Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus including a movable member, a sensor coupled to the movable member and configured to acquire compliance data regarding a liner disposed within a shell of a helmet through engagement of the sensor with the liner, and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.

Abstract: Various aspects of the instant disclosure relate to pressure sensing methods and apparatuses. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a plurality of structures having respective surface areas that are implemented to contact at least one of an electrode and other ones of the structures. The structures operate with the electrode to provide an electrical indication of pressure by effecting a change in the respective surface areas in response to an elastic compression or expansion of the structures, and providing a change in electrical impedance between the structures and the electrode based on the change in the respective surface areas.

Abstract: A capacitive type sensor includes a circuit board, electrodes formed on a first surface of the circuit board, and an electrode plate disposed above the circuit board, wherein the electrodes comprise pairs of electrodes disposed from a distance from a center of the circuit board, and the pairs of electrodes being spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: The subject of this patent is a novel method for developing a sensing system that can determine a magnetic attraction force between a magnetic structure and its target level by using an Opposing Residual Magnetic Field (ORMF) to quantify said magnetic attraction force. Steps for the development and implementation of an ORMF Sensing System are set forth herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a force torque sensor, a force torque sensor frame, and a force torque measurement method. The force torque sensor includes a central hub, a plurality of beams each having one side connected to the hub, and a rim connected to the other side of each beam to surround the hub and the plurality of beams. The force torque measurement method includes: a step of forming a gradient shape in a longitudinal direction thereof so that a section is provided in which a strain rate on each of the beams due to a force or torque is maintained within a predetermined value; and a step of measuring a strain rate in X-axis, Y-axis, or Z-axis directions after a strain gauge is attached to a corresponding section. Thus, a measurement center of the strain gauge may be positioned within a predetermined section.

Abstract: A torsion tester including a plurality of driving units configured to connect with and rotate three or more input/output shafts of a test body, respectively, and a controller configured to control the plurality of driving units to be driven with one of individually-set rotational frequencies and individually-set torques, respectively.

Abstract: A method for designing and manufacturing micro reinforced concrete that produces a composite material that shares physical properties with both the reinforcing material and the concrete. Micro reinforced concrete is a two-part system that made of micro reinforcements, which are twisted steel fibers, and a concrete matrix. The micro reinforcements are added at a specified dose to an ordinary concrete matrix to create the micro reinforced concrete.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transducer arrangement for converting a load variation into one or more electrical output signals. The transducer arrangement comprises at least one transducer element and an evaluation unit operatively connected to the transducer element. The transducer arrangement can be used amongst others, for healthcare applications, sport leisure activities, impact detection for safety applications in the automotive industry as well as for safety surveillance systems in the industry.

Abstract: A switching type six-axis force-torque sensor is provided which includes: a sensor substrate attached to a structural body to be measured. A first measuring unit is installed at one side in respect to a central portion of the sensor substrate and measures strain and a second measuring unit is installed on the sensor substrate at a position that faces the first measuring unit in respect to the central portion and measures strain. Further, a third measuring unit is installed at a position that is orthogonal to a connecting line, which connects the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit, and measures strain and a fourth measuring unit is installed at a position that faces the third measuring unit in respect to the central portion and measures strain.

Abstract: A method to determine inertia of components of a rotating shaft system. The shaft system includes a shaft coupling a turbine to drive the rotation and a load to be driven by the rotation. The method includes steps to: apply a feedback to a forcing input to the shaft system; measure resonant frequency of the shaft; iterate steps 1.a) and 1.b) for different feedbacks; plot resonant frequency squared against gain; and determine inverse of gradient from the plot to give inertia of the turbine. Also a method to determine shaft stiffness using the inertia of the turbine.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to stress sensors and methods of sensing stress. In an embodiment, a stress sensor comprises a vertical resistor. The vertical resistor can comprise, for example, an n-type resistor and can have various operating modes. The various operating modes can depend on a coupling configuration of terminals of the resistor and can provide varying piezo-coefficients with very similar temperature coefficients of resistances. Comparisons of resistances and piezo-coefficients in differing operating modes can provide a measure of mechanical stresses acting on the device.

Abstract: A torque sensor includes a magnetism generation portion that rotates together with a first shaft, a rotating magnetic circuit portion that rotates together with a second shaft, a fixed magnetic circuit portion fixed to a housing, a magnetism detector that detects a magnetic flux density guided from the magnetism generation portion to the fixed magnetic circuit portion through the rotating magnetic circuit portion in accordance with torsional deformation of the torsion bar, and a shield disposed between the rotating magnetic circuit portion and the magnetism detector in order to shield the magnetism detector magnetically.

