1263 results about "Force transducer" patented technology

The present invention concerns movement facilitation devices for facilitating movement between a first portion of a first object and a second portion of the first object. One or more of the movement facilitation devices may be combined to form a movement device for facilitating movement of at least one joint or limb of a patient's body. One form of a movement device according to the invention is a glove which at least partially encloses the joint or limb. The invention also encompasses systems for applying Continuous Passive Motion therapy to a joint or limb of a patient using the devices of the invention. The invention also encompasses the use of shape memory materials and of conducting polymers in the devices and systems of the invention, as well as the design of force transducers and actuators that may be used in the devices.

A magnetoclastic transducer for sensing a torque in a shaft (150) is formed by circumferentially magnetising a magnetisable, integral portion (156) of the shaft. To assist in the emanation of a flux-dependent torque, the transducer element portion (156) of the shaft may have further circumferentially magnetised portions (154, 158) to each side. These further portions (154, 158) are of opposite polarity magnetisation to that of the transducer element (156). The external magnetic flux emanated by the transducer (156) is a function of torque and is detectable by a magnetic field sensor (160). An alternative means for the same purpose is to provide the transducer element at a portion (172) of the shaft (170) having an integral annular section of raised profile projecting beyond adjoining portions of the shaft. The shaft may be provided with a series of circumferentially magnetised portions of alternating polarity. A number of ways of achieving circumferential magnetisation are described, together with other directions such as axial. A shaft having the whole or an integral portion of it magnetised can also be used to provide a force transducer sensitive to bending moment induced in the shaft by a force to be measured.

A force measurement system having inertial compensation includes a force measurement assembly with at least one accelerometer configured to measure the acceleration thereof. According to one aspect of the invention, the force measurement system additionally includes at least one angular velocity sensor configured to measure the angular velocity of the force measurement assembly. According to another aspect of the invention, the force measurement system additionally includes a data processing device with a computer-readable medium loaded thereon that is configured to execute a calibration procedure for determining the inertial parameters of the force measurement assembly by utilizing the measured acceleration of the force measurement assembly while the force measurement assembly is subjected to a plurality of applied linear and/or rotational motion profiles. According to still another aspect of the invention, the at least one accelerometer is disposed on the force transducer.

A communication device comprising a microphone, a conduction interface and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the conduction interface to drive the interface to conduct sound to a user by bone conduction, characterised in that the transducer has an intended operative frequency range and comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range and coupling means for mounting the transducer to the interface.

Provided is a radial arterial pulse sensing apparatus for noninvasive and continuous measurement of blood pressure and arterial elasticity. The apparatus includes two pressure sensor for detecting radial arterial pulses, two cuffs that are disposed under the respective pressure sensors and expandable by application of external pressure, a motor unit for providing proper pressure to expandable pouches under the respective pressure sensors in a state where a wrist band having the pressure sensors is put on a wrist, a pulse wave velocity calculating unit that calculates a pulse wave transfer velocity to attain a blood pressure value using an output from the pressure sensors, and an augmentation index calculating unit that estimates the blood pressure value by finding a time point of a reflective wave of the pulses using the outputs from the pressure sensors.

An interlock device for measuring the sobriety of a potential vehicle operator is coupled to the starting mechanism of the vehicle. The interlock device includes a microprocessor controlled handset and base unit. The base unit encloses relays to preclude the starting mechanism from engaging if a predetermined acceptable threshold level of blood alcohol content has been exceeded. The relays receive a signal, through the base unit microprocessor, from the handset microprocessor which has calculated the blood alcohol content of a breath sample introduced into the handset by the vehicle operator. A breath sampling housing is enclosed within the handset in axial alignment with an intake port of the handset. A water filter and valve are positioned upstream from an electrochemical fuel cell. The fuel cell is coupled to the microprocessor. A pressure transducer measures the pressure of the breath sample. The handset microprocessor calculates a pressure offset through an algorithmic equation and applies the offset to the variable reading across the fuel cell to provide a normalized blood alcohol content measurement.

The disclosure provides a tire pressure sensor assembly that includes a battery and a printed circuit board (PCB) configured with electronics to measure tire pressure and to transmit an electromagnetic signal related to the measured tire pressure. The PCB and battery are contained in a housing that allows the PCB and the battery to be angularly oriented with respect to each other. Such orientation permits the sensor to conform to the curved surface of the rim. An embodiment of the disclosed tire pressure sensor assembly is adapted to fasten to a valve stem via a metal terminal. The attachment configuration permits the valve stem assembly to deform as the valve stem is installed in a rim and also allows the valve stem to function as a portion of the antenna structure to facilitate transmitting the RF signal to a receiver.

