Abstract: A device for attachment to a linear force transmission medium such as a wire or rod includes a flexure body having axially aligned tubular extensions on opposite ends that can receive and be crimped to the medium to create a continuous path for tensile force transmission. The flexure carries strain gages on top and bottom planar surface portions that are connected into a bridge circuit that responds to stress in the flexure body. Leads are protected against disconnection from solder pads by wrapping the leads and a carrier for them around the exterior circumferential surface of a jacket that fits on and around the flexure body. An FPC plug embodiment is disclosed.

Abstract: A load sensor is designed to be mounted on a continuous force-applying medium such as a cable so as to deform according to the force transmitted through the medium. The sensor includes a body having a longitudinal through-passage for the medium and is mechanically secured to the medium only at the opposite ends of the body. A lateral hole provides a strain concentration area with zones that are instrumented with strain gages. The sensor body can be enclosed to provide support for a wrap-around lead carrier.

Abstract: A flexure structure comprising the unitary combination of three modified S-shaped beams arranged in parallel and sharing common top and bottom structures. The outside beams are oriented alike in one direction while the inside or center beam is oriented in the opposite direction. The outside edge surfaces of the beams are flat and are instrumented with strain sensors connected in bridge circuits.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer system for the shaft mounted electronics of a rotary torque signal generating system includes a pair of planar PCB inductors formed by spiral copper traces on the planar surfaces of one or more layers of PCB substrate material. A primary inductor comprising a copper trace on a planar PCB substrate surrounds but is not connected to a steel torque transmission shaft. A secondary PCB trace inductor on another planar substrate is mounted for rotation with the shaft and in coaxial relation with both the shaft and primary inductor substrate so as to be inductively linked therewith.

Abstract: A sensor such as a load cell includes a metal body containing the sensor electronics and flexure elements. Power is brought into the electronics and signals are taken out via header pins arranged in any of various groupings so as to extend through holes in the body. The pins are fixed by means of fused glass or ceramic material and the body is sealed to tolerate harsh environmental conditions.

Abstract: An optical system for wireless data communication between the sensor electronics on a rotary shaft and the fixed data processor is disclosed. A first ring carrying IR LEDs is mounted to rotate with the shaft. A second ring carrying a photodetector is mounted adjacent to the first ring but does not rotate with the shaft. In the disclosed embodiment, both rings have LEDs and a photodetector so data and/or information can be transferred both to and from the shaft.

Abstract: A torque sensing system which includes a torque sensor capable of wirelessly communicating torque and misalignment data to a smartphone or a tablet using a protocol such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology, and wirelessly communicating commands from the smartphone or table back to the torque sensor. The torque sensor electronics include an rf coil for taking power off of a stationary housing to a rotary shaft and one or more accelerometers for indicating misalignments.

Abstract: A capacitive position sensing system has a pickup electrode, a shield electrode partially enclosing the pickup electrode, and an essentially grounded relatively movable target near the pickup electrodes; a capacitance-to-digital converter, and switching means for connecting each electrode in turn to the converter input or to ground. A capacitive position sensing method in the system includes measuring a first capacitance C1 of at least one pickup electrode set with the shield electrode set grounded, measuring a second capacitance C2 of at least one shield electrode set with the pickup electrode set grounded, and measuring a third capacitance C3 of the pickup electrode set and the shield electrode set connected together; and calculating a first result indicating a position of a target using the first capacitance C1, the second capacitance C2 and the third capacitance C3.

Abstract: Torque is transmitted by way of a shaft having an axial groove formed as a keyway therein and a key held in the groove by means of a coin-shaped magnet located in a pocket formed in the floor of the groove. A second element, such as a coupling, is configured to receive the shaft and key therein and has a matching keyway.

Abstract: Two similar incremental sensors, one with 2N+1 spatial periods or pitches over a range of 2R, or N+0.5 pitches over a range of R, and the other with 2N?1 pitches over the range of 2R, or N?0.5 pitches over a range of R, measure a common position along an axis x. Both sensors consist of a scale having spatially periodic features that define the above pitches, and a reading head. An exact absolute position over the maximum range of 2R can be computed from outputs of the two sensors with a resolution about twice that of one sensor. For a reduced absolute range of less than R, computing the correct absolute position becomes simpler and more tolerant of sensor linearity. A preferred embodiment is a compact and linear absolute gauge combining two inductive incremental sensors, replacing current analog LVDT or half-bridge inductive gauges.

Abstract: A pulsed coil drive for a sampled inductive transducer has at least one drive coil connected in a series circuit with a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the negative terminal of a voltage source. The series circuit is normally open during the intervals between pulses. Sampling occurs once per pulse. Each pulse's sampling interval is preceded by a pre-sampling interval and followed by a post-sampling interval. The supply voltage that is applied across the series circuit during both the pre- and post-sampling intervals is applied by switching a first terminal of the coil's free terminal to the voltage source's positive terminal through a p-channel MOSFET. During the sampling interval, the series circuit is shorted by switching the coil's free terminal to the voltage source's negative terminal through an n-channel MOSFET.

Abstract: An inductive position sensor has a spatially periodic scale with a series of conducting or permeable features of pitch T and a reading head with drive windings and sense windings, facing the scale with a spatial period 2T along the scale. The windings are each divided in two identical winding elements,having the same relative location within two identical winding element patterns having a center-to-center distance along the scale of NT+T/2, N being an integer, and connected so that the winding element polarities in each winding are either opposed for drive windings and the same for sense windings or the same for drive windings and opposed for sense windings. Thereby, direct couplings in both patterns cancel each other, while the spatially periodic signals coupled via the scale reinforce each other.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring the moisture and salinity of a material is disclosed herein. The sensor preferably includes a soil moisture circuit, a soil salinity circuit and a probe structure. The soil moisture circuit includes a high frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference capacitor. The soil salinity circuit includes a low frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference resistor. A third voltage meter allows for voltage outputs to be measured to calculate soil moisture and soil salinity values.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring the moisture and salinity of a material is disclosed herein. The sensor preferably includes a soil moisture circuit, a soil salinity circuit and a probe structure. The soil moisture circuit includes a high frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference capacitor. The soil salinity circuit includes a low frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference resistor. A third voltage meter allows for voltage outputs to be measured to calculate soil moisture and soil salinity values.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring the moisture and salinity of a material is disclosed herein. The sensor preferably includes a soil moisture circuit, a soil salinity circuit and a probe structure. The soil moisture circuit includes a high frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference capacitor. The soil salinity circuit includes a low frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference resistor. A third voltage meter allows for voltage outputs to be measured to calculate soil moisture and soil salinity values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell culture chamber (10) having a sterile environment (12) for the culture of cells, a cover (14) for allowing for a transfer of pits and a sensor array.

Abstract: A probe position sensing system for accurately determining a spatial location in a coordinate system of a distal end of a probe assembly. The probe assembly includes an articulated arm having a pair of sections interconnected by a flexible joint and at least one element. The element extends through the joint and is positioned to be subjected to a degree of flexure due to relative displacement of the sections. A flexure of the element induces a change in a physical property associated with the element. An instrument monitors the physical property and derives an angle between adjacent sections from variations of the physical property.