A method of adjusting the parallelism of a surface of a block of optical fibers with a surface of a semiconductor chip or wafer laid on an XY table, including the steps of: a) providing a sensor rigidly attached to the XY table and a handling arm supporting the block, said surface facing the XY table; b) for each of three non-aligned points of the surface of the block, displacing with respect to each other the XY table and the block in the X and/or Y directions to place the sensor opposite the point, and estimating, with the sensor, the distance along the Z direction between the point and the sensor; and c) modifying the orientation of the block by means of the handling arm to provide the desired parallelism.

A device for measuring weight on board may include a sensor mounter coupled to a shackle, a first motor mounted to have a same rotation center as a first rotation center of the shackle being connected to the vehicle body, a second motor mounted to have a same rotation center as a second rotation center of the shackle being connected to an eye of the spring, a first angle sensor rotating by receiving torque of the first motor, and a second angle sensor rotating by receiving torque of the second motor, in which a rotation angle of the shackle about the first rotation center may be measured by the first angle sensor, and a rotation angle of the shackle about the second rotation center may be measured by the second angle sensor, and weight on board may be measured depending on variation of the rotation angle of the shackle.

Force measurement systems and methods are disclosed for accurate real-time measurement of forces. The system is configured to measure force as a function of time. The system may comprise a handheld device capable of measuring a force externally applied to opposing surface regions thereof for the purpose of monitoring or directing isometric exercises for personal wellness. Additionally, the system may be configured to communicate force measurement data to a remote device or server.

A monitoring system for an archery bow is provided. Monitoring devices and methods are also provided.

This invention concerns devices, systems, and methods to induce motion in cantilevers for actuation and sensing applications. Motion is induced by applying current to a ferromagnetic, magnetostrictive cantilever subject to bending stress, and hence strain (deflection), having both elastic and magnetoelastic components. The applied current creates a magnetic field that reorients the magnetoelastic strain component, changing the total strain and thus the total deflection. Changing deflection can be harnessed for actuation or work. Moreover, considering both static and dynamic deflection, measureable parameters that are associated with beam deflection, vibration frequency, and/or amplitude can be measured.

A method and system provide a surgical system including a foot pedal and at least one pressure sensor. The foot pedal has a first axis and a second axis. The first axis and the second axis intersect and are oriented at a nonzero angle. The pressure sensor(s) are coupled with the foot pedal. The pressure sensor(s) sense at least one rotation of the foot pedal around the first axis and the second axis. The pressure sensor(s) provide at least one output based on the rotation(s).

Methods for estimating a force F exerted on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a force sensing touchpad comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising four PCB electrodes and a spring spaced from the PCB and comprising four spring electrodes. Changes in capacitance at two of the PCB electrodes are determined and used to calculate a first local gradient between the two electrodes. Changes in capacitance at the other two PCB electrodes are determined and used to calculate a second local gradient between these two electrodes. The local gradients are used to calculate local forces at each PCB electrode, and the local forces are used to calculate the force F exerted on the touchpad.

Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes a swelling/pressure sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery rack/battery system containing the battery module and prevent charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment. the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide AC frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment. the battery rack includes an internal water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling in the event of a battery cell fire to prevent the spread and/or reigniting of the fire.

A force sensor is suitable for an electrohydraulic hitch control system of an agricultural tractor. The force sensor has an outer cylindrical part with a bore and a measuring rod fixed on one side in the bore. A central section of the cylindrical part is provided as force introduction section. Two outer sections of the cylinder part are removed equally far axially from the center of the force introduction section and are provided as abutment sections. The measuring rod is clamped in an area of the force introduction section.

Methods may include emplacing an emulsion into an annular region of a Taylor-Couette (TC) device; flowing the emulsion through the annular region created by a first annular surface and a second annular surface; contacting one or more shear sensors disposed on a surface of the annular region with the flowing emulsion, wherein contact with the one or more shear sensors generates a signal that scales with shear stress exerted by the flowing emulsion, and determining one or more of wall shear stress from the signal obtained from the one or more shear sensors. Methods may also include determining the apparent viscosity of the fluid composition from the stress measured on the wall of the TC device.