Abstract: In described examples, a circuit includes an analog frontend arranged to generate an analog stress compensating signal in response to a to-be-compensated analog signal and a first-axis stress sensing signal. The analog frontend can comprise a first precision component (e.g., 220) arranged on a piezoelectric material and arranged to generate the to-be-compensated analog signal that is affected by a stress exerted in the piezoelectric material and a directional stress sensor arranged on the piezoelectric material and coupled to the first precision component. The directional stress sensor is arranged to generate the first-axis sensing signal in response to a longitudinal resultant of a stress exerted in the piezoelectric material. A compensating circuit is arranged to generate a compensated output signal in response to the compensating analog signal and to-be-compensated analog signal.

Abstract: A cycling shoe for measuring power includes a sole having a pocket in the bottom of the sole. A sensor platform having a plurality of sensors, at least one sensor on a top of the sensor platform and at least one sensor on the bottom of the sensor platform, is inserted into the pocket. A platform cover and a cleat are attached to the sole over the sensors. Force applied to a pedal clipped to the cleat is measured and processed.

Abstract: A control device that controls an electric hoisting machine includes: a tension sensor that detects tension of a pulling member; a mode input unit that inputs a mode switch signal to switch between a winding mode and an unwinding mode; and a control unit that controls the operation of a electric motor. The control unit, when set in the unwinding mode, controls the electric motor in accordance with a detection signal from the tension sensor to cause the rotating body to be inversely rotated when the tension of the pulling member is not less than a predetermined threshold value, and to prevent the rotating body from being inversely rotated when the tension of the pulling member is lower than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: In a pressure sensing structure, a first elastic carrier is arranged on a first mounting surface of a substrate, an electronic component is arranged on the elastic carrier; when the substrate is deformed, the elastic carrier is bent and deformed with the deflection of the substrate; the substrate is configured to amplify a strain signal, deflection amount of the substrate may be detected by the strain sensing element, recognizable electric signal is output by a signal measuring circuit. The pressure sensing structure is a sensor structure with high precision, high reliability and high sensitivity. The pressure sensing structure is attached to a panel or a side frame of an electronic product, when the panel or the side frame is pressed, the deflection is detected by the strain sensing element and the recognizable electric signal is output by the signal measuring circuit.

Abstract: The strain gage includes: a substrate formed from a resin material: a resistor provided on a surface of the substrate; and a fusion layer provided on an opposite surface, to the surface on which the resistor is provided. The fusion layer is a thermoplastic polyimide layer. There is provided the strain gage that has a thickness of as thin as possible and that makes a manufacture process of a load sensor simpler.

Abstract: A load can be applied to a beam and a property of the load can be calculated. In one example, a first shear gauge can be configured for positioning on a neutral axis of a beam on one side of a force that the beam is subjected to. Similarly, a second shear gauge can be configured for positioning on the neutral axis of the beam on an opposite side of the force to the first shear gauge. A calculator can be configured to identify a characteristic of the force through use of an output of the first shear gauge and through use of an output of the second shear gauge.

Abstract: A deflection plate for protecting a load cell of a mobile dynamometer, includes a generally elongated member having a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface and two side surfaces. The front surface is at least partially tapered such that the front surface adjacent the top surface is thicker than the front surface adjacent the bottom surface. The taper of said front surface of the deflection plate is preferably dimensioned and configured such that the safety factor along substantially most of its length is at least about 1.1 and less than about 1.2. A method for employing strain gages identifies the magnitudes and locations of loads on slender beams using strain gage based methods with application to portable Army bridges.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring forces acting on a downhole tool is provided. The apparatus can include an annular body having an axial bore formed therethrough. A first fluid can be disposed within the bore. An annular sleeve can be disposed proximate an inner surface of the body. An annular chamber can be formed between the body and the sleeve, and a second fluid can be disposed within the chamber. A sensor can be coupled to the sleeve to measure a strain placed on the sleeve by a pressure differential between the first and second fluids. A pressure of the first fluid in the bore can be determined from the strain.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a load-cell measurement system having an output that is substantially independent of the system voltage source, by providing compensation for the source voltage variation using both a compensating offset voltage and a compensating reference voltage, these compensating voltages having a predetermined relationship with each other. In an illustrative example, the supply voltage may be directly connected to a load-cell, an instrumentation amplifier, and a compensation circuit. In some examples, the compensation circuit may include a chain of impedances which may generate two mutually related voltages both being scaled to the supply voltage. The first scaled voltage may, for example, substantially compensate offset of the load-cell measurement system. The second scaled voltage may, for example, substantially compensate for gain.

Abstract: A methodology for selecting and properly placing foil strain gages on a transducer in a Wheatstone bridge, which provides a more consistent creep response, especially when the transducer temperature is changed. A transducer includes a counterforce subjected to a predetermined physical load that provides tension and compression strains (positive and negative, respectively). The transducer also includes a plurality of strain gage grids that are operatively attached to the counterforce in the tension and compression strain areas of the counterforce and generate electrical signals. The plurality of strain gages are electrically connected in a Wheatstone bridge circuit where their electrical signals due to creep are cancelled.

