A load cell includes an annular base unit where an axial height of the annular base unit is smaller than a diameter of the annular base unit. The annular base unit has a plurality of mounting portions. A plurality of strain gages are located in the plurality of mounting portions. The annular base unit includes a plurality of sections having a Young's modulus different from the Young's modulus of the material of the base unit.

Provided is a torque sensor which enables the allowable torque and sensitivity of a strain sensor to be independently set, or for which the mechanical strength can be independently set. The torque sensor comprises a first region, a second region, and a plurality of third regions which connect the first and second regions, wherein the torque to be measured is transmitted between the first and second regions through the third regions. A first strain generation part is provided between the first region and the second region, and is equipped with a first resistor. A second strain generation part is provided between the first region and the second region at a location separated from the first strain generation part, and is equipped with a second resistor.

A force measuring system for exercise equipment provided for using in an exercise equipment, the system includes a measured body, a force sensor, a circuit board; a Wheatstone bridge, a data transmission module and a power module disposed on the circuit board; and a receiving device. The power module provides a working power supply. The measured body is connected to the exercise equipment. The force sensor is disposed on the measured body, and the resistance value thereof changes along with a deformation amount of the measured body. The Wheatstone bridge is electrically connected to the force sensor to output a measurement signal. The data transmission module transmits a force taken information to the receiving device, wherein the force taken information is obtained according to the measurement signal.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.

A bicycle (10) includes a frame (25) having a bottom bracket (40), a crankset (35) attached to the bottom bracket (40), a pedal (50) coupled to the crankset (35) and operable to propel the bicycle (10) in response to a force acting on the pedal (50). The bicycle further includes a first bicycle component acted upon by the pedal (50) in response to the force, a second bicycle component coupled and responsive to the first bicycle component, and a power vector sensor (85) coupled to and positioned between the first bicycle component and the second bicycle component, and the power vector sensor (85) includes a sensor element (100) to sense a force transferred from the first bicycle component to the second bicycle component and indicative of the force acting on the pedal (50).

A hydrogen gas sensor utilizing electrically isolated tunneling magnetoresistive stress sensing elements is disclosed. The hydrogen gas sensor comprises: a deformable substrate, a magnetoresistive bridge stress sensor located on the deformable substrate, an electrical isolation layer covering the magnetoresistive bridge stress sensor, a magnetic shielding layer located on the electrical isolation layer, and a hydrogen sensing layer located above the deformable substrate. The hydrogen sensing layer is located in a plane perpendicular to the deformation of the substrate covering the electrical isolation layer. The hydrogen sensing layer is used for absorbing or desorbing hydrogen gas to generate expansion or contraction deformation and cause a stress change of the deformable substrate. The magnetoresistive bridge stress sensor is used for measuring a hydrogen gas concentration utilizing the stress change of the deformable substrate. It results in a hydrogen gas sensor with improved performance.

A drive unit for providing drive from a robot arm to an instrument, the drive unit comprising: a plurality of drive elements for engaging corresponding elements of the instrument, each drive element being movable along a drive axis and the drive axes of each of the drive elements being substantially parallel to each other; and a load cell structure comprising a plurality of deflectable bodies coupled to the drive elements for sensing load on the drive elements parallel to their drive axes, and a frame comprising an integral member supporting the deflectable bodies in such a way as to isolate each deflectable body from load applied to the or each other deflectable body.

A load sensor element includes a substrate made of a ceramic material; an inorganic layer having a surface configured to receive a load, the inorganic layer covers a portion of the substrate; a thin-layer resistance body whose resistance value changes in accordance with the load received by the inorganic layer, the thin-layer resistance body having a main body portion and a pair of end portions, the main body portion mounted on the covered portion of the substrate and sandwiched between the substrate and the inorganic layer, the pair of end portions mounted on an exposed portion of the substrate, and the exposed portion free of the inorganic layer; and a pair of electrodes electrically connected to the pair of end portions of the thin-layer resistance body and separated away from the inorganic layer and on one side of the substrate.