperature-computing section to compute the temperature of the coil on the basis of the amount of time detected by the alternating electric current direction switching time-detecting section.

A sensor for sensing stress in a ferromagnetic material includes a non-magnetic substrate. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A first coil is attached to or formed on the first surface of the substrate. The first coil is configured to induce a magnetic flux in the ferromagnetic material being driven by an alternating current (AC) signal. At least one second coil is attached to or formed on the first surface of the substrate. The at least one second coil is spaced from the first coil. In addition, the second coil is configured to detect changes in the magnetic flux induced in the ferromagnetic material.

A sensor for sensing stress in a ferromagnetic material includes a non-magnetic substrate. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A first coil is attached to or formed on the first surface of the substrate. The first coil is configured to induce a magnetic flux in the ferromagnetic material being driven by an alternating current (AC) signal. At least one second coil is attached to or formed on the first surface of the substrate. The at least one second coil is spaced from the first coil. In addition, the second coil is configured to detect changes in the magnetic flux induced in the ferromagnetic material.

A tactile sensor has an elastically deformable sheet, a coil that is provided in the sheet, a powdery or fibrous magnetic material that is provided in the sheet with the coil, and a detection portion that detects an inductance of the coil. The coil is wound in a spiral shape and the powdery or fibrous magnetic material is dispersed in the sheet.

The present invention relates to a device for measuring grip strength including a basis; a cover coupled to the basis to form an enclosed pressure space separated from the outside; a cap disposed between the basis and the cover and configured to form a sensing space separated from the pressure space; magnets mounted on the cap or the basis to form a magnetic field; and a magnetic sensor for detecting change in the magnetic field. With this configuration, when measuring the grip strength of the user's hand, accuracy or sensitivity may be increased.