A force sensor for a tendon-actuated mechanism, the force sensor comprising: a body having a through hole for passage of a tendon of the tendon-actuated mechanism therethrough, the body configured to be connected to a part of the tendon-actuated mechanism through which the tendon passes; and a sensor provided on the body to obtain a compression force on the body from the part of the tendon-actuated mechanism through which the tendon passes.

A method of checking belt tension of a belt extending between pulleys includes providing a reference indicator defining a reference position relative to the upper surface of the belt in an undeflected state. A force/probe assembly is provided and is operable to measure a force applied to the distal end. The distal end is positioned on the upper surface of the belt and a force is applied generally perpendicular thereto. The belt may be deflected a predetermined distance, as determined by a change in position of the assembly relative to the reference indicator, and the force is measured, or a force is applied until the force is equal to a predetermined force, and the deflection of the belt is determined by a change in position of the force/probe assembly. The belt tension is determined based on the force and distance during the deflecting step.

A belt sensor system comprising a first IR sensor disposed adjacent to a belt to detect a belt surface proximity and to generate a first signal therefore, a second IR sensor disposed adjacent to a belt to detect a periodic signal from a second belt surface and to generate a second signal therefore, a signal processor operating on the first signal and second signal to calculate a dynamic belt tension, and displaying the dynamic belt tension on a GUI.

A belt sensor system comprising a first IR sensor disposed adjacent to a belt to detect a belt surface proximity and to generate a first signal therefore, a second IR sensor disposed adjacent to a belt to detect a periodic signal from a second belt surface and to generate a second signal therefore, a signal processor operating on the first signal and second signal to calculate a dynamic belt tension, and displaying the dynamic belt tension on a GUI.

An improved method and apparatus for evaluating post-tensioning tendons, where the apparatus uses a positioning head placed directly into the pocket and against the anchor without making contact with the wedges as the apparatus seats on the tendon. From this position the apparatus evaluates the tendon by marking, measuring the tendon, and/or determining its location with increased reliability and precision.

An improved method and apparatus for evaluating post-tensioning tendons, where the apparatus uses a positioning head placed directly into the pocket and against the anchor without making contact with the wedges as the apparatus seats on the tendon. From this position the apparatus evaluates the tendon by marking, measuring the tendon, and/or determining its location with increased reliability and precision.

One aspect of the present invention is a force measurement method including a first acquisition step in which, among data included in time course data indicating a movement trajectory of cargo acquired in a non-invasive manner, first data indicating a temporal change of a position of the cargo during a period in which the displacement of the cargo per unit time is substantially constant is acquired, a fluctuation value calculation step in which, based on a first probability distribution indicating a distribution of a probability that the amount of change at a predetermined position of the cargo per unit time is a predetermined amount, which is a probability distribution based on the first data, a fluctuation value proportional to a force applied to the cargo by motor proteins that transport the cargo is calculated, and a force calculation step in which the force is calculated based on the calculated fluctuation value.

One aspect of the present invention is a force measurement method including a first acquisition step in which, among data included in time course data indicating a movement trajectory of cargo acquired in a non-invasive manner, first data indicating a temporal change of a position of the cargo during a period in which the displacement of the cargo per unit time is substantially constant is acquired, a fluctuation value calculation step in which, based on a first probability distribution indicating a distribution of a probability that the amount of change at a predetermined position of the cargo per unit time is a predetermined amount, which is a probability distribution based on the first data, a fluctuation value proportional to a force applied to the cargo by motor proteins that transport the cargo is calculated, and a force calculation step in which the force is calculated based on the calculated fluctuation value.

A system for performing force sensing with an electromagnetic load may include a signal generator configured to generate a signal for driving an electromagnetic load and a processing subsystem configured to monitor at least one operating parameter of the electromagnetic load and determine a force applied to the electromagnetic load based on a variation of the at least one operating parameter.

A method of monitoring a dicing tape tension is described. The method includes acquiring tension data indicative of the dicing tape tension by automated optical inspection of a dicing tape.