The present application discloses implementations that relate to devices and techniques for sensing position, force, and torque. Devices described herein may include a light emitter, photodetectors, and a curved reflector. The light emitter may project light onto the curved reflector, which may reflect portions of that projected light onto one or more of the photodetectors. Based on the illuminances measured at the photodetectors, the position of the curved reflector may be determined. In some implementations, the curved reflector and the light emitter may be elastically coupled via one or more spring elements; in these implementations, a force vector representing a magnitude and direction of a force applied against the curved reflector may be determined based on the position of the curved reflector.

The present application discloses implementations that relate to devices and techniques for sensing position, force, and torque. Devices described herein may include a light emitter, photodetectors, and a curved reflector. The light emitter may project light onto the curved reflector, which may reflect portions of that projected light onto one or more of the photodetectors. Based on the illuminances measured at the photodetectors, the position of the curved reflector may be determined. In some implementations, the curved reflector and the light emitter may be elastically coupled via one or more spring elements; in these implementations, a force vector representing a magnitude and direction of a force applied against the curved reflector may be determined based on the position of the curved reflector.

A monolithic triaxial dynamometer for machining applications comprising one flexure frame with three flexural arms and three light blocking extensions protruding three different photointerrupter sensors housed in specially designated sensor placement slots situated on the sensor stand, the bottom of which lands on the floor of the external mounting structure, which is aligned and connected with the said top flexure frame using first and third group screw holes, thus bringing together a dynamometer used for force sensing in various industrial applications.

A component has an integrated sensor device for an optical, multi-axis measurement of a force applied to the component. The component includes a cavity and a first support element having one or more first optical elements and a second support element having one or more second optical elements. The first support element and the second support element are formed in the cavity and partially inserted into the component. A transmission device generates at least two beams in independent directions when connected to a power source. The beams pass through the cavity between the first optical elements and the second optical elements. The first optical elements and the second optical elements are adapted to generate information about a relative positional change of the first support element with respect to the second support element based on the at least two beams. The transmission device provides the information for measuring the force application.

A component has an integrated sensor device for an optical, multi-axis measurement of a force applied to the component. The component includes a cavity and a first support element having one or more first optical elements and a second support element having one or more second optical elements. The first support element and the second support element are formed in the cavity and partially inserted into the component. A transmission device generates at least two beams in independent directions when connected to a power source. The beams pass through the cavity between the first optical elements and the second optical elements. The first optical elements and the second optical elements are adapted to generate information about a relative positional change of the first support element with respect to the second support element based on the at least two beams. The transmission device provides the information for measuring the force application.

An electronic device may have an optical touch sensor that is insensitive to the presence of moisture. The display may present images through a display cover layer. A light source may illuminate an external object such as a user's finger when the object contacts a surface of the display cover layer. This creates scattered light that may be detected by an array of light sensors. A metasurface grating may be used to couple light from the light source into the display cover layer at an angle such that total internal reflection within the display cover layer is sustained across the display cover layer even when the display cover layer is immersed in water or otherwise exposed to moisture. Additional metasurface gratings may be formed on the display cover layer to redirect light propagating within the display cover layer away from edges that might otherwise defeat total internal reflection.

A shoe can include a sock liner assembly configured to receive a reflectant panel and a midsole assembly configured to receive an optical sensor. The optical sensor can include an optical source configured to emit a beam directed to the reflectant panel and an optical detector configured to detect a portion of the beam reflected by the reflectant panel. The optical sensor can be configured to measure a relative displacement between the sock liner assembly and the midsole assembly based on a change of the detected portion of the beam caused by the relative displacement.

A method for detecting and measuring a clamping force and/or a braking torque includes encapsulating a fiber-optic strain sensor in a casing and incorporating the casing in a portion of friction material adhering to a base platform of a brake pad, detecting, by the fiber-optic strain sensor, a first strain in a first position of the casing along a first direction and a second strain in a second position of the friction material along a second direction, generating a first photonic signal, representative of the first detected strain, and a second photonic signal, representative of the second detected strain, receiving the first and second photonic signals, by an optical reading/ interrogation unit, optically connected to the fiber-optic strain sensor, determining, by the optical reading/ interrogation unit, the values of the first and second strains based on the first and second received photonic signals and determining a measurement of the clamping force and/or braking torque based on determined values of the first and second strains.

A method for detecting and measuring a clamping force and/or a braking torque includes encapsulating a fiber-optic strain sensor in a casing and incorporating the casing in a portion of friction material adhering to a base platform of a brake pad, detecting, by the fiber-optic strain sensor, a first strain in a first position of the casing along a first direction and a second strain in a second position of the friction material along a second direction, generating a first photonic signal, representative of the first detected strain, and a second photonic signal, representative of the second detected strain, receiving the first and second photonic signals, by an optical reading/ interrogation unit, optically connected to the fiber-optic strain sensor, determining, by the optical reading/ interrogation unit, the values of the first and second strains based on the first and second received photonic signals and determining a measurement of the clamping force and/or braking torque based on determined values of the first and second strains.

A force measuring disc having a planar regular arrangement of force measuring cells. A force measuring cell is formed in a hole in the force measuring disc, in which hole precisely one planar element which is secured by springs in a self-supporting fashion is arranged and is oriented so as to run parallel to the force measuring disc. Each spring is connected in a materially joined fashion at a first end to the edge of a hole and at a second end to the edge of a planar element. The force measuring disc, the springs and the planar elements are formed from the same material. Each planar element can be elastically deflected in three spatial directions under the effect of a force. There is a linear relationship between the deflection and the force. In addition, the invention relates to a device for determining forces in the piconewton to nanonewton ranges.