Abstract: An apparatus includes a flexible substrate; at least one sensor mounted on the flexible substrate arranged to provide an electrical output signal dependent upon a first parameter; and at least one conductive trace provided on the flexible substrate arranged to provide a direct current path to the at least one sensor and having an electrical property dependent upon a second parameter and arranged to provide an electrical output signal indicative of the second parameter.

Abstract: A torque measuring device includes: a magnetostrictive sensor having a ring-shaped holder arranged around a magnetostrictively affected section of a rotating shaft, a detecting section embedded in the holder and that changing a voltage according to a change in magnetic permeability of the magnetostrictively affected section; and a sensor-side engaging section; and a fixed member having a fixed-side engaging section, the fixed member not rotating even during operation. One of the sensor-side engaging portion and the fixed-side engaging section is a convex section and the other is a concave section. With the sensor-side engaging section and the fixed-side engaging section engaged with a concave-convex engagement, shifting of the position of the magnetostrictive sensor in the direction of rotation and the radial direction with respect to the substrate is prevented.

Abstract: A Fatigue Performance Test induces a traffic analogous, 60 cycle, stress-strain environment into a road pavement cross section through a rolling cyclic fatigue platform. Data from the encounter dynamic reveals where strain build-up is occurring well before external, visually detectable evidence of fatigue failure is present in the pavement sample from cracks or permanent deformation. Responsive tuning of the embedded, sensor firmware establishes a baseline status for the sample whereupon incoming data gathered during the stress-strain encounter dynamic reveals details of fatigue build-up.

Abstract: A falling-over detection device is mounted on a motorcycle. The falling-over detection device includes an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration at an interval decided by an interval adjusting device, a threshold value determining device that determines whether or not a detected angle is larger than a predetermined threshold value, a counting device that counts the number of times it is determined that the detected angle is larger than the threshold value, and a falling-over determining device that determines that the motorcycle has fallen over in a case where the count is successive a predetermined number of times. The interval adjusting device uses a pulse generated based on white noise as an interval, and therefore noise does not successively affect a value detected by the acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A sensor chip includes a substrate, first supporting portions, a second supporting portion around which the first support portions are disposed, the second supporting portion being disposed at a center of the substrate, first detecting beams each connecting the first supporting portions, which are mutually adjacent, second detecting beams disposed in parallel with the first detecting beams between the first detecting beams and the second supporting portion, force points disposed in the first detecting beams so as to be applied with force, and a plurality of strain detecting elements disposed a predetermined positions of the first detecting beams and the second detecting beams, wherein the plurality of strain detecting elements includes a first detecting portion having a strain detecting element capable of detecting force in a first direction, and a second detecting portion having a strain detecting element disposed at a position symmetric relative to the first detecting portion.

Abstract: A method is provided for increasing accuracy in measuring complex Young's modulus and complex shear modulus of a material using a processing system. The material is tested to obtain an experimental frequency response transfer function of normal displacement to input force. A model panel is developed in the processing system as a modeled frequency response transfer function. The modeled transfer function is used at a range of fixed frequencies to calculate displacements of the model panel divided by the input force while varying material parameters. The modeled frequency response transfer function is compared with the experimental frequency response transfer function to compute error function values. These values indicate the most accurate material property values as those minimizing the computed error function values.

Abstract: A crushing system for large-size natural gas hydrate rock samples, which mainly includes a crushing and stirring control subsystem, crushing and stirring execution subsystem and hydrate preparation subsystem. Full automatic control to parameter acquisition and experimental process is achieved by utilizing modern automation technology, including the function of automatically crushing the large-size natural gas hydrate rock samples and also monitoring, collecting and storing the drilling pressure, the torque and the internal furnace pressure and temperature parameters during the crushing process in real time, to provide reliable guarantee for the follow-up researches on crushing mechanism, crushing efficiency, drilling parameter optimization, rock crushing ability evaluation of a crushing tool and the like of the large-size natural gas hydrate rock samples and necessary experimental verification means for optimization of on-site exploiting construction conditions of natural gas hydrate.

Abstract: A force sensor comprising a beam having a longitudinal axis and a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a first Wheatstone bridge disposed on a first face of the beam, including multiple tension gauge resistors and multiple compression gauge resistors; a second Wheatstone bridge disposed on the first face of the beam, including multiple tension gauge resistors and multiple compression gauge resistors; wherein at least one tension gauge resistor and at least one compression gauge resistor from each of the first and second Wheatstone bridges is disposed at a proximal end portion of the beam; wherein at least one tension gauge resistor and at least one compression gauge resistor from each of the first and second Wheatstone bridges is disposed at a distal end portion of the beam.

Abstract: A multiplexed inductive tactile sensor for measuring location and force of contact with an external object includes sense and drive electronics and an array of sensels, each having a drive coil inductively coupled with a sense coil. The array has rows and columns of sensels. Drive coils in each column are electrically connected in series and driven by an AC constant current source through an analog demultiplexer. All sense coils in each row are electrically connected in series and the induced AC voltage across the row is fed to an AC amplifier through an analog multiplexer. The amplified AC voltage is then fed to the amplitude demodulator to generate a DC signal that is dependent on the inductive coupling factor between drive coil and sense coil of a sensel that is selected by being the intersection of the active current drive column and sense row. A first deformable conductive shield layer may be disposed adjacent to a first compressible dielectric layer disposed on first side of a PCB.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining a tension of an anchor embedded in a dam are described. A dynamic impulse response of the dam is empirically obtained in such that a portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response is dominated by a dynamic behavior of the anchor. Furthermore, a set of modeled impulse responses that map to a set of tension values for the anchor are obtained. Next, a closest matching modeled impulse response from the set of modeled impulse responses that is a closest match to the portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response that is dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor is determined. Finally, a tension value from the set of tension values is selected, which is the closest match to the portion of the dynamic impulse response dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor. As such, the tension value of the anchor can be determined.

