Abstract: Power stealing circuitry to provide power to a controller for an environmental control system. The power stealing circuitry may include a first circuit, to steal power when a load for a stage is switched off, e.g. de-energized. The power stealing circuitry may include a second circuit, e.g., a power trickle circuit, to steal power when the load is switched on, e.g., energized. The load may include a furnace, electrical heating element, heat pump, humidifier, electrostatic filter, air conditioning unit and so on. In some examples, the environmental control system may have one or many stages, each with a separate load. The controller may include power stealing circuitry for each stage of the environmental control system. In other words, the controller may include a first circuit and a second circuit for each stage of a multi-stage environmental control system.

Abstract: Provided is an elevator device including a main rope configured to support a car and a counterweight, a hoisting machine configured to be driven with the main rope wound therearound, a hoisting-machine controller configured to control the hoisting machine, a car brake controller configured to control a car brake device configured to apply a load to car rails to control raising and lowering of the car, and a vibration detection device configured to detect vibration of the car. When the vibration of the car is detected based on an output signal from the vibration detection device under a running state in which the hoisting-machine controller controls drive of the hoisting machine, the car brake controller controls the car brake device to generate a braking force until the vibration becomes smaller than a set value.

Abstract: Tennis players need multiple playing racquets available for their use, and the mass proportions of each one, needs to match all the others exactly, otherwise players will likely experience degradation in their swing mechanics when unmatched racquet's were used. BOC provides a simplified solution, through comparator testing, which provides a means for mass proportions matching, of 2 tennis racquets or similar swing-able massive implements. Whereby, a Reference massive object/racquet having a perfected swing mass is directly compared to a 2nd massive object/racquet having an imperfect swing mass, that can then be adjusted to match the reference objects perfected swing mass, by placing small metal strips of mass by trial [per our plan] onto the frame/moment of 2nd object. Then finally both tested racquets will become exactly the same perfected swing mass proportions.

Abstract: An end effector base and a finger unit are formed as separate members, and are disposed with a space therebetween. A force sensor is fixed to a finger base of the finger unit, and is disposed with a space between it and the end effector base. Three supporting members are supported by the end effector base, and are configured to be able to be moved by the driving of a driving unit to a position where they support the force sensor and a position where they are separated from the force sensor and support the finger unit.

Abstract: A device and a method determines the position of an object which can be moved in a linear manner. The device includes a contact unit coupled to the object such that the contact unit provides a force signal that is dependent on the position of the object; a force detecting unit for detecting the force signal provided by the contact unit; and an evaluating unit for evaluating the force signal detected by the force detecting unit. The position of the object is ascertained using an evaluation function during the evaluation process, the evaluation function describing a dependence of the force signal on the position of the object.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of interest using a force responsive element comprising, at least in part, a balanced material. The balanced material is temperature insensitive over a specified range of temperatures such that the force responsive element may estimate the parameter of interest by responding to a desired force with relatively little interference due to temperature changes within the specified range of temperatures.

Abstract: A force transducer, in particular a weighing cell, includes a spring body, which deforms under the action of a force or load to be measured, and a sensor that includes two separate sensor parts mounted at different locations of the spring body and that generates a sensor signal which is dependent on the relative position of the sensor parts with respect to each other. In order to improve the adaptation of the sensor to the spring body, one of the sensor parts is attached to the spring body with interposition of an electromechanical actuator and a control device is present, which controls the actuator dependent on the sensor signal in the direction of a reduction in the positional difference of the sensor parts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sealed constant force generation system utilizing a spring system comprising a spring system housing unit, spacers, interchangeable spring load rod and conical spring washers, a puller assembly comprising a puller, pivot assembly, seal system and o-ring, a lever arm system, an adjustment system, a load stopper and fulcrum housing unit. A method for applying the sealed constant force generation system on objects or loads experiencing a specific displacement is also disclosed.

Abstract: The primary application of this force meter is measurement of fluid flow. A force on the force sensor push the force sensor away from the original position. The deviation of the force sensor is detected by a proximity sensor. An electronic unit takes the position signal from the proximity sensor as a feedback. The electronic unit generates electric current to an electromagnetic anti-torque means. The electromagnetic anti-torque means generates an anti-torque on force sensor to prevent the force sensor from moving away from the original position. A display unit measures the electric current and calculates velocity and rate of fluid before displays the results.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for a wheelchair wheel that has a running wheel with a hub and a hand rim includes a running wheel fastening arrangement that is fastened to the running wheel, a hand rim fastening arrangement that is fastened to the hand rim and at least one sensor that detects a movement of the hand rim fastening arrangement relative to the running wheel fastening arrangement. Two restoring elements are provided on the running wheel fastening arrangement and rest against the hand rim arrangement with a prestressing force at least in the zero position. Both restoring elements rest against at least one stop of the running wheel fastening arrangement in the zero position of the sensor arrangement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sealed constant force generation system utilizing a spring system comprising a spring system housing unit, spacers, interchangeable spring load rod and conical spring washers, a puller assembly comprising a puller, pivot assembly, seal system and o-ring, a lever arm system, an adjustment system, a load stopper and fulcrum housing unit. A method for applying the sealed constant force generation system on objects or loads experiencing a specific displacement is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a load test in an elevator installation having an elevator car and a counterweight, which are connected to one another by a supporting device, and a drive brake for halting the elevator car during a downwards journey. The apparatus has a connecting element for fastening to the counterweight, an element with spring properties and a tensioning device for installation in the elevator installation. One point of the tensioning means is fixed to a stationary point of the elevator installation via the element with spring properties. Another point of the tensioning means is connected to the counterweight via the connecting element, wherein the tensioning device includes an actuating device with which to tension the element with spring properties in order to thereby exert a downwardly directed tensile stress on the counterweight.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of interest using a force responsive element comprising, at least in part, a balanced material. The balanced material is temperature insensitive over a specified range of temperatures such that the force responsive element may estimate the parameter of interest by responding to a desired force with relatively little interference due to temperature changes within the specified range of temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring mechanical quantities, in particular for detecting tensile forces, thrust forces and bending deformations, as well as to a method for measuring mechanical quantities and to the use of a device for measuring mechanical quantities.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a lever arm that couples to a pivot point on one end and a display on the other end. The lever arm rotates around the pivot point through a lever arm range of motion, and the weight of the display produces a display torque around the pivot point that varies as the lever arm rotates through the lever arm range of motion. The apparatus also includes a spring that couples to the lever arm using a cable. The spring produces, through the lever arm, a spring torque around the pivot point that is equally opposite of the display torque throughout the lever arm range of motion.

