A sensor arrangement for measuring a mechanical loading, comprising a first member to be mechanically loaded; a first sensor component arranged on the first member; a printed circuit board (PCB); a second sensor component arranged on the PCB and spaced from the first sensor component, wherein an output signal of the second sensor component is indicative of the distance between the first and second sensor components; and an electronic component arranged on the PCB and configured to receive the output signal of the second sensor component, wherein the sensor arrangement is configured such that the distance between the first and second sensor components depends on the mechanical loading applied to the first member.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for measuring a force and/or a torque (Mt) on a machine element extending along an axis, using the inverse magnetostrictive effect. The machine element has at least two magnetization areas for magnetization purposes, extending circumferentially around the axis. In addition, there are magnetically neutral areas, each area being arranged axially between the magnetization areas and/or axially next to the magnetization areas. The arrangement further includes at least one first magnetic sensor, a second magnetic sensor and a third magnetic sensor, each of which is designed to individually measure a direction component of a magnetic field caused by the magnetization and also by the force and/or torque (Mt) and each of which lies in a different axial position. According to the invention, the third magnetic sensor lies in an axial position of one of the magnetically neutral areas.

A magnetic load sensor unit (1) is provided which can detect the magnitude of an axial load applied by a linear motion actuator (14) to a friction pad (22). The magnetic load sensor unit (1) includes a magnetic target (4) which generates a magnetic field, and a magnetic sensor (5) designed to move relative to the magnetic target (4) corresponding to the axial load.

A force or pressure sensing device comprises one or more magnets resiliently held spaced from one or more magnetic sensors such that pressure on the device displaces the magnets relative to the magnetic field sensors. The device may be incorporated into an insole of a shoe, or integrated into a shoe, or integrated into a seat, cushion, mattress or saddle. The device includes one or more magnetic focussing elements on the opposite side of the magnetic field sensor from the magnets to focus and condition the magnetic field passing through the sensor. The magnetic focussing elements may be permanent magnets or magnetic materials having a high magnetic permeability such as mu-metals. Additional magnetic focussing elements may be placed adjacent to the magnets. Plural magnetic field sensors can be arranged in a symmetrical arrangement in a plane below the one or more magnets so that shear forces applied to the device causes lateral relative displacement of the magnet and magnetic field sensors changing the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensors. The device can also include a motion detector such as an accelerometer which may be integral with the magnetic field sensor.

A device includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is configured to generate a first signal corresponding to a detected first force. The second sensor is configured to generate a second signal corresponding to a detected second force. The first force and the second force has a substantially common direction. The device includes a processor configured to determine a measure of tension using the first signal and using the second signal. The measure of tension corresponds to displacement of an elongate member.

The present invention provides a sensor having an improved sensitivity and precision, which is lighter and more flexible than conventional sensors, and a method of making the sensor. The present invention relates to a sensor comprising a resin foam containing a magnetic filler, and a magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic change caused by a deformation of the resin foam, wherein the resin foam is a polyurethane resin foam that comprises a polyisocyanate component, an active hydrogen component, a catalyst and a foam stabilizer, and wherein the resin foam has a hardness change (H.sub.1-H.sub.60) of 0 to 10 between a JIS-C hardness (H.sub.1) in one second after contact with a pressure surface of a hardness tester and a JIS-C hardness (H.sub.60) in 60 seconds after the contact.

A magnetic force sensor is capable of measuring a wide range of both compressional and tensional forces, with precision and without any accompanying circuitry. The sensor of the invention has the ability to precisely and accurately measure a wide range of forces in extreme environmental conditions.

To provide a new force sense presenting technique utilizing illusion. A force sense presenting object includes: a first object that includes a first surface which is magnetized with a first texture including an S-pole region and an N-pole region; and a second object that includes a second surface which is magnetized with a second texture including an S-pole region and an N-pole region. An acting subject touches at least either one of the first object and the second object and performs an operation for changing a relative positional relation between the first surface and the second surface or/and an action for changing the relative positional relation between the first surface and the second surface while keeping the first surface and the second surface in contact with or close to each other, and thereby the acting subject perceives bumpiness.

A method for estimating the load of a tire supporting a vehicle includes providing the tire, in which the tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending to a circumferential tread, and the tread includes a plurality of tread blocks. A length of the tire footprint is indicated with a first time interval, and a full rotation of the tire is indicated with a second time interval. The first time interval may be indicated by peaks of an amplitude of a tire-based magnetic sensor signal, and the second time interval may be indicated by peaks of the amplitude of the tire-based magnetic sensor signal or by a linear speed of the vehicle. The load on the tire is determined from a ratio of the first time interval to the second time interval at an inflation pressure of the tire. A tire load estimation system is also provided.

An axial force sensor, a robot gripper and a robot are provided. The axial force sensor includes a sensing diaphragm and at least two signal pairs. The sensing diaphragm includes an inner ring, an outer ring and a connecting element connected between the inner ring and the outer ring. The connecting element is more compliant in a direction of the axial force to be detected than in other loading directions. Each signal pair includes a signal emitter and a signal receiver. The signal emitter is coupled to one of the inner ring and the outer ring. The signal receiver is coupled to the other of the inner ring and the outer ring.