A load detection sensor unit 1A includes: a load detection sensor 5 that has a sensor sheet 50 having a pair of resinous insulating sheets 56s and 57s, a first electrode 56e provided on a surface of one insulating sheet 56s, and a second electrode 57e forming a pair with the first electrode 56e, and a metal plate 60 provided in at least a portion overlapping with the first electrode 56e and the second electrode 57e on one surface of the sensor sheet 50; and a pressing member 4 that has a pressing portion 46 disposed on the side of the metal plate 60 opposite to the side of the sensor sheet 50 and pressing the metal plate 60. The pressing portion 46 is harder than the seat cushion SC and the sensor sheet 50 and the metal plate 60 are bonded by an adhesive layer 70.

A compression activated switch includes an electrically conductive contact layer pair formed of a conductive first contact layer for electrically connecting to a power source, and a conductive second contact layer spaced from the first contact layer for connecting to an application, and a resilient layer sandwiched between said first and second contact layers and having at least one resilient layer port; so that weight placed on the switch compresses the resilient layer and thereby advances said first contact layer toward said second contact layer until the first and second contact layers make electrically conductive contact through the at least one resilient layer port, closing the switch. A switch assembly includes multiple compression activated switches arrayed either horizontally or vertically and separated by insulating structures.

A compression activated switch includes an electrically conductive contact layer pair formed of a conductive first contact layer for electrically connecting to a power source, and a conductive second contact layer spaced from the first contact layer for connecting to an application, and a resilient layer sandwiched between said first and second contact layers and having at least one resilient layer port; so that weight placed on the switch compresses the resilient layer and thereby advances said first contact layer toward said second contact layer until the first and second contact layers make electrically conductive contact through the at least one resilient layer port, closing the switch. A switch assembly includes multiple compression activated switches arrayed either horizontally or vertically and separated by insulating structures.

An item monitoring system including a bladder including a body with a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid is described. The system includes an energy generation mechanism connected to the bladder and including a tube equipped with a wire core or surrounded by a wire coil in fluid communication with the bladder, and a magnetic item movably disposed within the tube. The system includes a light source electrically connected to the energy generation mechanism. Displacement of the fluid from the bladder into the tube moves the magnetic item within the tube, thereby generating an electrical current to emit a light from the light source.

A force activated electrical switch including a conductor that is screen printed on a first base and a conductor that is screen printed on a second base. The switch includes a plurality of nodes of dielectric material printed in a spaced apart pattern on at least one of the bases. The first base is positioned over the second base so that when a downward force is applied to the first base, the distance between at least a portion of the conductors decreases. The switch may be employed in a system that includes a controller operatively connected to the conductors. The controller includes a sensing circuit or processor configured to detect the presence of the occupant when the force is great enough to cause the conductors to contact one another, thereby activating the electrical switch.

A pressure sensitive mat is provided. The pressure sensitive mat includes a nanocomposite film, a first conductive foil, an oxide layer interposed between a first side of the nanocomposite film and the first conductive foil, a second conductive foil and a nanotube film interposed between a second side of the nanocomposite film, which is opposite the first side, and the second conductive foil.

The disclosure provides a touch sensor unit. A conductive component is arranged between a pair of electrodes which are arranged inside an insulating tube, and the conductive component includes: a body section, which extends in a longitudinal direction of the insulating tube; and a convex section, which is arranged on an outer circumference of the body section, extends along the longitudinal direction of the body section, and sinks into the pair of electrodes. Short circuit or non-short circuit and so on of the electrodes can be detected by detecting the resistance value of the conductive component. Merely by inserting the conductive component into one end in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes, the pair of electrodes are electrically connected, and only the convex section sinks into the pair of electrodes, therefore the insertion load of the conductive component can be reduced, and the terminal treatment can be simplified.

A sensor assembly comprising first, second and third layers of flexible material forming, when superposed, a pressure-sensitive sensor having at least two sensor cells. The first layer comprises first and second electrically conductive regions mechanically connected to each other via an electrically non-conductive region. The second layer comprises a third electrically conductive region. The third electrically conductive region of the second layer overlaps the first and second electrically conductive regions of the first layer. The region of overlap defines an active region of a first and a second sensor cell. The third layer is formed of a conductive elastic material that cooperates under a local mechanical load in the active region with the first and second conductive regions of the first layer so that an electrical resistance between the electrical conductive regions changes in the place of the compressive load. Furthermore, the sensor assembly comprises a fixation adapted to fix the first and the second layers together. The fixation is arranged outside the active region so that the first and third layers lie unloaded on top of each other in the active region and the surfaces of the first and third layers facing each other are substantially free of a fixation.

A carrier for electrical and/or electronic components is provided, in particular, a printed circuit board, having a broadside for accommodating electrical conductor tracks, and having a narrow side. At least one electrically conductive contact area is provided on the carrier, the contact area, in particular, being used as a fixed contact for an electrical switch. The contact area is arranged on the narrow side.

In one example, we describe a method and system for tables, beds, chairs, cabinets, bags, boxes, or appliances, to find the weight of an object or human conveniently and reliably, using Z-casters. Z-caster is based on Z-numbers, which is a pair of (A,B), where A is the value of the weight (based on and expressed as a Fuzzy parameter/value), and B is the reliability for that (expressed here as a Z-number). The calibration method is also described. Each basic unit has 2 types of sensors: for coarse measurement (just as a switch, with a rough/Fuzzy threshold) and for fine measurement. Many variations, examples, applications, and materials are shown here.