The invention relates to a load cell comprising a spring body having an outer support ring, having an inner force introduction element, and having an annular deformation section via which the support ring and the force introduction element are fixedly connected to one another; a measuring transducer for generating an output signal corresponding to a weight acting on the force introduction element;

and means electrically connected to the measuring transducer that are configured to output the output signal generated by the measuring transducer to external. The means for the external output of the output signal are provided at the force introduction element.

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 force sensing module with vibration feedback is disclosed, comprising: a substrate, a frame and a plurality of magnetic sensors; the substrate is disposed with at least one tactile actuator, and the substrate has a touch operation surface and a mounting surface on opposite sides, the tactile actuator is mounted on the mounting surface; the frame is disposed with at least three buffer spacers, the buffer spacers connect the frame to the substrate; the magnetic sensor includes a magnet and a Hall element, one of the magnet and the Hall element is disposed on the frame, and the other is disposed on the substrate; thereby when a force is applied on the touch operation surface to make the substrate generate an offset, the Hall element outputs a force signal due to the voltage change caused by the approaching magnet, and the signal drives the tactile actuator to generate a vibration feedback.

A dynamic force contactor includes: a magnet that provides a magnetic field; an electrical conductor that provides an electric field perpendicular to the magnetic field, the electric field from the electrical conductor in combination with the magnetic field from the magnet providing a Lorentzian force; an armature disposed proximate to the magnet, the electrical conductor disposed on the armature such that the armature reciprocates in a reciprocating direction relative to the magnet in response to the Lorentzian force and that produces the dynamic force; and a dynamic force mediator in communication with the electrical conductor and the armature such that: the dynamic force mediator monitors an alternating voltage across the electrical conductor; the dynamic force mediator monitors an alternating current through the electrical conductor; and the dynamic force mediator monitors a reciprocation velocity of the armature.

To improve the output signal quality of a load measurement by means of active magnetization, the invention provides a load measurement method for measuring a mechanical load on a test object (14), comprising:

a) generating and applying a magnetic field to the test object (14);
b) detecting a magnetic field changed by the test object (14) as a result of a mechanical load on the test object (14) by means of a first magnetic field detection device (20) to generate a first measurement signal (U1, UAB),
c) detecting a magnetic field changed by the test object (14) as a result of a mechanical load on the test object (14) by means of a second magnetic field detection device (22) to generate a second measurement signal (U1, UAB),
d) computationally determining a third measurement signal (UBT) from the first measurement signal (U1, UAB) and the second measurement signal (U2, UAT), and preferably comprising the steps of
e) forming a difference from one (U2, UAT) of the first and the second measurement signals and the computationally determined third measurement signal (UBT) to produce an output signal,
f) determining the mechanical load applied to the test object (14) based on the output signal.

The invention also provides a corresponding load measurement device for carrying out the load measurement method.

A mobile robot can include a robot body; a drive system supporting the robot body above a floor surface for maneuvering the robot across the floor surface; a bumper frame on a front periphery of the robot body, the bumper frame supported by the robot body; and a bumper impact system comprising: a first sensor at a first orientation with respect to the bumper frame that is configured to generate a first signal in response to a magnitude and a direction of movement of the bumper frame relative to the robot body; a second sensor at a second orientation with respect to the bumper frame that is configured to generate a second signal in response to a magnitude and a direction of movement of the bumper frame relative to the robot body, the second orientation being different from the first orientation; and a processor.

A displacement measurement device includes a first structure, a second structure, and a coupling portion configured to couple the first structure with the second structure. The first structure includes a first sensor configured to generate an electrical signal corresponding to displacement between a first attachment portion of the first structure and a second attachment portion of the second structure in the at least one first direction. The second structure includes a second sensor configured to generate an electrical signal corresponding to displacement between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion in the at least one second direction.

A pneumatic-based tactile sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a tactile sense transmitting pneumatic unit for generating pneumatic pressure by an external load applied to a first side; and a tactile sense receiving sensor unit for measuring the load by transforming a magnitude of pneumatic pressure of the tactile sense transmitting pneumatic unit into a displacement.

The invention relates to a magnetic field sensor (100, 100A, 100B) for components (200) having a preferably cylindrical, conical, prismatic main body (210) or having a free-form main body, wherein at least one first magnetic conductive track (110) and at least one second conductive track (120) are mounted on the main body (210 of the component (200), and the at least second conductive track (120) is arranged at a distancepreferably in the form of a separation layer (300)from the at least first magnetic conductive track (110), wherein at least one exciter magnet is provided and a change in the magnetic flux due to a change in the distance (A) of the at least one first magnetic conductive track (110) from the at least second magnetic conductive track (120) is monitored.