A strain gauge includes a flexible resin substrate, and a functional layer formed of a metal, an alloy, or a metal compound, on one surface of the substrate. The strain gauge includes a resistor formed as a film containing Cr, CrN, and Cr.sub.2N, on one surface of the functional layer. The strain gauge includes an insulating layer formed of an inorganic material, the resistor being coated with the insulating layer. The strain gauge includes an insulating resin layer formed of an organic material, the insulating layer being coated with the insulating resin layer.

The method allows to monitor a composite material comprising an epoxy resin tilled with electrically conductive nanoparticles, wherein at least one electrical property i.e. impedance of the composite material is influenced by being subjected to a mechanical deformation. The method provides for inserting the composite material in an electric circuit emitting an electric signal whose value depends on the electrical property, so that, when the value of the signal overcomes a given threshold value, a warning message is delivered.

A method and apparatus for sensing strain in a flexible electronic display. In some implementations, a display controller may be coupled to an electronic display panel. The display controller is configured to receive sensor signals from one or more piezoresistive sensors disposed in the electronic display panel, determine an amount of strain in the electronic display panel based on the received sensor signals, determine a bend angle of the electronic display panel based on the determined amount of strain, and update a configuration of the electronic display panel based at least in part on the determined bend angle. In some implementations, the electronic display panel may be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel. In some implementations, the electronic display panel may include a polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) backplane disposed on a flexible substrate, where each of the piezoresistive sensors includes one or more strain gauges formed on the poly-Si backplane.

An apparatus (1) for determining the aging of a battery cell (2), the battery cell (2) having at least one galvanic element (3) for converting chemical energy into electrical energy and a housing (4) which surrounds the galvanic element (3) and has a wall (8) formed at least on one side of the galvanic element (3), comprising at least one length sensor (5) for sensing a length change of the galvanic element (3), the aging of the battery cell (2) being able to be determined via the length change of the galvanic element (3).

A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a bending radius of a flexible pipe. The apparatus includes at least one bend sensor element comprising an elongate flexible substrate and at least one bend sensitive element on the substrate that has at least one electrical characteristic that is responsive to angular displacement of the substrate. The apparatus also comprises a flexible crush resistant elongate housing that supports and surrounds the bend sensor element.

A pressure sensor includes: a pressure sensor element; an adapter integrally attached to the pressure sensor element and defining therein a hole where a pressure of a fluid to be measured is introduced to the pressure sensor element; a fitting member having a housing recess housing the adapter and connectable to a connected member; and a pressing member pressing a valve of the connected member and defining a communicating path through which a flow path where the pressure of the fluid is introduced is in communication with the hole of the adapter. The fitting member is made of a synthetic resin. An O-ring is interposed between a circumferential surface of the adapter and the fitting member. The adapter is a synthetic resin member, and includes a contact portion brought into contact with the adapter and a pressing portion pressing the valve. The pressing member is welded to the fitting member.

Achieving high spatial resolution in contact sensing for robotic manipulation often comes at the price of increased complexity in fabrication and integration. One traditional approach is to fabricate a large number of taxels, each delivering an individual, isolated response to a stimulus. In contrast, proposed sensor includes a continuous volume of soft material, e.g., a piezoresistive elastomer with a number of terminals embedded inside. Piezoresistive effects can be measured between all pairs of terminals in the set, and this rich signal set can contain the information needed to pinpoint contact location with high accuracy using regression algorithms. Submillimeter median accuracy can be demonstrated in locating contact on a 10 mm by 16 mm sensor using only four terminals (creating six unique pairs). In addition to extracting more information from fewer wires, this approach lends itself to simple fabrication methods and makes no assumptions about the underlying geometry, simplifying future integration on robot fingers.

A structural unit for a linear actuator has at least one sensor unit. The sensor unit measures at least one deformation characteristic variable of the structural unit. There is also described a linear actuator with such a structural unit.

In one example a bend sensor is disclosed. The bend sensor extends into a media tray. The bend sensor has a tip where a deflection amount of the tip indicates a media parameter.

A display device including a bending sensor is provided. A display device including a bending sensor may include a flexible substrate including a display area and a bezel area surrounding the display area; and the bending sensor including a curved unit disposed in the bezel area and in which an electric change occurs when the flexible substrate is bent, and a detection unit detecting bending information by sensing the electric change.