A very small piezoelectric sensor capable of being mass produced includes a core, a piezoelectric layer on a surface of the core; and a conductive layer on a surface of the piezoelectric layer away from the core. The core is flexible and threadlike, the core is a first electrode of the piezoelectric sensor, and the conductive layer is a second electrode of the piezoelectric sensor. An array of such sensors allows the “skin” of a robot for example to simulate the sensitivity of hair-covered human skin. A method for making the piezoelectric sensor and an electronic device using the piezoelectric sensor are also disclosed.

A very small piezoelectric sensor capable of being mass produced includes a core, a piezoelectric layer on a surface of the core; and a conductive layer on a surface of the piezoelectric layer away from the core. The core is flexible and threadlike, the core is a first electrode of the piezoelectric sensor, and the conductive layer is a second electrode of the piezoelectric sensor. An array of such sensors allows the “skin” of a robot for example to simulate the sensitivity of hair-covered human skin. A method for making the piezoelectric sensor and an electronic device using the piezoelectric sensor are also disclosed.

The present disclosure provides a new and improved temperature compensated surface-launched acoustic wave (SAW) strain sensor using multiple reflectors in SAW devices mounted on a split-carrier package that provides complete isolation from strain for a temperature sensing portion of the device, while exposing a strain sensing portion of the device to both strain and temperature, with the influence of temperature being common to the various portions of the device, and a single acoustic reference with respect to which multiple differential acoustic measurements can be made, to provide inherently temperature-compensated strain measurements.

An operation detection sensor is provided and an electronic apparatus is provided that detect an operation on an operation target regardless of a waveform state of an output voltage of a sensor. The operation detection sensor includes a piezoelectric element, a voltage detection circuit that detects a voltage generated in the piezoelectric element, and a calculation unit that obtains a reference voltage by averaging detection voltages of the voltage detection circuit, and detects an operation on an operation target when a state in which a voltage difference between the reference voltage and the detection voltage is a predetermined value or more continues for a predetermined time or more.

Emergency stop pressure sensors 17 are installed on both side surfaces of a movable link 11 of a robot arm 14 of an assembly robot. When a worker S unintentionally walks in a swing range Ra of the robot arm 14 and contacts the emergency stop pressure sensor 17, a detection signal is transmitted to a control unit 19, and the control unit 19 shuts power transmission to a driving source swinging the robot arm. The emergency stop pressure sensor 17 has a first electrode and a second electrode constituting a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer formed of rubber or a rubber composition, which is disposed between the pair of electrodes, the intermediate layer generating power upon deformation caused by contact with a contacted body (the worker). A side of the intermediate layer in a laminate direction undergoes surface modification treatment and/or inactivation treatment. With this treatment, the one side and the other side of the intermediate layer have different degrees of deformation to the same deformation adding force.

Emergency stop pressure sensors 17 are installed on both side surfaces of a movable link 11 of a robot arm 14 of an assembly robot. When a worker S unintentionally walks in a swing range Ra of the robot arm 14 and contacts the emergency stop pressure sensor 17, a detection signal is transmitted to a control unit 19, and the control unit 19 shuts power transmission to a driving source swinging the robot arm. The emergency stop pressure sensor 17 has a first electrode and a second electrode constituting a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer formed of rubber or a rubber composition, which is disposed between the pair of electrodes, the intermediate layer generating power upon deformation caused by contact with a contacted body (the worker). A side of the intermediate layer in a laminate direction undergoes surface modification treatment and/or inactivation treatment. With this treatment, the one side and the other side of the intermediate layer have different degrees of deformation to the same deformation adding force.

A plurality of sensors and a controller are disposed in a marine seismic streamer. Each of the sensors comprises an enclosure having two opposing interior walls, first and second piezoelectric elements disposed on the opposing interior walls, a third piezoelectric element disposed on a flexible substrate within the enclosure between the opposing interior walls, a pressure signal output node and an acceleration signal output node disposed on the exterior surface of the enclosure. A combined pressure signal derived from the pressure signal output nodes of the plural sensors is coupled to a pressure signal input of the controller. A combined acceleration signal derived from the acceleration signal output nodes of the plural sensors is coupled to an acceleration signal input of the controller. The streamer may be towed, and the combined pressure and acceleration signals may be recorded in a computer-readable medium.

A plurality of sensors and a controller are disposed in a marine seismic streamer. Each of the sensors comprises an enclosure having two opposing interior walls, first and second piezoelectric elements disposed on the opposing interior walls, a third piezoelectric element disposed on a flexible substrate within the enclosure between the opposing interior walls, a pressure signal output node and an acceleration signal output node disposed on the exterior surface of the enclosure. A combined pressure signal derived from the pressure signal output nodes of the plural sensors is coupled to a pressure signal input of the controller. A combined acceleration signal derived from the acceleration signal output nodes of the plural sensors is coupled to an acceleration signal input of the controller. The streamer may be towed, and the combined pressure and acceleration signals may be recorded in a computer-readable medium.

The invention relates to a method and system for calibrating a control device, in particular an inverter control device, of an electric motor, comprising operating the electric motor as part of a force flow; performing a force measurement by means of piezo elements which are arranged in the force flow in such a way that the force flow is applied, in particular exclusively, to the piezo elements; and adapting a control characteristic the control device on the basis of at least one force component derived from the force measurement, in particular a change in the at least one force component and/or at least one torque component derived from the force measurement, in particular a change in the torque component.

The invention relates to a method and system for calibrating a control device, in particular an inverter control device, of an electric motor, comprising operating the electric motor as part of a force flow; performing a force measurement by means of piezo elements which are arranged in the force flow in such a way that the force flow is applied, in particular exclusively, to the piezo elements; and adapting a control characteristic the control device on the basis of at least one force component derived from the force measurement, in particular a change in the at least one force component and/or at least one torque component derived from the force measurement, in particular a change in the torque component.