Abstract: In a load measuring mechanism capable of easily adjusting a positional deviation error by means of a positional deviation error adjusting portion, a load receiving portion 3 is connected to a substrate portion 2 by means of parallel link portions 4a, 4b via flexures 5a-5d, a finely deformable portion 2a is provided at an upper portion of the substrate portion 2, and the flexure 5a is coupled with the deformable portion 2a. Positional deviation error adjusting portions 10 are provided on both sides of the substrate portion 2, a base portion 12 of the positional deviation error adjusting portion 10 is connected to a first lever 13 via a fulcrum 15, and the first lever 13 is coupled with a second lever 14 via a flexible portion 16. When a distance between the base portion 12 and the first lever 13 is increased by rotating an adjusting bolt 11, this displacement is transferred to an end 14a of the second lever 14.

Abstract: The resolution and the signal-to-noise ration of known force sensors as e.g. capacitive force sensors decrease when scaling them down. To solve this problem there is a solution presented by the usage of a nanostructure as e.g. a carbon nanotube, which is mechanically deformed by a force to be measured. The proposed force sensors comprises a support with two arms carrying the carbon nanotube. The main advantage of this nanoscale force sensor is a very high sensitivity as the conductance of carbon nanotubes changes several orders of magnitude when a mechanical deformation arises.

Abstract: This load cell attachment structure includes a male screw which is formed on a load sensing part of the load cell, a nut which attaches the load cell to the attachment plate by engaging with the male screw, and a wave washer which is disposed between the attachment plate and the nut.

Abstract: Weighing module having a first mounting device which is in force-transmitting contact with a load that is to be determined, also having a second mounting device which is connectable to a supporting structure that supports the weighing module. A load cell is arranged between the mounting devices and cooperates with a load-transmitting device. The weighing module has a first and a second receiving cup, each of which has a concavity designed to receive the force-transmitting element, which receiving cups are arranged between the mounting devices. At least one concavity has an elliptical cross-section in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the direction of the load.

Abstract: Weighing module having a first mounting device which is in force-transmitting contact with a load that is to be determined, also having a second mounting device which is connectable to a supporting structure that supports the weighing module. A load cell is arranged between the mounting devices and cooperates with a load-transmitting device. The weighing module has a first and a second receiving cup, each of which has a concavity designed to receive the force-transmitting element, which receiving cups are arranged between the mounting devices. At least one concavity has an elliptical cross-section in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the direction of the load.

Abstract: Simple and inexpensive electrical compensation for off-axis and off-center loading sensitivity is possible in compression column load cells comprising a pair of compensation strain gages in series with each of the main strain gages in the load cell. The compensation gages are arranged crosswise to each associated main strain gage, and connected in series with their associated main strain gage. Each set of one main strain gage and two series connected compensation gages form one bridge arm in a strain gage bridge. Two compensation gages meet at each bridge corner, and are shunted by a common trimming resistor. The loading sensitivity compensation works for both conventional fixed axis load cells and Rocker Pin load cells.

Abstract: A vehicle weight classification system recognizes the various factors that influence system performance. Some of the factors are compensated for using analog signal processing circuitry or techniques. Other factors are compensated for using digital signal processing techniques. The unique combination of analog and digital approaches, rather than pure analog or pure digital, provides an effective solution at addressing the various factors that influence signals and system performance in a vehicle weight classification system while keeping the cost and complexity of the system within acceptable limits.

Abstract: The electronic load cell is for measuring force using a force sensor within and has reduced susceptibility to shock or impact in the direction of its measurement vector. The load cell device includes a load cell structure formed of a suitable solid and including vertically spaced apart, generally parallel horizontal elements integrally formed with longitudinally spaced apart, generally parallel vertical elements with flexible members. Flexures interconnect each horizontal element with the vertical elements. A force sensor is connected between the horizontal element connecting the two flexures on the first side of the parallelogram and a spring connected to the second parallel member.

Abstract: The force plate data acquisition system measures, processes and analyzes the vertical reaction forces and various weight shifts between the ground and a golfer's feet during a swing. Plates are supported on cantilever beams through ball bearings. The beams are attached to a rigid frame and instrumented with strain gauges configured in a Wheatstone half bridge arrangement. An eight-channel strain gauge data acquisition board in a central processing unit records strain information. Data collection can be independent or controlled by a motion analysis system to provide synchronous foot force and video information. A set of BASIC programs collect strain readings from the foot plates, process the data, relate beam deflections to applied load and plots reaction force and weight shift information to the computer screen. Graphs produced are total vertical reaction force, foot-to-foot weight shift, heel-to-toe weight shift, outside-to-instep weight shift and the speeds of each.

Abstract: The apparatus for effecting temperature compensation in a load cell type load detector is for a load detecting apparatus having a load cell constituting the load detector formed with a strain gauge attached to a deflectable body, a mount base for positioning the load detector, and a load generating section to receive a flow of objects to be measured. The apparatus includes a pair of thermal source blocks provided so as to be directly in contact with the deflectable body and be disposed respectively at two symmetric positions with respect to the center of the load detector, a pair of temperature sensors provided respectively to the thermal source blocks, a controller for controlling thermal elements based on temperatures detected by the temperature sensors such that a temperature of the load cell type load detector may be maintained at a predetermined constant temperature.

Abstract: This load cell attachment structure includes a male screw which is formed on a load sensing part of the load cell, a nut which attaches the load cell to the attachment plate by engaging with the male screw, and a wave washer which is disposed between the attachment plate and the nut.