Pressure sensors are sorted out from the other sensors based on a signal from each sensor element. Sensor outputs of the pressure sensors that have been sorted out are filtered using an FIR filter through which sensor outputs of the other sensors are eliminated. Frequency analysis is performed on the filtered sensor outputs using FFT. A reference sensor is chosen from power spectra of the filtered pressure sensors. Phase differences are calculated between a sensor output of the reference sensor and the sensor outputs of the other pressure sensors. Based on the phase differences, pressure sensors other than the reference sensor are sorted into those with large phase differences and those with small phase differences. Phases of sensor signals of those with large phase differences are reversed, and their sensor outputs are added together. For those with small phase differences, their sensor outputs are added together without reversing the phases.

A force measurement system includes an instrumented treadmill with one or more treadmill belts configured to rotate at a plurality of different speeds, one or more speed adjustment mechanisms coupled to the one or more treadmill belts, and at least one force transducer. The force measurement system further includes a data processing device configured to receive one or more signals that are representative of one or more loads being applied to one or more respective surfaces of the one or more treadmill belts by a subject, and to convert the one or more signals into one or more output load components, the data processing device further configured to determine a position of a body portion of the subject and to control the speed of the one or more treadmill belts using the position determined for the body portion of the subject.

A safe driving monitoring device capable of monitoring physical and psychological states of a driver belongs to the field of safe driving of automobiles and solves the problem that an existing safe driving device only detects some single index, does not consider changes of the physical and psychological states of the driver and cannot carry out corresponding reaction movements when the states of the driver change. A neck pulse sensor detects pulse signals, a pressure sensor detects signals indicating whether the driver sits in an automobile, an air bag pressure sensor detects hand gripping signals or foot power signals of the driver, a breathing signal detection circuit detects breathing signals of the driver, a non-contact temperature measuring sensor detects body-temperature signals, an alcohol concentration measuring sensor detects alcohol concentration signals, an ear type sphygmomanometer detects blood pressure signals, and a distance measuring sensor detects relative distance signals. All the signals are analyzed by a control and analysis processor, and the control and analysis processor outputs analysis results to an alarming module so as to give an alarm.

The invention discloses a calibrating and loading bench of a large multi-dimensional force transducer. The loading bench comprises an upper cross frame (6), a loading bench column (7), a lower cross frame (8), a multi-dimensional force transducer fixed support (9), loading units and loading blocks (5), wherein each loading unit comprises a loading frame (1), a loading hydraulic cylinder (2), a one-dimensional tension-pressure transducer (3) and a tension bar (4). By combining the different installation positions of the two loading units and the connection position of the tension bars (4) and the loading blocks (5), the calibration and the loading of the multi-dimensional force transducer can be realized. Compared with the prior art, the invention has the advantages of simple and compact structure, large range for calibrating and loading the force and high loading accuracy. Besides, by regulating the pressure of a hydraulic system, the invention can easily realize the continuous adjustment of the loaded force and the automatic and dynamic loading of the calibrated force, thereby being especially applicable to the static and dynamic calibration and loading of the large multi-dimensional force transducer.

An information input device which enable even a user incapable of seeing an operation panel to identify the respective locations of keys on the operation panel and functions assigned to the keys, thereby enhancing operability of the device. The information input device is provided with a touch panel for inputting coordinate information based on a location thereon touched by a user. A pressure sensor detects the location on the touch panel touched by the user. A CPU determines whether or not there is a key assigned to the location detected by the pressure sensor. When it is determined that there is a key assigned to the location, a vibration generator vibrates the touch panel in a vibration pattern associated with the key. Further, when it is determined that there is a key assigned to the location, a voice output section outputs a voice associated with the key.

A force measurement system includes a force measurement assembly with a top surface configured to receive at least one portion of the body of a subject and at least one force transducer configured to sense forces and/or moments being applied to the top surface; at least one visual display device having an output screen, the output screen comprising an overhanging top portion so that a top edge of the output screen is not readily visible to the subject; and one or more data processing devices operatively coupled to the force measurement assembly and the at least one visual display device. In one or more embodiments, the force measurement assembly may be in the form of an instrumented treadmill. In one or more further embodiments, the force measurement system may additionally comprise a motion capture system configured to detect the motion of one or more body gestures of the subject.