Abstract: A magnetic load sensor unit for use in a linear motion actuator is provided which is less likely to suffer from hysteresis errors during use while being mounted in the linear motion actuator, and which can reduce the axial length of the linear motion actuator. The magnetic load sensor unit is configured to detect the magnitude of an axial load applied to an object from the linear motion actuator. The sensor unit includes a flange member configured to be deflected when a reaction force to the axial load is received through a thrust bearing, a magnetic target which generates magnetic fields; and a magnetic sensor arranged such that its position relative to the magnetic target changes when the flange member is deflected. The flange member has an axial end surface in which a groove is formed with which rolling elements of the thrust bearing are in rolling contact.

Abstract: A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit (10) comprises a support plate (12) having a top surface (20) and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements (14) defining an upper surface (18) of the pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, which upper surface the top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed from, a foam pad (22) disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate, a recess (24) formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the foam pad, and a pressure-responsive membrane switch (26) arranged in the recess. The recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of the pressure-responsive membrane switch. The foam pad is configured such that, upon it being compressed by application of pressure exceeding a certain threshold, it deforms so as to penetrate into the recess and activates the pressure-responsive membrane switch.

Abstract: A sensing device for measuring force and/or torque includes a top part with a top electrode structure, a bottom part with a bottom electrode structure, and a support structure. The support structure includes spring elements for supporting the top part on the bottom part with the top electrode structure parallel to and facing the bottom electrode structure. The spring elements provide a gap between the top and bottom electrode structures and allow displacement of the top part relative to the bottom part in three orthogonal directions two parallel and one perpendicular to the bottom plate, and for rotation of the top part relative to the bottom part around three orthogonal axes, corresponding with the two parallel and one perpendicular directions. The displacement and/or rotation induce a change in distance between and/or overlap area of the top and bottom electrodes and a corresponding change of capacitance.

Abstract: A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit (10) for detecting an occupancy state of a seat comprises a support plate (12) with a support area (14), a pressure-responsive membrane switch (15), one or more spacers (16) arranged around the support area and a compressible foam. The membrane switch comprises a first carrier film and a second carrier film spaced from each other by a spacer film. The spacer film has therein an opening defining a cell. The membrane switch comprises at least two electrodes arranged in facing relationship with each other in the cell on the first and the second carrier film, respectively, in such a way that they are brought closer together, possibly into contact with each other, when sufficient pressure is applied on the membrane switch. The one or more spacers (16) protrude from the support, and define an upper surface (20) raised with respect to the support area. The compressible foam (18) rests with its bottom surface (22) on the upper surface of the one or more spacers.

Abstract: A force assessment device and a method for lead extraction are provided. A force gauge is configured to measure a traction force, and a strain gauge that is configured to measure a countertraction force. An interface is communicatively coupled to the force gauge and the strain gauge, and the interface is configured to present data regarding at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force.

Abstract: A method for testing a batch of material used to obtain layers of fibers includes taking a specimen from the batch of material, exerting a tensile force on the specimen, heating the specimen so as to relax the fibers if the specimen contains stresses, after a predetermined period of time, no longer heating and no longer exerting the tensile force on the specimen, measuring a residual extension of the specimen which corresponds to a variation in length of at least a part of the specimen in the direction of the tensile force, before and after the tensile force, and considering the batch of material not to be compliant if the residual extension exceeds a given threshold.

Abstract: A technique to assess or analyze cap removal or opening torque or rotational position is provided. In at least one form, a high speed, on-line machine vision system measures or determines the rotational position of a cap on a bottle, measures or determines the rotational position of the finish or neck of the same bottle, and then optionally uses such positional information to predict the opening or removal torque that will be required for a consumer to remove the bottle cap from the bottle.

Abstract: A low-cost, compact, high-precision axial force sensor is provided. The axial force sensor includes a pair of parallel pressing plates and a strain gauge sandwiched therebetween. The strain gauge includes a plurality of strain-sensitive resistive elements around its periphery, and is provided with a spacer that transmits a pressing force from the pressing plates to some of the strain-sensitive elements but blocks the pressing force to the rest of the strain-sensitive elements. The output signal of the strain-sensitive elements blocked from the pressing force provide an accurate baseline to compare the output signal of the strain-elements subjected to the pressing force. The spacer has a uniform pattern of open and closed portions. On the strain gauge, the strain-sensitive elements are provided at both the open and closed portions of the spacer.