Abstract: Load-measuring transducers utilizing induced-voltage measurement techniques are described. The wiring patterns of such transducers can be configured with a plurality of moveable gauge portions to reduce errors encountered with eccentricities between the transducer gauges, and are preferably configured to reduce interference errors due to wiring patterns thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus is used in sensing a measured input. The apparatus includes a capacitor with a capacitance that varies non-linearly in response to the measured input, and a circuitry that derives, from the capacitance, a signal that varies substantially linearly with the measured input. The capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a gap defined by a space between the electrode. The circuitry includes an amplifier with a first input terminal in electrical communication with the first electrode, a second input terminal, and an output terminal in electrical communication with the second electrode. The capacitance of the capacitor varies as an inverse of the gap of the capacitor, the gap of the capacitor varies in response to changes in the measured input, and the signal is derived from an output of the amplifier.

Abstract: An accelerometer had a movable electrode between two fixed electrodes to form a differential capacitor. Drivers provide AC drive signals to the fixed electrodes. The movable electrode is coupled through reading circuitry to an output terminal. In response to a sensed acceleration, feedback is provided from the output terminal to one or both drivers to null any AC signal on the movable electrode and to keep the electrostatic forces between the movable electrode and each of the fixed electrodes equal.

Abstract: A MEMS sensor packaged with an integrated circuit includes switches and control circuitry. In a test mode, the control circuitry causes the switches to turn off and on such that the first and second capacitance of the MEMS sensor can be monitored individually. During a normal mode of operation, the switches are maintained such that the MEMS sensor packaged with the integrated circuit operates to produce a filtered and trimmed output reflecting the sensed phenomena.

Abstract: A scanning force microscope is provided with a force-feedback sensor to increase sensitivity and stability in determining interfacial forces between a probe and a sample. The sensor utilizes an interferometry technique that uses a collimated light beam directed onto a deflecting member, comprising a common plate suspended above capacitor electrodes situated on a substrate forming an interference cavity with a probe on the side of the common plate opposite the side suspended above capacitor electrodes. The probe interacts with the surface of the sample and the intensity of the reflected beam is measured and used to determine the change in displacement of the probe to the sample and to control the probe distance relative to the surface of the sample.

Abstract: An accelerometer having a micromechanical pendulum, a capacitive pick off and a control loop reset by electrostatic forces and, in a time sequence, applies a resetting voltage between the pendulum and two electrodes spaced apart on opposite sides of the pendulum. The control loop is designed such that, firstly, no charge difference flows via the pendulum and a force of identical magnitude thus acts on both sides of the pendulum. Secondly, when a pendulum deflection occurs in response to a voltage difference, the time durations of the respectively applied voltage pulses are impeded in accordance with the acceleration. The simultaneous control of two components results in the control bias tending essentially to zero. The capability of temporarily switching to detection of the total charge as the control variable also allows control of the scale factor of the accelerometer.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a force applied to an object by a person includes a support upon which the person stands, and one or more force sensors for detecting the reaction force applied through the person to the support resulting from the application of force to the object. A computing accessory may be included for computing the magnitude of the force, and a display for the result or other output devices may also be provided. A method of monitoring force is also disclosed. The apparatus and method may be used to determine the amount of force applied to an infant during delivery. The apparatus and method may also be used for a broad range of applications requiring measurement of applied force.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stand having a parallelogram carrier (2b) and a balancing device, in which, between a support arm (60) that runs substantially horizontally and a basic part (62) that can be braked with respect to a basic body (12), there is arranged at least one measuring unit (64) to measure and absorb the imbalance forces and moments which arise.

Abstract: There is provided a displacement sensor including a moving member composed of a magnetic body; a pair of stators each composed of a magnetic body and arranged opposed to each other with respect to the moving member, the stators including driving coils and position detectors corresponding to the driving coils, respectively; and a control unit for driving, based on a detection output coming from the position detectors, the driving coils with an electric power corresponding to intervals between the moving member and the stators so that the moving member is balanced at an intermediate position between the stators and for computing a force or acceleration applied to the moving member with a driving electric power of the driving coils. A mobile data collecting apparatus utilizing the displacement sensor is also disclosed.