Abstract: One embodiment of a surface force distribution sensor includes an elastic dielectric (108) sandwiched by a first plurality of compliant, conductive carrier elements (110) and a second plurality of conductive pickup elements (106), as well as a system for frequency-domain demultiplexing including at least a microprocessor (209). A plurality of signals is generated, each of which has a different fundamental frequency and is connected to a different carrier element. The pickup and carrier elements are arranged so that each pickup element overlaps one or more carrier elements. When forces are applied to a nonconductive compliant layer (112), the distance between one or more carrier elements and one or more pickup elements decreases at their points of overlap, increasing the amplitude of carrier signals capacitively transmitted to the pickup elements.

Abstract: The coil winding machine is provided with a versatile headstock and spindle plate arrangement in which the headstock includes attachment mechanism and an opening for receiving a spindle plate which carries at one spindle and also includes attachment mechanism for engaging the attachment mechanism of the headstock. When the attachment mechanism of the spindle plates engages the attachment mechanism of the headstock the spindle carried by the spindle plates extends into the headstock and may be engaged by a conventional driving mechanism of the coil winding machine. The coil winding machine is also provided with a lower portion triple axis controller for controlling taping and deadpost mechanisms. The triple axes controller imparts vertical, sideways, and front-to-back motions to each of the taping and deadpost mechanisms for increased versatility to accommodate the increased versatility provided by the headstock and spindle plate arrangement.