Abstract: A force sensor apparatus includes a vibrating beam and first and second isolator mass members that supports ends of the vibrating beam. The first and second isolator mass members are configured symmetrically relative to an axis that intersects the vibrating beam at an angle other than 90 degrees. First and second end mounts connect respectively to the first and second isolator mass members. Each isolator mass member has a center of gravity. Each isolator mass member is shaped so that it can be massive (e.g., along the x-axis direction) while at the same time having its center of gravity at an optimal location so that undesirable beam forces and moments that would otherwise transfer vibrating beam energy to the end mounts are cancelled.

Abstract: A sensor to reduce the loads due to different thermal expansions between a chip containing the sensing element, said chip preferably consisting of silicon, and the housing, typically made of steel, which can falsify the measuring results. The chip includes central and lateral fixations, which are mechanically decoupled from each other and are arranged on that end of the sensing element where the force application occurs.

Abstract: A vehicle weight classification system recognizes the various factors that influence system performance. Some of the factors are compensated for using analog signal processing circuitry or techniques. Other factors are compensated for using digital signal processing techniques. The unique combination of analog and digital approaches, rather than pure analog or pure digital, provides an effective solution at addressing the various factors that influence signals and system performance in a vehicle weight classification system while keeping the cost and complexity of the system within acceptable limits.

Abstract: A mechanical/electrical transducer which has a bridge circuit formed by electrically connecting strain-sensitive thick-film resistors by conductor tracks, the thick-film resistors being arranged directly on a metallic component to be subjected mechanically to torsional loading and lying outside an axis of the component to be loaded which is neutral with respect to bending moments, it being possible to tap an electrical signal corresponding to the strain of the thick-film resistors when the component is subjected to torsion.

Abstract: A load detection structure in a vehicle seat with a support leg member, which includes a rigid yet resilient block member having a pivotal end portion, a thin intermediate portion, and a securing portion in which pin (s) is/are provided, and a strain gauge attached to the thin intermediate portion of block member. The support leg member has at least one first hole formed in the bottom wall thereof and two second holes formed in the respective two vertical walls thereof. The block member is arranged between the seat and support leg member, such that the securing portion thereof of is fixed via one end of the pin (s) to the seat, with another end of the pin (s) extending through the at least one first hole, while the pivotal end portion of block member is rotatably connected with the support leg member by fitting two flanged collars in the two second holes, respectively, and then inserting a pivot pin through those two flanged collars and second holes.

Abstract: A path-measuring device for measuring a path covered by a moving object deflectable along a direction has at least a first component associated with the moving object and a stationary second component. The components are coupled with one another for converting a motion and/or deflection of the moving object into an electrical signal. Moreover, the path-measuring device has an evaluating device for converting the electrical signal into motion and/or position information.

Abstract: A load detection structure for a vehicle seat provided with a pair of spaced-apart slide rail devices, wherein a strain block element with a strain gauge is provided on a lateral wall of an upper rail of each of the two slide rail devices. A vertically elongated hole is formed in that lateral wall. The strain block element has a movable end portion and a securing portion fixedly secured to the upper rail lateral wall. A pair of spaced-apart pendent link pieces are provided between the seat and the strain block element, such that the movable end portion of strain block element is connected with the seat via those two spaced-apart pendent link pieces and a connecting pin that passes slidably through the vertically elongated hole, so that the strain block element is delectable in substantially a vertical direction within the vertical limit range defined by the vertically elongated hole.

Abstract: A load cell comprising a load carrying structural framework is arranged with at least one measuring zone (15, 16) arranged with a measuring means. A load F applied in the x-direction parallel to two outer beams (1, 4) of the framework is transferred to two inner beams (2, 3) by two side beams (5, 6). The load on the measuring zones (15, 16) is greater than the load applied parallel to outer beams (1, 4) in a ratio of the distance b between the joints of the two outer beams divided by the distance d between the joints of the two inner beams. When a load is applied in the y-direction parallel to the two side beams (5, 6), the load on the measuring zones is also greater than the load applied at the side beams, in this case by a ratio of the distance l between the joints (7 and 11), (10 and 14) divided by distance d.