Abstract: A flexible stress sensing device is provided, which includes a flexible cloth substrate, a flexible stress sensor and textile knots configured to fix the flexible stress sensor on the flexible cloth substrate. The flexible stress sensor includes two conductive fiber bundles, wherein each of the conductive fiber bundles is provided with a loose structure, and the loose structures of two conductive fiber bundles contact with each other and form a stress sensing unit. The flexible stress sensing device can be washable, is not easy to fall off, and can resist against motion interference, and has other advantages of high resolution, high sensitivity and a compatibility with the prior textile techniques.

Abstract: A strain gauge includes a flexible substrate, and a plurality of resistors each formed of a Cr composite film, on or above the substrate. The substrate is attached to a flexure element, the plurality of resistors including two resistors disposed at locations at which the two resistors are opposite to each other, such that the flexure element is interposed between the two resistors.

Abstract: A resistance sensing apparatus for exercise equipment includes a resistance adjusting assembly and a sensing unit. The resistance adjusting assembly includes an adjusting unit, a tubular member disposed above the adjusting unit, and an adjusting shaft mounted in the tubular member. The adjusting shaft has a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion formed thereon. The adjusting unit is threaded onto the first threaded portion. The sensing unit includes a second threaded member threadedly engaged to the second threaded portion, a first sensing member is disposed on one of the adjusting unit and the second threaded member, the second sensing member is disposed on the other of the adjusting unit and the second threaded member. By adjusting the adjusting unit and the second threaded member, a distance of the first and the second sensing member is changed and generates corresponding signals.

Abstract: An indicator clip for use with a retention mechanism. The indicator clip includes a body with a channel that is configured to accept a strap from the retention mechanism, and further including at least one extension that is configured to deflect when a force is applied to the retention mechanism. The indicator clip is configured to measure the force applied to the retention mechanism.

Abstract: Various deficiencies in the prior art are addressed by systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms and/or apparatus configured for fabricating a strain sensing device directly on a structure by printing or otherwise depositing a material on the structure, the material exhibiting a piezo-resistive effect, and sintering a strain sensing pattern from the material such that the strain sensing pattern becomes electrically conductive.

Abstract: A counterbalance system for an overhead door is disclosed. The system includes a torsion adjustment comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being rotatable relative to one another in a first direction and not in a second direction opposite the first direction. The system also includes an anchor fixed to the first portion, a collar fixed to the second portion, the collar being selectively fixable to a shaft of the overhead door, and a spring coupled between the collar and the anchor. The spring supports at least a portion of the weight of the overhead door as the overhead door is raised and lowered. Rotating the first portion of the torsion calibration collar relative to the second portion of the torsion calibration collar increases torsion in the spring and therefore calibrates the spring to support a desired amount of the weight of the overhead door.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring resistance over an array. The array includes at least three electrodes. Nodes at each intersection between input electrodes and output electrodes have variable resistance. A driving voltage is applied to a selected input electrode and an output current is received at a selected output electrode. A selected node is at the intersection of the two selected electrodes and includes an electrical component with a resistive property. Remaining electrodes are connected with a ground for isolating the selected node from the effects of changes in impedance of the remaining nodes. The driving voltage is converted to an output current by resistance at the selected node. The output current is converted to an output voltage with a current-to-voltage converter circuit for measuring the resistance of the electrical component. The nodes may be measured as the selected node in sequential or non-sequential patterns.

Abstract: A control apparatus controls an array-type sensor. The control apparatus includes: a first selector/driver that is configured to select and drive one of a plurality of first lines; a second selector/driver that is configured to select and drive at least one of a plurality of second lines; a read/arithmetic circuit that is configured to read outputs of respective unit cells and perform a correction operation on the outputs; and a nonvolatile storage device that is configured to store reference data. The sensor outputs of the respective unit cells with respect to two or more reference inputs are stored as reference data in the nonvolatile storage device in a calibration mode, and a correction operation is performed on the sensor outputs of the respective unit cells using the stored reference data and results of the correction operation are output in a measurement mode.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for measuring at least one component of a force or a torque includes a sensor assembly having a first contact structure and a second contact structure, between which the at least one component of the force or torque is to be measured, and a plurality of sensor elements. The plurality of sensor elements are each connected by way of a first joint to the first contact structure and by way of a second joint to the second contact structure and configured to measure the component of force or torque between the first contact structure and the second contact structure. The first contact structure, the second contact structure and the plurality of sensor elements form a rolled-up structure that extends like a jacket along a surface of the sensor arrangement.

Abstract: A suspension member load sensor configured for use with a suspension member in an elevator system is provided. The suspension member load sensor includes a housing bounded by an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate. The upper cover plate and the lower cover plates are configured to receive a rod extending therethrough. The lower cover plate is configured to seat adjacent a mounting plate. A strain gauge is disposed within the housing and configured to produce an electrical signal commensurate with a load on the suspension member. A plurality of spaced apart projections extend outwardly from a lower surface of the lower cover plate. The projections are configured to define a location for the introduction of force into the load sensor.