A low-cost sensor and apparatus comprising same, and a system for measuring force, comprising an end-effector having a first end and a second end on opposing sides of the end-effector; a first sensor located at the first end of the end-effector; and a second sensor located at the second end of the end-effector.

A force transducer is disclosed, which is arranged in such a way that, when a force is applied to the force transducer, two output signals from the force transducer are generated, which output signals are representative of the force components in a first plane and in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, respectively, whereas force components in a third plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane do not affect the output signals from the force transducer. Furthermore, a measuring device is disclosed, comprising a handle comprising such a force transducer and a base unit, to which the handle is attached. Even further, a system for measuring muscle stiffness is disclosed, comprising a measuring unit and a processing unit, the measuring unit comprising such a measuring device.

A method of monitoring the health of an aircraft propeller whilst the propeller is in operation, the propeller having a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from hub arms of a propeller hub, which in turn extend radially outwardly from a central axis extending through the propeller and a propeller drive shaft, is provided. The method comprises obtaining measurements representative of the strain in each of at least some of the hub arms using strain sensors, each of the strain sensors being provided on a respective hub arm. A corresponding propeller health monitoring system, an aircraft propeller comprising the system and an aircraft comprising the propeller are also provided.

An electronic device includes a cover window defining a front surface of the electronic device; a first sensor provided under the cover window and configured to detect a pressure applied to the cover window; a second sensor provided on a same layer as the first sensor and configured to detect the pressure applied to the cover window; a first adhesive member provided on at least one area under the second sensor, wherein the second sensor is less deformed than the first sensor by the pressure applied to the cover window provided by the first adhesive member; and a processor configured to: acquire a first pressure change amount detected by the first sensor and a second pressure change amount detected by the second sensor; and detect the pressure applied to the cover window based on the first pressure change amount and the second pressure change amount.

A sensor may include a bladder, and a deformable conductor disposed on the bladder such that deformation of the bladder causes deformation of the deformable conductor, wherein the bladder is constrained so as to enhance the deformation of the conductor in response to the deformation of the bladder. A method may include applying a stimulus to a bladder having a deformable conductor attached thereto, detecting a change in an electrical characteristic associated with the deformable conductor in response to the stimulus, and selectively constraining the bladder to amplify the change in electrical characteristic in response to the stimulus.

A system for measuring a load lifted by a lifting machine includes a winch with a rope wound onto a drum, the drum being rotatable to wind and unwind the rope affixed to the load to lift and lower the load, end supports affixing the drum to the lifting machine, and at least one strain gauge affixed to the end supports and measuring a strain applied to the end supports by the load on the rope.

The present invention provides a pressure detection circuit including an oscillator unit, configured to output an oscillation signal as a count clock signal of a counter unit; and the counter unit, connected to the oscillator unit and configured to acquire a frequency of the oscillation signal and count. The pressure detection circuit further includes a comparator unit, connected to the counter unit, and configured to detect a voltage variation obtained by a pressure conversion, and send a signal to control the counter unit to count or stop counting; a voltage converter unit, connected to one input terminal of the comparator unit, and configured to supply a fixed or variable comparable voltage to the comparator unit; a constant current source charging unit, connected to the other input terminal of the comparator unit, and configured to supply a linearly and gradually increased comparison voltage to the comparator unit; a charge/discharge control unit, connected to the constant current source charging unit, and configured to control the constant current source charging unit to charge or discharge, such that the comparable voltage output by the voltage converter unit is compared to cause an output terminal of the comparator unit to enable counting of the counter unit; wherein the oscillator unit or the voltage converter unit further includes a pressure acquiring unit, as a component of the voltage converter unit or the oscillator unit, configured to convert a pressure into a variation of the comparable voltage or the frequency of the oscillation signal. The invention also provides a pressure input device pressure detection device. The invention has the technical effects of high sensitivity and resolution, power saving, and wide applicability.

A force sensor comprising a beam having a longitudinal center axis and a neutral axis that extends along a beam surface parallel to the center axis. A first half-bridge includes tension resistors. A second half-bridge includes tension resistors. A third half-bridge includes compression resistors. A fourth half-bridge includes compression resistors. The half-bridges are arranged on the beam surface such that redundant measurements of orthogonal components of a force imparted to the beam can be made using four different combinations of three of the half-bridges. The redundant measurements can be used to identify a malfunction of one or more of the resistors.

The invention relates to a device, which can be mounted on the rear end of a motor vehicle body, for coupling a trailer or a load carrier unit, comprising a holding arm, which at a first end is fixedly connected to the motor vehicle body during operation and which, at a second end, is configured to support a coupling element, wherein the holding arm is provided with a sensor arrangement with at least three deformation sensors, and wherein the at least three deformation sensors deliver sensor values, on the basis of which at least one force component is determined by means of an evaluation unit.

Cracks in foundations may be detected by sensing motion within the foundation. Sensors may be applied to a foundation, and the positions of the sensors may be read. At subsequent points in time the positions of the sensors may be read again. If the positions of the sensors are changing in a way that suggests that portions of the foundation are moving apart from each other, then it may be inferred that a crack is forming in the foundation. The formation of cracks may be used to take various actions. For example, the owner of the building that rests on the foundation may be information of the crack so that he or she may take remedial action.