Abstract: A force sensing mechanism. The mechanism is provided with a beam having a stationary portion. A housing accommodates a portion of a device coupled to an afterloader and is coupled to the beam. A force sensor coupled to the beam monitors a force of the device. An afterloader system includes a processor and a cartridge to house the force sensing mechanism. In a method, the force sensing mechanism is provided to which a portion of a device coupled to an afterloader is coupled. A device force of the device is monitored.

Abstract: A low cost strain gage load cell made without compromising accuracy and stability by a composite structure using a sensing element formed of a load cell quality material, such as metal or a metal alloy, and adjoining non-sensing elements formed of a molded plastic material. Stable and secure joints between the load cell sensing element and the plastic non-sensing element of such a load cell are provided using various structures and related structural manufacturing methods. For example, non-sensing elements, such as a mounting block to mount the load cell to a base support and a load application block to receive a load platform, are formed of an injection molded plastic and sensing elements, such as first and second parallel beams of a load cell quality metal alloy, have ends embedded in the injected molded plastic non-sensing elements. The composite load cell structure is applicable to many different types of load cell designs.

Abstract: To provide a diagnostic method of a seat load measuring apparatus for detecting an abnormality of the seat load measuring apparatus, outputs of load sensors 1R, 1L are inputted into a differential amplifier 4 through a multiplexer 3, converted into digital signals by a A/D converter 5, and then inputted into the MPU 6. An offset correction amount is added into the input of the differential amplifier 3 from the MPU 6 through a D/A converter 10. First, the output of the differential amplifier 4 is measured in a state in which no load is applied to a seat and a value thus measured is assumed as X1. After a predetermined load is applied to the seat, the output of the differential amplifier 4 is measured and a value thus measured is assumed as Y1. It is judged that a difference between X1 and Y1 is in a predetermined range between A1 and B1. When the difference between X1 and Y1 is not in the range between A1 and B1, an alarm indicating abnormality is emitted.

Abstract: A load cell comprising a load carrying structural framework is arranged with two measuring zones (20, 21) where a measuring means is arranged on each. A load applied to two parallel outer beams (10, 11) of the framework is transferred to a third parallel measuring beam (17) arranged with a measuring zone (20) by connecting beams (12, 13). The connecting beams (12, 13) make an angle &agr; to the long axis of the measuring beam (17). The load on the measuring zone (20) is greater than the applied load on outer beams (10, 11) in proportion to the angle &agr;. A preferred embodiment of the load cell comprises a membrane (34) joining each measuring zone (20, 21). In a load cell according to a preferred embodiment of the invention measuring zones (20, 21) are defined by passageways (43-48) and slits (35-38) running from one side of the load cell to the other in the z-direction. A load to be measured is applied in the y-direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a foil strain gauge having a plurality of sensing portions and a plurality of turnup tabs that are connected to each other through respective turnup portions, each turnup portion having an inner side defining a curve with a curvature that changes continuously and gradually.

Abstract: A load cell 1 includes a strain body 2, a bridge circuit and a coating film 10. The bridge circuit is formed of a strain gauge 7 arranged on the strain body 2. The coating film 10 is formed on the strain body 2, covers at least a portion of the strain body 2 attached to a member made of a metal material dissimilar to the strain body and a strain occurring portion of the strain body 2 except for a portion to be attached to the strain gauge 7, includes a coating layer made of resin having a glass transition temperature of 40° C. or more, and has an electrical insulating property.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat with integrated occupation detector is featured having an upper frame, which supports seat upholstery or a seat shell, and a lower frame, which is secured in the vehicle, and mechanical mounting elements to support the upper frame in the lower frame. The mounting elements are designed in such a way that they are deformed elastically under the weight of a seat user, the occupation detector comprising at least one measuring pick-up, which measures the elastic deformation of the mounting elements.

