A force sensor has a sensing system including a target piece and a sensing element, configured to provide changes of a magnetic field, being generated by motion of the target piece. The sensing element senses these changes and provides a signal representative of the position of the target piece. An integrated circuit with processing means can process signals from the sensing element. A semiconductor package includes at least the integrated circuit. A flexible piece includes the target, and it is attached to the semiconductor package. The attachment area between the flexible piece and the semiconductor package does not extend beyond the top projection, or outline, of the semiconductor package. The flexible piece receives a force stimulus, so that upon exerting a force on the flexible piece, the displacement of the target piece with respect to the surface of the semiconductor package can be sensed by the sensing element.

[Object] To provide an electronic balance configured to uses a non-contact sensor to perform a predetermined operation, in which a greater number of operations than the number of non-contact sensors can be performed.

[Means for solving problem] An electronic balance (1) includes: a non-contact sensor (31; 32) configured to detect an object; a state identifier (306) configured to identify a time pattern of a detection signal of the non-contact sensor (31; 32) as one of a plurality of previously defined time patterns; and an operation controller (30; 303; 304; 305) configured to control an operation of a predetermined section of the electronic balance (1) related to the time pattern identified by the state identifier.

[Object] To provide an electronic balance configured to uses a non-contact sensor to perform a predetermined operation, in which a greater number of operations than the number of non-contact sensors can be performed.

[Means for solving problem] An electronic balance (1) includes: a non-contact sensor (31; 32) configured to detect an object; a state identifier (306) configured to identify a time pattern of a detection signal of the non-contact sensor (31; 32) as one of a plurality of previously defined time patterns; and an operation controller (30; 303; 304; 305) configured to control an operation of a predetermined section of the electronic balance (1) related to the time pattern identified by the state identifier.

A method for manufacturing a weighing system (10) includes, first, modeling a blank that includes a base (12) having at least one wall (26) and a lever (20) hinged to the base (12) via thin-section joints (14) and secured to the base (12) via material bridges. The lever (20) has a lever portion adjacent to the wall (26), wherein the wall (26) and the lever portion adjacent to the wall are each provided with an aperture (32, 34), and wherein the apertures (32, 34) are both aligned with each other. The manufacturing method further includes thereafter cutting open the material bridges. Before the material bridges are cut open, however, a fixing bolt (36) is pushed into the apertures (32, 34) in such a way that it engages positively in the apertures (32, 34) during the cutting open of the material bridges.

A method for manufacturing a weighing system (10) includes, first, modeling a blank that includes a base (12) having at least one wall (26) and a lever (20) hinged to the base (12) via thin-section joints (14) and secured to the base (12) via material bridges. The lever (20) has a lever portion adjacent to the wall (26), wherein the wall (26) and the lever portion adjacent to the wall are each provided with an aperture (32, 34), and wherein the apertures (32, 34) are both aligned with each other. The manufacturing method further includes thereafter cutting open the material bridges. Before the material bridges are cut open, however, a fixing bolt (36) is pushed into the apertures (32, 34) in such a way that it engages positively in the apertures (32, 34) during the cutting open of the material bridges.

Provided is an electronic balance that enables a user to recognize the magnitude of disturbances in real time. An electronic balance (1) whose natural frequency is known, includes a load measurement mechanism (4) configured to detect weighing data (Zn), and an arithmetic processing unit (8) configured to perform arithmetic processing by using the weighing data (Zn), wherein the arithmetic processing unit (8) extracts a vibration component (Fr) of the natural frequency from the weighing data (Zn) detected by the load measurement mechanism (4) and displays the vibration component (Fr) of the natural frequency. By using the vibration component (Fr) of the natural frequency as an index of disturbances, it becomes possible to recognize in real time the magnitude of the disturbances during weighing.

Provided is an electronic balance that enables a user to recognize the magnitude of disturbances in real time. An electronic balance (1) whose natural frequency is known, includes a load measurement mechanism (4) configured to detect weighing data (Zn), and an arithmetic processing unit (8) configured to perform arithmetic processing by using the weighing data (Zn), wherein the arithmetic processing unit (8) extracts a vibration component (Fr) of the natural frequency from the weighing data (Zn) detected by the load measurement mechanism (4) and displays the vibration component (Fr) of the natural frequency. By using the vibration component (Fr) of the natural frequency as an index of disturbances, it becomes possible to recognize in real time the magnitude of the disturbances during weighing.

A vehicle load metering device, which is provided with a displacement sensing module, a signal processing/transfer-ring module and a signal receiving/processing module, wherein the displacement sensing module is provided with a plurality of displacement sensors combined with various elastic support devices of a vehicle suspension system respectively; various displacement sensors are combined with two support plates of a corresponding elastic support device, so as to sense the displacement amount of both upper and lower ends of the two support plates of the corresponding elastic support device; the signal processing/transferring module processes and transfers the displacement amount measured by the various displacement sensors of the displacement sensing module; and the signal receiving/processing module receives a signal and provides same to a vehicle load metering device which can be conveniently installed on a vehicle and accurately measure vehicle loads.

A vehicle load metering device, which is provided with a displacement sensing module, a signal processing/transfer-ring module and a signal receiving/processing module, wherein the displacement sensing module is provided with a plurality of displacement sensors combined with various elastic support devices of a vehicle suspension system respectively; various displacement sensors are combined with two support plates of a corresponding elastic support device, so as to sense the displacement amount of both upper and lower ends of the two support plates of the corresponding elastic support device; the signal processing/transferring module processes and transfers the displacement amount measured by the various displacement sensors of the displacement sensing module; and the signal receiving/processing module receives a signal and provides same to a vehicle load metering device which can be conveniently installed on a vehicle and accurately measure vehicle loads.

The force-transmitting mechanism (400) includes a parallel-motion guide mechanism with a movable parallel leg (440), a stationary parallel leg, and at least two parallel-guiding members (450), wherein the parallel legs and the parallel-guiding members are connected to each other by flexure pivots and the movable parallel leg is constrained to the stationary parallel leg in guided mobility by the parallel-guiding members. The force-transmitting mechanism further includes a force-transmitting lever (480) which is pivotally supported on a fulcrum pivot (490) arranged on the stationary parallel leg, with a first lever arm (481) having a force-transmitting connection to the movable parallel leg by way of a coupling member (470), and a second lever arm (482) to which a measurement transducer (410) can be attached through a force-transmitting connection. The second lever arm includes a first partial lever arm (482A) and a second partial lever arm (482B), wherein the first partial lever arm is designed to receive the compensation force generated by the measurement transducer, and the second partial lever arm is designed for the detection of a displacement of the pivotally supported force-transmitting lever relative to a null reference of a position sensor (420).