A device and system for monitoring a load or applied force includes a body having first and second ends, a plate, a force-providing member connected to the plate, a first biasing member, and a first sensor. In embodiments the first biasing member is disposed between a portion of the body at or about the first end and a portion of the plate, and is configured to substantially retain the plate in an initial position during normal operation of the device; the first sensor is configured to sense a displacement (e.g., displacement position) with respect to the plate; and the body includes a portion configured to connect to or apply a force to another component. A controller may selectively instruct and/or operate a component, such as a motor, in response to an output generated or provided by the sensor. If an excessive force is sensed, the device may mitigate resulting damage.

A system for generating an electrical signal responsive to a pressure input, a sensory system, and a method for generating an electrical signal responsive to a pressure input. The system comprises a diaphragm configured to be subjected to the pressure input; a microfluidic channel with a first end thereof coupled to the diaphragm such that the pressure input generates a corresponding pressure change in the microfluidic channel; one or more magnets disposed in a carrier liquid in the microfluidic channel; and one or more coils disposed along the microfluidic channel and for generating the electrical signal based on Faraday effect by the magnets moving, under the pressure change in the microfluidic channel, through the respective coils.

A force sensor comprising a contact arrangement for transmitting a contact force to a force sensor assembly. The force sensor assembly comprising a first sensor sensing, and producing an output from, a normal contact force component of the contact force; and a body moveable on transmission of the contact force to the force sensor assembly; and a second sensor for sensing, and producing an output from, a relative displacement of the body relative to the second sensor, the a tri-axis contact force being determined from the relative displacement.

A system and method for creating one or more magnetically conditioned regions on a rotatable shaft or disk-shaped torque sensing element, wherein rotation noise produced by the element due to magnetic field variations is substantially negated, and a system and method for creating one or more magnetically conditioned regions on a rotatable shaft or disk-shaped element to allow the element to function as part of a rotational speed or rotational position sensing device.

A force sensor including: a first part including a detection coil; a second part positioned opposite the first part and including: a ferromagnetic plate translationally movable relative to the first part to move towards the first part when a force is transferred to the sensor and to reduce reluctance of a magnetic circuit formed by the first and second parts in series with a variable gap; and an electronic detection circuit configured to generate a signal dependent on the reluctance of the magnetic circuit. The ferromagnetic plate is formed by an amorphous metal alloy.

A magnetoelastic sensor. The magnetoelastic sensor uses strain-induced magnetic anisotropy to measure the tension or compression present in a plate. During construction, an annular region of the plate is magnetized with a circumferential magnetization. Magnetic field sensors are placed near this magnetized band at locations where the magnetization direction is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the axis of tension. The strain-induced magnetic anisotropy caused by tension or compression then produces a shift in the magnetization direction in the plate regions near the field sensors, thereby causing magnetic field changes which are detected by the magnetic field sensors. The magnetic field sensors are connected to an electronic circuit which outputs a voltage signal which indicates the tension or compression in the plate.

The invention relates to a supporting element as a component of a motor vehicle trailer coupling or other trailer or a load carrier provided for coupling to a motor vehicle trailer coupling, wherein the supporting element (60-63) has at least one sensor (40) for sensing a deformation of the supporting element (60-63) by a load acting on the supporting element (60-63), wherein at least one recess (21, 121) for the at least one sensor (40) is provided on the supporting element (60-63), in the region of a supporting section (31; 331; 731), which deforms during the loading by the load, of the supporting element (60-63), wherein the at least one sensor (40) is provided for measuring a distance from reference areas (25, 26) of the at least one recess (21, 121). There is provision that the supporting element (60-63) is configured as a profiled body (665, 765) with at least two supporting walls (660, 761) which are angled or connected to one another via an arcuate section (769) and which enclose an intermediate space or cavity (664, 764), wherein at least one of the reference areas (25, 26) is provided on a passage opening in the profiled body (665, 765) or on an indicator element (736, 737) which protrudes in front of the profiled body (665, 765), and the reference areas (25, 26) move relative to one another, in particular towards one another or away from one another, during the deformation of the supporting element (60-63).

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.

A high sensitivity force gauge using a magnetic PDL trap system is provided. In one aspect, a force gauge includes: a PDL trap having a pair of dipole line magnets and a diamagnetic rod levitating above the dipole line magnets; an actuator with an extension bar adjacent to the PDL trap; a first object of interest attached to the diamagnetic rod; and a second object of interest attached to the extension bar, wherein the actuator is configured to move the second object of interest toward or away from the PDL trap via the extension bar. A method for force measurement using the present force gauge is also provided.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a film portion, and a first sensor portion. The film portion includes a first film including a plurality of holes. The film portion is deformable. The first sensor portion is fixed to a portion of the film portion. The first sensor portion includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a first intermediate layer. The second magnetic layer is provided between the first film and the first magnetic layer. The first intermediate layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. A direction from at least a portion of the plurality of holes toward the first sensor portion is aligned with a first direction. The first direction is from the first film toward the first sensor portion.