Systems and methods for providing low-power sensing, identification, and sweep detection for items on a sensor mat are provided. Item detection sensors are provided in grid on a sensor mat. A first subset of the item detection sensors are sensed at a first time, and a second subset of the item detection sensors are sensed at a second time. The item detection sensors of the first and second subsets are chosen such that they span the surface of the sensor mat, and so that the sensors of the chosen subsets include all of the sensors of the mat after multiple sensing steps have been completed.

A strain gauge includes a flexible resin substrate and a resistor formed of a film that includes Cr, CrN, and Cr.sub.2N, the resistor being situated on or above the substrate. A film thickness of the resistor is greater than or equal to 100 nm and less than or equal to 700 nm.

An integrated circuit is described herein that includes a semiconductor substrate. First and second piezoresistive sensors are on or in the substrate where each have a respective sensing axis extending in first and second directions respectively parallel with a surface of the substrate, where the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. A third piezoresistive sensor is on or in the substrate and has a respective sensing axis extending in a third direction parallel with the surface of the substrate and neither parallel nor perpendicular to the first and second directions.

A method for determining the state of at least one sensor whose mechanical behaviour is nonlinear as a function of the amplitude of the pressure exerted against the sensor, the sensor and an electromechanical transducer being able to be coupled to a support, the method comprising the steps of: applying an electrical signal at a first amplitude to the terminals of the first electromechanical transducer, and determining a first set of values of a parameter characteristic of the electrical impedance of the first electromechanical transducer in response to the application of the electrical signal; applying the electrical signal at a second amplitude to the terminals of the first electromechanical transducer, and determining a second set of values of the parameter characteristic of the impedance; measuring a deviation between the first set of values and the second set of values; determining a state of the sensor as a function of the deviation between the first set of values and the second set of values.

Resistive and capacitive force sensor including an element having first and second electrodes, wherein the element is configured such that, when an external force is applied, intrinsic capacitance of the electrodes and intrinsic resistance between the electrodes change as a function of a magnitude of the external force; a first unit connected to the electrodes and configured to determine an intrinsic electrical capacitance C(t) of the second electrode; a second unit connected to the electrodes and configured to determine an electrical resistance R(t) between the electrodes; an evaluation unit configured to determine magnitude |F(t)| of force F(t) applied externally to the element as a function of a mean value of the determined intrinsic capacitance C(t) in a time interval and as a function of a mean value of the determined resistance R(t) in the time interval; and an output unit configured to output the determined magnitude |F(t)| of force F(t).

Embodiments generally relate to an addressing circuit for a conductor array comprising intersecting row and column conductors. The addressing circuit comprises a switching circuit configured to selectively address an intersection between a selected row conductor and a selected column conductor for connection to a measuring circuit; and at least one voltage buffer selectively connectable to un-selected column conductors on opposite sides of and adjacent to the selected column conductor. The at least one voltage buffer is configured to equalise voltages between the un-selected column conductors and the selected column conductor.

A load detection apparatus includes a load input portion having a input surface, and an output surface; a flexure element including on annular portion including a contacting portion configured to make contact with at least a part of the output surface, and a support portion; a set of sensors disposed on a reverse surface opposite to a surface provided with the contacting portion in the annular portion, each of the set of sensors being configured to detect distortion corresponding to an input load; a set of calculation portions configured to calculate a set of magnitudes of the load by use of respective detection results obtained by the set of sensors; and an abnormality determination portion configured to determine whether the set of sensors and the set of calculation portions have no abnormality, by comparing the set of magnitudes of the load with each other.

A system is for detecting a location of a touch input on a surface of a propagating medium. The system includes a transmitter coupled to the propagating medium and configured to emit a signal. The signal has been allowed to propagate through the propagating medium and the location of the touch input on the surface of the propagating medium is detected at least in part by detecting an effect of the touch input on the signal that has been allowed to propagate through the propagating medium. The system includes a piezoresistive sensor coupled to the propagating medium. The piezoresistive sensor is configured to at least detect a force, pressure, or applied strain of the touch input on the propagating medium.

Systems and methods for evaluating the performance of an athlete using a strain gauge is described. In some embodiments, the measurement system comprises a strain gauge and a central processing device. The strain gauge can include a power source, an inertial measurement unit (“IMU”) comprising a load cell, a microcontroller, and a wireless communication module. The strain gauge can be configured to output strain data at a rate of at least 1kHz and the central processing device can be configured to receive the strain data transmitted from the wireless communication module.

A mass measurement device comprises a force sensor, a hose, a base part, an article-holding part, and a computation unit. The force sensor has a fixed end and a free end, and outputs a sensing signal in accordance with the magnitude of a force in a sensitivity direction. The hose is configured to pass suctioned air through it. The fixed end is fixed to the base part. The article-holding part is fixed to the free end, one end of the hose is connected to the article-holding part, and the article-holding part holds an article by air suction. The computation unit computes the mass of the article based on the sensing signal.