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 sensor sheet includes unit sensor sheets configured to detect a physical property value at multiple points on a sensor layer, each unit sensor sheet including a first substrate, and an electrode layer and the sensor layer sequentially formed on one side of the first substrate; and a wiring substrate to which the unit sensor sheets are configured to be coupled, the wiring substrate including a second substrate, and a plurality of wirings provided on one side of the second substrate. One side of the wiring substrate and one side of each unit sensor sheet are facing each other. A conductive bonding member configured to electrically couple each unit sensor sheet and the wiring substrate with each other, is included between the electrode layer of each unit sensor sheet and at least one of the wirings of the wiring substrate.

A robotic force/torque (FT) sensor restricts the conduction of heat, generated by an attached tool, through the FT sensor body to a radial direction. Heat from the tool is channeled to the center of the FT sensor body by a thermally conductive member. Additionally, heat from the tool is insulated from portions of the FT sensor body other than its center by a thermally insulating member. Transducers, such as strain gages attached to the surfaces of deformable beams, are disposed at a substantially equal distance from the center of the FT sensor body. Accordingly, as heat conducts through the FT sensor body from the center radially outwardly, all transducers experience substantially equal thermal load at any given time. Embodiments of the present invention substantially eliminate thermal gradients across groups of transducers that are wired in differential circuit topologies, such as half-bridge or quarter-bridge, enhancing the ability of such circuits to reject a common-mode signal component caused by thermal changes to the FT sensor body or the transducers themselves. Elimination of thermal gradients in the FT sensor body, other than one in the radial direction, enhances the effectiveness of known temperature compensation techniques.

The present disclosure provides a transparent and highly sensitive pressure sensor with improved linearity and pressure sensitivity including: a first substrate on which a micropattern having pyramidal structures is formed; a first electrode layer coated on the micropattern of the first substrate; a second substrate stacked on the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer stacked on the second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate show a difference in light refractive index of 10% or less in the visible light region.

In a particular embodiment, a force sensor apparatus is disclosed that includes a sensor housing and a sensing assembly. In this particular embodiment, the sensing assembly includes a force-compliant element having a center portion and an outer portion; one or more sensing elements coupled to the center portion of the force-compliant element; and a flexible spring element having an outer diameter and a center portion. According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible spring element curves from the outer diameter to the center portion of the flexible spring element and the center portion of the flexible spring element is aligned with the center portion of the force-compliant element. In this embodiment, the outer diameter is separated from a ledge of the outer portion of the force-compliant element by a space.

In a particular embodiment, a force sensor apparatus is disclosed that includes a sensor housing and a sensing assembly. In this particular embodiment, the sensing assembly includes a force-compliant element having a center portion and an outer portion; one or more sensing elements coupled to the center portion of the force-compliant element; and a flexible spring element having an outer diameter and a center portion. According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible spring element curves from the outer diameter to the center portion of the flexible spring element and the center portion of the flexible spring element is aligned with the center portion of the force-compliant element. In this embodiment, the outer diameter is separated from a ledge of the outer portion of the force-compliant element by a space.

A force gauge includes a housing, comprising a first and a second plate elements. The gauge further comprises a foil-based sensor element to output an electric signal in response to a force exerted on the sensor element in a thickness direction (T) or in a direction of force application (F), at least one spring element arranged to provide a counter force in T or F and having a defined spring characteristic, and at least one abut element to limit a maximum compression of the sensor element in T or F. The sensor element, the spring element and the abut element are sandwiched between inner sides of the first and the second plate elements and, together, at least partly define a signal characteristic of the force gauge within an operational range with a lower limit (L2) and an upper limit (L1).

A force gauge includes a housing, comprising a first and a second plate elements. The gauge further comprises a foil-based sensor element to output an electric signal in response to a force exerted on the sensor element in a thickness direction (T) or in a direction of force application (F), at least one spring element arranged to provide a counter force in T or F and having a defined spring characteristic, and at least one abut element to limit a maximum compression of the sensor element in T or F. The sensor element, the spring element and the abut element are sandwiched between inner sides of the first and the second plate elements and, together, at least partly define a signal characteristic of the force gauge within an operational range with a lower limit (L2) and an upper limit (L1).

An adhesive strain sensing pod includes at least one strain sensor, electronics for electrically sensing at least one strain signal from the at least one strain sensor, and a sensor adhesive for adhering the strain sensor to a surface of a structural element. The pod may have a protective case for protecting the strain sensor and the electronics and for transferring at least part of a force, pressing the pod against the surface, to press the strain sensor against the surface. The sensor adhesive may be a liquid adhesive contained in a fragile pouch that ruptures when the pod is forced against the surface, or may be a thermally activated adhesive film that is activated to bond the strain sensor to the surface. A protective film may protect the sensor adhesive prior to installation of the pod and is removed prior to installation of the pod on the surface.