A method for determining an actuating-travel range between two shift-element halves of a form-locking shift element (A, F) during an engagement of the shift element (A, F) and in the presence of a tooth-on-tooth position between the two shift-element halves is provided. An actuating movement of the at least one movable shift-element half with respect to the other shift-element half is monitored by a sensor. A tooth-on-tooth position is detected when it is determined, by the sensor, within an actuating-travel range of the at least one movable shift-element half between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition of the shift element, that the actuating movement of the movable shift-element half in the engagement direction is zero. A ratio between an engagement force applied at the shift element and a radial force acting on the shift-element halves is within a value range, which facilitates a tooth-on-tooth position and an actuating movement of the shift-element half in the engagement direction is detected by the sensor after the reduction of the engagement force and/or after an increase of the applied torque.

An electric bicycle having an electric motor mounted to a frame of the bicycle and which includes a motor output shaft defining an output end engaging a drive chain of the bicycles drive train to transmit the drive of the electric motor thereto. A torque sensor includes a base mounted in fixed relation to the frame and/or the electric motor. The torque sensor has a flexible arm extending from the base and a sensing member mounted to an extremity of the flexible arm that is displaceable relative to the base. The sensing member engages the drive chain along a segment thereof and is displaceable thereby. The segment of the drive chain extends from the output end of the motor output shaft to the pedal crank of the drive train.

A crank apparatus includes a crank arm having at least one cavity on one of the surfaces of the crank arm, at least one thin material layer embedded within the at least one cavity and having an exposed outer surface, and at least one sensing element attached to the outer surface of the thin material layer. The crank arm is manufactured of a material with non-uniform strain characteristics, the thin material layer is manufactured of a material with uniform strain characteristics, the crank arm is adapted to be deformed by a force, the thin material layer is adapted to be deformed correspondingly with the deformation of the crank arm, the at least one sensing element is adapted to measure the corresponding strain of the thin material layer to measure the force applied on the crank arm. A bicycle and a stationary exercise bicycle equipped with the crank apparatus are further provided.

A torque sensor including an annular deformation body disposed so as to surround a circumference of a rotation axis, an exertion support body, a fixing support body, and a detection circuit. The annular deformation body has four coupling parts, and four detection parts positioned between two coupling parts which are adjacent in the circumferential direction of the annular deformation body, the detection parts undergoing elastic deformation by exertion of torque. The detection parts each are formed in a convex shape on one side in a direction along the rotation axis and are formed in a concave shape on the other side in a direction along the rotation axis. The detection circuit outputs electric signals on the basis of elastic deformation undergone to the detection part of the annular deformation body.

A torque sensor including an annular deformation body disposed so as to surround a circumference of a rotation axis, an exertion support body, a fixing support body, and a detection circuit. The annular deformation body has four coupling parts, and four detection parts positioned between two coupling parts which are adjacent in the circumferential direction of the annular deformation body, the detection parts undergoing elastic deformation by exertion of torque. The detection parts each are formed in a convex shape on one side in a direction along the rotation axis and are formed in a concave shape on the other side in a direction along the rotation axis. The detection circuit outputs electric signals on the basis of elastic deformation undergone to the detection part of the annular deformation body.

The invention relates to a torque sensor having a base body (601) which extends in a radial direction (Y) of the base body from an annular inner flange (603) having first force application points (605), via a mechanically weakened sensor portion (607) equipped with measurement transducers (10, 20) which generate output signals, to an annular outer flange (509; 609) having second force application points (611), wherein the mechanically weakened sensor portion (607) comprises radially extending first connecting webs (619a) and second connecting webs (619b), which have different mechanical properties and are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

The invention relates to a torque sensor (1000; 1100) having a base body (1001; 1101) which extends in a radial direction (Y) of the base body from an annular inner flange (1003; 1103) having first force application points (1005; 1105), via a mechanically weakened sensor portion (1007; 1107) equipped with measurement transducers (10, 20) which generate output signals, to an annular outer flange (1009; 1109) having second force application points (1011; 1111), wherein a rubber-elastic sealing membrane (1031; 1131) arranged axially between the outer flange (1009; 1109) and the inner flange (1003; 1103) covers the mechanically weakened sensor portion (1007; 1107) in a fluid-tight manner.

A torque sensor includes a first region, a second region, a plurality of third regions connecting the first and second regions, a first strain generation part and a second strain generation part. The first strain generation part of which a first end is provided on the first region, and of which a first intermediate portion is provided on a second structure. The second strain generation part of which a third end is provided on the first region, of which a second intermediate portion is provided on the second region, and of which a fourth end is provided near a second end of the first strain generation part. A strain body provided with a resistor connects the second end of the first strain generation part and the fourth end of the second strain generation part.

A capacitive sensor for characterizing force or torque includes a first plurality of non-patterned conductive regions and a first plurality of patterned conductive regions, and a second plurality of non-patterned conductive regions and a second plurality of patterned conductive regions. The first and second pluralities of non-patterned conductive regions are facing and the first and second pluralities of patterned conductive regions are facing.

A capacitive sensor for characterizing force or torque includes a first plurality of non-patterned conductive regions and a first plurality of patterned conductive regions, and a second plurality of non-patterned conductive regions and a second plurality of patterned conductive regions. The first and second pluralities of non-patterned conductive regions are facing and the first and second pluralities of patterned conductive regions are facing.