A force sensor includes a first member, a second member, an intermediate member, a first elastic structure that couples the first member and the intermediate member, a second elastic structure that couples the second member and the intermediate member, and a displacement detector that measures displacements of the first member and the second member. It is possible to provide a force sensor that has high detection precision and that is compact.

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.

This disclosure relates to a torque sensing system. The torque sensing system comprises a rotatable shaft (102) having a first part and a second part, the shaft comprising a spring structure (122) between the first and second part; a first readout structure (130) connected to the first part, the first readout structure (130) comprising first position indicators, and a second readout structure (132) connected to the second part, the second readout structure (132) comprising second position indicators; a detector system for detecting the first and second position indicators and generating a first detection signal indicating respective passing times for the first position indicators and a second detection signal indicating respective passing times for the second position indicators; and a processor. The processor is configured for determining an angular position of the first readout structure (130) occurring at a particular time instance based on a detected passing time of at least one first position indicator on the first readout structure (130) and on a first relation between angular position of the first readout structure (130) and time around said particular time instance; and determining an angular position of the second readout structure (132) occurring at the particular time instance based on a detected passing time of at least one second position indicator on the second readout structure (132) and optionally based on a second relation between angular position of the second readout structure (132) and time around said particular time instance; and, determining an angle of twist at the particular time instance based on the angular position of the first readout structure (130) and the angular position of the second readout structure (132), the angle of twist being associated with a torque applied to the first and/or second part of the rotatable shaft (102).

The present invention relates, in part, to systems for characterizing force (e.g., friction, wear, and/or torque). In one embodiment, the system allows for wear testing of samples in a high throughput manner. In another embodiment, the system allows for torque sensing in a non-contact manner.

The present invention relates, in part, to systems for characterizing force (e.g., friction, wear, and/or torque). In one embodiment, the system allows for wear testing of samples in a high throughput manner. In another embodiment, the system allows for torque sensing in a non-contact manner.

A dynamic torque sensing device of a thread-on freewheel structure includes a thread-on freewheel sensing body (1), a stationary housing (2) and a sensor (12). The thread-on freewheel sensing body and the stationary housing are rotatable relative to each other, and the sensor is configured to sense a torque of the thread-on freewheel sensing body. The thread-on freewheel sensing body includes a thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively stationary portion (101), a thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively rotating portion (102) and a thread-on freewheel sensing body intermediary portion (103). The thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively stationary portion, the thread-on freewheel sensing body intermediary portion and the thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively rotating portion are sequentially arranged along an axial direction of the thread-on freewheel sensing body. The thread-on freewheel sensing body intermediary portion is configured to connect the thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively stationary portion to the thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively rotating portion.

A dynamic torque sensing device of a thread-on freewheel structure includes a thread-on freewheel sensing body (1), a stationary housing (2) and a sensor (12). The thread-on freewheel sensing body and the stationary housing are rotatable relative to each other, and the sensor is configured to sense a torque of the thread-on freewheel sensing body. The thread-on freewheel sensing body includes a thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively stationary portion (101), a thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively rotating portion (102) and a thread-on freewheel sensing body intermediary portion (103). The thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively stationary portion, the thread-on freewheel sensing body intermediary portion and the thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively rotating portion are sequentially arranged along an axial direction of the thread-on freewheel sensing body. The thread-on freewheel sensing body intermediary portion is configured to connect the thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively stationary portion to the thread-on freewheel sensing body relatively rotating portion.

Systems and methods for measuring displacement parameters of rotating shafts and couplings are disclosed. In some aspects, a measurement system includes a shaft extended in a longitudinal direction and a target wheel configured to rotate with the shaft. The target wheel includes sensor targets circumferentially distributed around the target wheel. Some of the targets are slanted in the longitudinal direction and some of the targets are parallel to the longitudinal direction. The measurement system includes a sensor array including at least three sensors mounted radially around the shaft and configured to detect the sensor targets as the target wheel rotates with the shaft. The measurement system includes a controller configured to receive sensor signals from the sensors and determine, based on the sensor signals, at least an axial displacement measurement of the shaft in the longitudinal direction and a radial displacement measurement of the shaft.

Systems and methods for measuring displacement parameters of rotating shafts and couplings are disclosed. In some aspects, a measurement system includes a shaft extended in a longitudinal direction and a target wheel configured to rotate with the shaft. The target wheel includes sensor targets circumferentially distributed around the target wheel. Some of the targets are slanted in the longitudinal direction and some of the targets are parallel to the longitudinal direction. The measurement system includes a sensor array including at least three sensors mounted radially around the shaft and configured to detect the sensor targets as the target wheel rotates with the shaft. The measurement system includes a controller configured to receive sensor signals from the sensors and determine, based on the sensor signals, at least an axial displacement measurement of the shaft in the longitudinal direction and a radial displacement measurement of the shaft.