Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a manual force that uses a pad that simulates human or animal body tissue and a sensor configured to receive the force. The pad can have the shape of a body part and can have different materials that have different hardnesses. The apparatus can have interchangeable pads and identify individual users for training purposes, such as for training massage therapists. The apparatus can indicate whether an applied force is within a predetermined range. Also a method of defining a standard or protocol for training and/or performing touch manipulations by applying a range force to one or more persons with an algometer and establishing a protocol based on data obtained from biosensors attached to the person in order to determine which forces produce a desired effect, such as a reflexive, mechanical, or relaxation effect. The apparatus can then be used to train a provider on how to follow the standard or protocol.

Abstract: A magnetoelastic sensor is provided for analyzing strain induced by a force causing mechanical deformation of a region of a substrate. The sensor includes a substrate that has a non-deformable region and a mechanically deformable region, the mechanically deformable region coupled to the non-deformable region by a linking structure. The sensor also has a transformer having a magnetic flux guide. The flux guide includes a magnetoelastic section having a magnetoelastic subsection configured to be strainable by deformation of the mechanically deformable region. In transformer embodiments, one or more drive coil and/or pickup coil has a width greater than the minimal width of the linking structure. Sensor embodiments include numerous configurations. The sensor is useful in methods for analyzing strain and force.

Abstract: A battery module containing a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to one another in series or in parallel, two contact surfaces (14a, 14b) for the purposes of tapping off a module voltage of the battery module (10) and at least one bolted joint device (22) for the purposes of fixing a component (12), in particular a current-conducting component, of the battery module (10), wherein the at least one bolted joint device (22) is provided with a sensor (26) for the purposes of determining a preload force applied to the bolted joint device (22).

Abstract: In the related art, no consideration is given to a configuration of a deformation detecting device, an installation place or an installation method for the measurement target.

Abstract: A system with binary coding in a textile structure can include a textile sensor that senses a property and that has a yarn pattern. A binary code can be associated with the yarn pattern. When the textile sensor senses the property, the property alters relative positions of yarns in the yarn pattern, causing the associated binary code to change. A particular change in the binary code represents a defined value of the property. As a result, a second textile sensor having a second yarn pattern can be designed based on the unique binary codes of the first textile sensor measurements, such that the second textile sensor provides predictable responses to different property values.

Abstract: A sensor includes a first support portion, a second support portion, an incremental encoder, a magnetic-flux generating source, and a magnetoelectric transducer. The incremental encoder includes a scale supported by the first support portion and a head supported by the second support portion. The magnetic-flux generating source is supported by one of the first support portion and the second support portion. The magnetoelectric transducer is supported by another of the first support portion and the second support portion.

Abstract: A stretchable circuit board includes a stretchable substrate, a stretchable conducting film placed on one surface of the stretchable substrate and elongated in a first direction, an electric element placed on the one surface of the stretchable substrate, and a covering portion that covers a part of the stretchable conducting film and at least a part of the electric element, wherein, when an area of a first section as a section along an outer circumference of the covering portion in the stretchable conducting film is referred to as a first area and an area of a second section as a section of the stretchable conducting film orthogonal to the first direction in a location apart from the outer circumference of the covering portion toward outside is referred to as a second area, the first area is larger than the second area.

Abstract: A sensor device includes: a base having a recess; a force detecting element which is provided in the recess, and includes at least one piezoelectric element that outputs a signal in accordance with an external force; an adhesive which is provided between the force detecting element and a bottom surface of the recess; at least one electrode provided in the force detecting element; at least one terminal provided in the base; and at least one conductive paste which electrically connects the electrode and the terminal to each other, in which the conductive paste has a part that overlaps the adhesive when viewed from a direction in which the force detecting element and the bottom surface overlap each other, and in which the force detecting element overlaps the bottom surface when viewed from the direction in which the force detecting element and the bottom surface overlap each other.

Abstract: A device and system for monitoring a load or applied force includes a body having first and second ends, a plate, a force-providing member connected to the plate, a first biasing member, and a first sensor. In embodiments the first biasing member is disposed between a portion of the body at or about the first end and a portion of the plate, and is configured to substantially retain the plate in an initial position during normal operation of the device; the first sensor is configured to sense a displacement (e.g., displacement position) with respect to the plate; and the body includes a portion configured to connect to or apply a force to another component. A controller may selectively instruct and/or operate a component, such as a motor, in response to an output generated or provided by the sensor. If an excessive force is sensed, the device may mitigate resulting damage.

Abstract: A force acting on a link is detected at low cost. Provided is a rotation-shaft joint structure including: a driving-force generating part including a fixed member that is fixed to a base member, and a movable member that is rotationally driven about a predetermined axis relative to the fixed member; a link member that is fixed to the movable member of the driving-force generating part; and a uniaxial strain sensor that is attached to the link member or the movable member, at a surface located in a space between a fixed area over which the link member is fixed to the movable member and the outer circumferential surface of the driving-force generating part about the axis, to detect the strain of the surface.

Abstract: Methods of characterizing ion-exchanged chemically strengthened glass containing lithium are disclosed. The methods allow for performing quality control of the stress profile in chemically strengthened Li-containing glasses having a surface stress spike produced in a potassium-containing salt, especially in a salt having both potassium and sodium. The method allows the measurement of the surface compression and the depth of the spike, and its contribution to the center tension, as well as the compression at the bottom of the spike, and the total center tension and calculation of the stress at the knee where the spike and the deep region of the stress profile intersect. The measurements are for a commercially important profile that is near-parabolic in shape in most of the interior of the substrate apart from the spike.

Abstract: The present application discloses a pressure detection structure and a terminal device. The pressure detection structure includes a cover, a display screen, a pressure sensor and a middle frame, the display screen and the cover being sequentially stacked in the middle frame from bottom to top; wherein: the pressure sensor is fixed to the display screen; the display screen includes a lower glass layer, an LED light emitting layer and an upper glass layer which are sequentially stacked from bottom to top; and the pressure sensor is positioned beneath the lower glass layer. Thus, the tolerance to be controlled mainly lies in the thickness of the gap layer inside the display screen, and the flatness of the pressure sensor. Hence, the assembling tolerance is reduced, and the stability, reliability and consistency of pressure detection by the terminal device are improved.

Abstract: A wheel telemetry system providing a set of riding information to a rider, while riding a bicycle, by measuring the acceleration of the wheel(s) of the bicycle with respect to one or more of the x-, y-, or z-axes is disclosed. The system features a wheel-mounted portion and a control unit in wireless communication. The wheel-mounted portion is attached to one or both bicycle wheels and comprises an accelerometer, pressure sensor, and/or temperature sensor as well as a programmable microcontroller. The accelerometer monitors the movement of the wheel(s) in one or more of the x-, y-, and z-planes. Accelerometer data, (and optionally the tire pressure data and/or the temperature data), is transmitted to the control unit for monitoring and/or data logging. Movement of a previously motionless bicycle may also be used to trigger an alarm when the control unit is not detected within a predetermined distance from the bicycle.