A force sensing device comprises a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer and a pressure sensitive active layer responsive to a mechanical interaction. A force distribution structure is positioned between the first and second conductive layers and extends between a first end and a second end of the first conductive layer. The force distribution structure is configured to expand the contact area between the pressure sensitive active layer and the first conductive layer in response to a force being applied to the force sensing device.

The present invention refers to a bottom bracket load sensor designed to measure the deformation of the end bearings of the bottom bracket as a result of the pedalling force. This sensor requires a special, customized design with deformation sensors arranged to measure the effective force ignoring parasitic forces. It is very important to have a true measurement, among other cases, for the optimization of the performance of electric motors on bicycles.

A microsystem includes a substrate; a main part connected to the substrate via an anchor; a moving part configured to rotate about an axis of rotation O; a first beam connecting the moving part to the main part, the main direction of said first beam being along a first vector e.sub.j1 having as origin the junction of the moving part with the first beam and in the sense of the main part; a second beam connecting the moving part to the main part, the main direction of the second beam being along a second vector e.sub.j2 having as origin the junction of the moving part with the second beam and in the sense of the main part.

Conductive thread stitched stretch sensors are described. The conductive thread stitched stretch sensors include a textile configured to stretch in at least one dimension and a conductive thread having a resistance between a first point and a second point stitched to the textile in a stitch geometry, the stitch geometry configured to stretch the conductive thread as the textile is stretched in the at least one dimension such that the resistance of the conductive thread increases between the first point and the second point due to elongation of the conductive thread as the textile is stretched. Also described are garments including conductive thread stitched stretch sensors and methods for making such sensors.

A thin-film pressure sensor and an arrangement method thereof are provided. The thin-film pressure sensor includes a flat diaphragm and a first induction unit in the shape of a thin film arranged on the flat diaphragm, where the first induction unit includes m rotating multi-segment resistance wires arranged around the center of a circle of a circular deformation area of the flat diaphragm, m/2 rotating multi-segment resistance wires on one side are connected in series to form a second induction resistor, and m/2 rotating multi-segment resistance wires on the other side are connected in series to form a fourth induction resistor, where m is a multiple of 4; the arrangement method includes arrangement for the first induction unit. The radial strain and the tangential strain of the flat diaphragm can be fully utilized, and the detection sensitivity of the thin-film pressure sensor is improved.

An artificial muscle including a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, the housing defining an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, a strain sensor integrated into at least one of the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion of the housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region to deform the strain sensor.

A strain gauge includes a flexible substrate, at least one resistor formed on or above the substrate, and a pair of electrodes formed on or above the substrate, electrodes being electrically coupled to the resistor via lines, respectively. Each of the lines electrically connects an end of the resistor and a given electrode, the end being situated in a width direction of a grid. Each of the lines includes a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer that is formed of a material having a lower resistance than a material of the first metallic layer, the second metallic layer being situated on the first metallic layer.

A measurement device is disclosed for measuring a change in one or more of a circumference or a perimeter of at least a portion of an object having a surface. The measurement device includes a first part for attachment to the object, a second part having a first portion moveable relative to a first portion of the first part, a determining device for determining a displacement of the first portion of the second part relative to the first portion of the first part caused by the object changing, and a biasing device for biasing the first part and the second part towards engagement. The measured displacement is for use in determining the change in one or more of a circumference or a perimeter of the object.

An automated device, in particular a robot, comprises: a movable structure; actuator means, for causing displacements of the movable structure; a control system, which includes a control unit and is able to control the actuator means; and a sensorized covering, which covers at least part of the movable structure and integrates sensor means that include at least one of contact sensor means and proximity sensor means.

The sensorized covering comprises a plurality of covering modules, each having a respective load-bearing structure of a predefined shape associated to which is at least one layer of elastically yielding material. The plurality of covering modules comprises one or more sensorized covering modules, which include respective sensor means. The load-bearing structure of at least some of the covering modules has electrical connector means associated thereto, for enabling separable electrical connection of at least two different covering modules that are adjacent to one another.

A sensor device for a rolling path insert of a track guide can be loaded by rolling bodies and is pressure-sensitive. The sensor device includes at least one tuple, extending in a rolling direction, of a number of sensors, which can each be signal-connected or are signal-connected to an evaluation device, by means of which a relevant difference signal can be determined from sensor signals of sensor pairs of the at least one tuple. The sensor device can be included in a rolling path insert, a guide carriage and a guide rail for a track guide, and a track guide.