A resistive force sensor may be configured with two exposed pads, each exposed pad electrically connected to a terminal. When a force is applied to a force applicator, a conductive pad moves into contact with the exposed pads, thus completing an electrical circuit and providing a precise measurement of the point in time when a user has supplied sufficient force to switch the apparatus from one mode of operation to another. In another implementation, two resistive sensors may be disposed above and below portions of a conductive pad with an elastic member disposed between the two resistive sensors. When a force is applied to the force applicator of the apparatus, a differential resistance may be calculated between the two resistive sensors. Since resistive sensors may experience thermal drift due to changes in environmental temperature conditions, the differential resistance between the two resistive sensors allows a temperature-independent measurement of force.

The described technology provides a force sensor apparatus. An elastic pad may be disposed between two force sensors with a force applicator extending at least partially into the elastic pad. When a force is applied to a force applicator, the force applicator transmits the force to one or both of the force sensors via the elastic pad. In an implementation, the force sensors may be resistive sensors. Since resistive sensors may experience thermal drift due to changes in environmental temperature conditions, the differential resistance between the two resistive sensors allows a temperature-independent measurement of the applied force.

A method and apparatus for configuring a mouse device (102) through pressure detection, and further proposes a corresponding mouse device (102). Pressure detected between the mouse device (102) and an operation surface (104) may be obtained. An operating state corresponding to the pressure may be determined. The mouse device (102) may be configured to the operating state.

Shear force and pressure on a structure are simultaneously monitored using signals received from sensors with antennas on the structure. For example, sensors and systems for monitoring shear force and pressure have applications including ulcer prevention associated with structures including shoes, prosthetics, wheel-chairs, and beds of bed-bound patients.

A method comprising feeding a fuel and an oxidant to individual cells in a fuel cell stack, each having two electrode layers and an electrolyte layer arranged between the electrode layers. The method further includes compressing the cell stack with a clamping device, and detecting a compression pressure upon the cell stack with at least one pressure sensor. The method also includes determining a moisture content of the two electrolyte layers based on the detected compression pressure.

An axial force measurement method includes: a step of calculating an average value of the height of pixels positioned inside a minimum circle, which is centered on a gravity center position of a head, as a minimum point; a step of extracting pixels with a relatively large height from the pixels on the basis of a pixel value of the pixels and calculating an average value of the height of the extracted pixels as a maximum point; a step of calculating a displacement amount of the head on the basis of a difference between the minimum point and the maximum point; and a step of calculating an axial force by substituting the displacement amount of the head into a relational expression of an axial force and the displacement amount of the head.

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.

A force sensor for measuring axially occurring forces in manually operated or pneumatic presses has a central axis and an outer diameter and includes a bolt and a nut that preload between them a piezoelectric force washer with a plug connection. The washer has an inner end face defining a first bore having a first diameter with an internal thread. The bolt defines a throughbore with an internal diameter, a head portion and a hollow shaft defining a frontal external thread extending through the force washer and engaging the nut's internal thread. The nut or the head portion defines a second bore with a second diameter measuring smaller than the shafts internal diameter but at least one quarter of the outer diameter and at least as long as its diameter. The inner wall of the second bore defines a center mount for a sliding fit.

A surgical system includes a disposable force sensor pod that includes a load cell and a mounting feature. The surgical system also includes a computing system configured to be placed in electronic communication with the disposable force sensor pod and receive a force measurement from the disposable force sensor pod. The disposable force sensor pod is configured to be removeably coupled to a distraction device using the mounting feature.

A device for measuring the straightness of a rod-like work piece includes a support for the rod-like work piece. The support has multiple sections, each of which has a support surface. At least one force sensor is provided to measure the force applied by the work piece onto the support surface in a direction that extends essentially transverse to gravitational acceleration.