Abstract: A capacitive strain gage assembly (10) for measuring strain in a component (40) includes a housing (12) attachable to the component (40) at a first location (42). The strain gage assembly (10) includes a first target sensor (24,26) and second target sensor (28,30) disposed in the housing (12). The strain gage assembly (10) also includes a sensor member (14) attachable to the component (40) at a second location (44) in movable relation to the housing (12). The sensor member (14) includes a sensor element (32) operable to transmit capacitive signals to the first and second target sensors (24,26,28,30). The sensor element (32) is disposed between the first and second target sensors (24,26,28,30). The strain gage assembly (10) may also be constructed using generally buckle resistant flexible materials for nonplanar strain measurement applications.

Abstract: A capacitive strain gage assembly (10) for measuring strain in a component (40) includes a housing (12) attachable to the component (40) at a first location (42). The strain gage assembly (10) includes a first target sensor (24,26) and second target sensor (28,30) disposed in the housing (12). The strain gage assembly (10) also includes a sensor member (14) attachable to the component (40) at a second location (44) in movable relation to the housing (12). The sensor member (14) includes a sensor element (32) operable to transmit capacitive signals to the first and second target sensors (24,26,28,30). The sensor element (32) is disposed between the first and second target sensors (24,26,28,30). The strain gage assembly (10) may also be constructed using generally buckle resistant flexible materials for nonplanar strain measurement applications.

Abstract: The invention resides in a module used in conjunction with other such modules in an apparatus for rapidly producing an article having a three-dimensional design comprising a base, a plurality of pins mounted on said base and said plurality of pins movable relative thereto, a plurality of drive motors corresponding in number to the number of said plurality of pins and means interconnecting each of said plurality of pins with said base, each said means being connected independently between said base and a corresponding one of said pins. A control means interconnects each of said drive means and a controller with one another to effect selective energization of said drive means.

Abstract: The invention resides in a module used in conjunction with other such modules in an apparatus for rapidly producing an article having a three-dimensional design comprising a base, a plurality of translating members mounted on the base and the plurality of translating members movable relative thereto, the base is an interconnectable block of parallel drivetrain elements having a single input shaft and a series of parallel output shafts at right angles to the input shaft whose power flow to the output shafts is connected/disconnected electrically via electromagnetic clutches.

Abstract: This invention details a computer controlled self adjusting sheet metal forming die which can provide rapid contour changes. It eliminates the need to manufacture, store, and change individual forming dies for forming different contours, and comprises a computer control device which sends appropriately timed signals to translate each contour element so that a three dimension surface is formed by a discrete matrix of individual pins. This self adjusting sheet metal forming die is used on a sheet metal press wherein sheet metal can be formed by pressing or stretch forming the metal against the contoured surface.

Abstract: A sliding scale averaging technique is employed for an analog-to-digital converter. An analog signal is summed with a varying number prior to conversion. This causes repeated input voltage signals of the same value to be converted in different bins of the ADC converter thereby minimizing errors due to unequal bin widths. The present invention includes a comparator technique for ensuring that the summed signal does not exceed the full dynamic range of the ADC.