Abstract: A transducer which enables the force experienced by a simple force sensor to be converted into an electrical signal which is then capable of being used as a measure of the degree of force experienced by an object to which the sensor is attached. Preferably force sensitive resistors fabricated as thick film resistors which are printed and then fired onto an electrically insulated substrate material which by its construction are used to form a force sensing device and the force is applied to the force sensitive resistors via a force transmitting member which is shaped to only apply force to the force sensitive resistors and not to fixed value resistors which are co-located on the force sensing device. In this way the force sensitive resistors and the fixed value resistors can be interconnected to give an optimum configuration of electrical measurement circuit such as a Wheatstone's bridge circuit.

Abstract: A load cell assembly for use in measuring the level of a liquid in an airplane waste tank includes a lower member, a spherical bearing placed in the lower member, an upper member, in contact with the spherical bearing, and a fastener to couple the lower member, spherical bearing and upper member together, the lower member having pockets formed therein and including a strain gauge device within each of the pockets.

Abstract: A weight sensing system is provided for use with a seat disposed within an occupant compartment of the vehicle. The weight sensing system includes a sensing mechanism positioned on a seat frame of the seat for measuring a strain on the seat frame due to a seated occupant weight.

Abstract: A weight sensing system is provided for use with a seat disposed within an occupant compartment of the vehicle. The weight sensing system includes a sensing mechanism positioned on a seat frame of the seat for measuring a strain on the seat frame due to a seated occupant weight.

Abstract: A platform scale (10) includes a signal processor (22) operable to perform statistical analyzes such as least squares or other mathematical analyzes such as successive approximation of the load signals from the respective load cells (14) supporting a platform (12) in order to produce load position correction factors used in determining the weight of a load on the scale (10).

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the force applied to a thin-line towed array having a towed array hose formed as part of a thin-line towed array. Coupling components divide the interior of the towed array hose into compartments. Axial tension measurement devices are located within one compartment, and bend measurement devices are located in another compartment. These measurement devices are electrically connected to a digitization and encoding module which is in turn connected to a processing device for providing measurements of the forces on the array.

Abstract: A deflection sensing system for detecting deflection includes one or more deflection sensors between opposing sets of extensions. When one set of extensions is moved toward an opposing set of extensions, the deflection sensors are deflected. A preferred deflection sensor is a flexible potentiometer, which has a resistance that changes as the flexible potentiometer is deflected A flexible potentiometer includes a variable resistance material on a substrate. In a preferred system, the flexible potentiometer includes a cantilevered section, which is deflected about an extension with respect to the remainder of the flexible potentiometer, or with respect to a portion of the substrate not including the variable resistance material. A flexible potentiometer experiences less stress when in cantilevered form than when stretched between two extensions. In either case, the extensions may be joined to first and second corrugated plates.

Abstract: Disclosed in an apparatus for measuring positively-sensed force of an electrical connector, comprising: a base plate; at least one L-shaped pads, the two L-shaped pads being each affixed to the base plate at an upper end thereof in such an arrangement that ends thereof oppose each other; an elastically deformable sheet provided between the two L-shaped pads, the elastically deformable sheet being affixed to the base plate and formed with a projective measuring region at end thereof; and at least one strain gauge inertly affixed to the elastically deformable sheet, the strain gauge beingconnected to a signal transmitting device that outputs strain value of the strain gauge to a signal amplifying device for display purpose in response to deformation of the elastically deformable sheet.

Abstract: The cost of machining a shear beam load cell can be greatly reduced by cutting pockets for the central web with a side cutting tool, such as a Woodruff Cutter or a Key Cutter tool, in a vertical spindle milling machine, so all machining can be done with one single setup. The thickness of a web formed by side cutting tools will increase slowly and gradually with distance from the center of the web, which means that there will be no abrupt shear stress changes near the strain gages. The disclosed shear beam load cell is accordingly not only less expensive to make, but also inherently more accurate than prior art shear beam load cells.