An apparatus for measuring strain in a polished rod of a beam pump unit includes a body having an upper wide section, a lower wide section, and a narrow section having a reduced width in comparison to each of the upper and lower wide sections. A bore is formed in the narrow section. The apparatus also includes at least two connectors configured to connect the body to the rod. The bore is positioned between the two connectors in a direction that is parallel to an axis of the rod. The apparatus further includes a strain gauge positioned in the bore, so as to measure strain in the rod between the two points of connection.

Provided are structurally-reconfigurable, optical metasurfaces constructed by, for example, integrating a plasmonic lattice array in the gap between a pair of microbodies that serve to locally amplify the strain created on an elastomeric substrate by an external mechanical stimulus. The spatial arrangement and therefore the optical response of the plasmonic lattice array is reversible.

A bicycle power meter includes a strain gauge, a signal processing unit, a processor, and a signal transmitter. The strain gauge is disposed on at least one of an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall of a handlebar of a bicycle. The signal processing unit connected to the strain gauge by signal correspondingly outputs an electrical signal based on a deformation of the handlebar detected by the strain gauge. The processor connected to the signal processing unit by signal receives the electrical signal sent by the signal processing unit and calculates a measuring value based on the electrical signal and sends the measuring value in an output signal. The signal transmitter connected to the processor by signal receives the output signal sent by the processor and converts the output signal to a wired or wireless signal and sends the wired or wireless signal to a terminal device.

A sensor and a preparation method thereof are provided, the sensor includes a sensor substrate, functional cuts, crack-arrest holes, a patterned electrode, wires, an adhesive layer, and release paper. The preparation method includes following steps, preparing the sensor substrate and sticking the adhesive layer on the sensor substrate; then sticking the release paper on the adhesive layer; obtaining the functional cuts by laser cutting or blanking process; pasting a metal mask on a surface of the sensor substrate; depositing a material of the patterned electrode into a gap of the metal mask; removing the metal mask after a solvent of the liquid is volatilized; leading out the wires from patterned electrode pins; obtaining the sensor eventually. The sensor has advantages such as controllable adhesion, small size, light weight, sensitive sensing and simple manufacturing. The sensors are arrayable and suitable for sticking and sensing of large deformation and complex surfaces.

A sensor and a preparation method thereof are provided, the sensor includes a sensor substrate, functional cuts, crack-arrest holes, a patterned electrode, wires, an adhesive layer, and release paper. The preparation method includes following steps, preparing the sensor substrate and sticking the adhesive layer on the sensor substrate; then sticking the release paper on the adhesive layer; obtaining the functional cuts by laser cutting or blanking process; pasting a metal mask on a surface of the sensor substrate; depositing a material of the patterned electrode into a gap of the metal mask; removing the metal mask after a solvent of the liquid is volatilized; leading out the wires from patterned electrode pins; obtaining the sensor eventually. The sensor has advantages such as controllable adhesion, small size, light weight, sensitive sensing and simple manufacturing. The sensors are arrayable and suitable for sticking and sensing of large deformation and complex surfaces.

A strain gauge includes a flexible substrate and a functional layer formed of a metal, an alloy, or a metal compound, the functional layer being directly on one surface of the substrate. The strain gauge includes a resistor formed of a film that includes Cr, CrN, and Cr.sub.2N and that is formed with α-Cr as a main component. The functional layer includes a function of promoting crystal growth of α-Cr and forming an α-Cr based film.

A supramolecular conductive polymer composition comprising; a polymer comprising repeating subunits comprising at least one functional group, for forming a part in a hydrogen bond, selected from alcohol, amine, ether, amide, carboxylic acid, ester, ketone, nitrile, aldehyde and carbamide; a polyphenol comprising a minimum of 12 aromatic hydroxyl groups; a solvent with a dielectric constant of at least 20; and an electrically conductive filler.

An instrumented, load-sensing washer that can be used on a bolted joint to facilitate determining an axial clamping load of the bolted joint. The washer includes an annular washer body having first and second oppositely disposed axial ends and an outer circumferential sidewall. At least one strain gauge is provided on the circumferential sidewall and is configured to sense a deformation of the washer body do to clamping forces of the bolted joint. The washer further includes a communication assembly operatively coupled with the at least one strain gauge. The communication assembly may include an integrated circuit adapted to receive electrical signals from the at least one strain gauge related to the axial load borne by the washer.

The invention relates to a touch surface comprising: a carrier substrate (510, 610) comprising 2 opposite faces (511, 512) one (511) of the faces being exposed to touch; and comprising on the face (512) opposite the face (511) exposed to touch, a combined proximity and force sensor (300) comprising: an insulating substrate (210); —conductive tracks (221, 222) deposited on said substrate (210) and configured to produce a capacitive sensor; a force sensor (230) consisting of an assembly of conductive nanoparticles in colloidal suspension in an electrically insulating ligand; a protective layer (310) covering the conductive tracks and the nanoparticle assembly.

The invention also relates to a method for detecting and measuring the force applied by a touch against such a touch surface.

A strain gauge includes: a substrate; a transverse sensitive grid arranged on the substrate; and at least two non-transverse sensitive grids arranged on the substrate so as to be located on opposite sides of the transverse sensitive grid both electrically connected to the transverse sensitive grid. The two non-transverse sensitive grids are connected to each other by a connection and share a common ground lead and a common ground interface. One end of the ground lead is connected to the connection at the middle thereof. The other end of the ground lead is connected to the ground interface. The two non-transverse sensitive grids have equal resistances and are connected to ends of two respective non-ground leads having equal resistances. The other ends of the two non-ground leads are connected to two respective non-ground interfaces.