A force measurement assembly with damping is disclosed herein. The force measurement assembly includes a force measurement surface for receiving at least one portion of a body of a subject; at least one force transducer, the at least one force transducer configured to sense one or more measured quantities and output one or more signals that are representative of forces and/or moments being applied to the force measurement surface of the force measurement assembly by the subject; at least one base member disposed underneath the at least one force transducer or forming a part of the at least one force transducer; and a damping member disposed between the at least one base member and a mounting surface on which the force measurement assembly is disposed. A force measurement system that includes the force measurement assembly with damping is also disclosed herein.

The invention relates to a method and device for testing formation and decomposition of gas hydrate. The method comprises: 1) filling a one-dimensional sand-filling resistivity model tube with sand, closing an end cover, checking leak tightness and putting the model tube into a thermostat; 2) injecting water and methane gas into the model tube, maintaining constant temperature state to gradually generate hydrate, detecting change values of temperature, pressure and resistivity in the tube through a thermocouple, a pressure sensor and an electrode arranged on the wall of the model tube respectively and transmitting the change values to a data acquisition module; 3) reducing pressure after opening the model tube through a back pressure control module during decomposition so as to gradually decompose the hydrate, or injecting hot water into the model tube so as to gradually decompose the hydrate; and 4) passing water and methane gas produced after decomposition through a measurement module, transmitting data to the data acquisition module, detecting the change values of the pressure, the temperature and the resistivity in the tube through the thermocouple, the pressure sensor and the electrode at the same time, transmitting the change values into the data acquisition module, recording and storing the change values. The method and the device can be widely applied in the field of various detection of the formation and decomposition of gas hydrate.

The invention discloses a pair of Bluetooth fall-down alarm insoles. Each Bluetooth fall-down alarm insole comprises an insole body, wherein a Bluetooth fall-down alarm device for judging whether people fall down and whether to sound the alarm by monitoring motion attitude of people is further arranged in each insole body. The Bluetooth fall-down alarm insoles have the beneficial effects of being small in size and convenient to carry; each bluetooth fall-down alarm insole is integrated and arranged in an insole without any additional feeling, and accords with wearing habit of people; with the combination of information fusion of detection of pressure sensor, angle sensor and acceleration sensor, the judgment accuracy is high, and the accuracy is more than 95%.

A normal force gradient/shear force sensor device and measurement method for measuring internal stresses in tissues of a person supported by a chair or bed includes a planar matrix array of peripheral normal force sensors radially spaced from central shear force sensors, comprising an electrically conductive disk located within a circular opening bordered by circumferentially spaced apart electrodes. The disk and electrodes are located between upper and lower cover sheets made of a stretchable material such as polyurethane; one cover sheet is adhered to the disk and the other sheet is adhered to a support sheet for the electrodes. Motion between the cover sheets in response to shear forces exerted on the array causes the disk to press more or less tightly against the electrodes varying electrical conductance between the disk and electrodes proportionally to the magnitude and direction of the shear force. Each normal force sensor includes an electrically conductive film pressed between row and column conductors. Measurements of conductance values of pairs of sensor, which vary proportionally to normal forces exerted on the sensor, are used to calculate a gradient vector of normal forces exerted by a body part on the sensor array, which is combined with the shear force vectors in an algorithm to calculate internal reaction shear forces, e.g., on flesh near a bony prominence.

A force measurement system includes a force measurement assembly with a top surface configured to receive at least one portion of the body of a subject and at least one force transducer configured to sense forces and/or moments being applied to the top surface; at least one visual display device having an output screen configured to at least partially circumscribe three sides of a torso of the subject, and one or more data processing devices operatively coupled to the force measurement assembly and the at least one visual display device. In one or more embodiments, the force measurement assembly may be in the form of an instrumented treadmill. In one or more further embodiments, the force measurement system may additionally comprise a motion capture system configured to detect the motion of one or more body gestures of the subject.

A system and method is provided for detecting and controlling rotating stall in the diffuser region of a centrifugal compressor. The process begins with the detection or sensing of acoustic energy associated with the onset of rotating stall. A pressure transducer is placed in the gas flow path downstream of the impeller, preferably in the compressor discharge passage or the diffuser, to measure the sound or acoustic pressure phenomenon. Next, the signal from the pressure transducer is processed either using analog or digital techniques to determine the presence of rotating stall. Rotating stall is detected by comparing the detected energy amount, which detected energy amount is based on the measured acoustic pressure, with a predetermined threshold amount corresponding to the presence of rotating stall. Finally, an appropriate corrective action is taken to change the operation of the centrifugal compressor in response to the detection of rotating stall.

The invention discloses an automobile pedal operating mechanism assembly performance test board which comprises a measuring mechanism, a rotary movement mechanism, a transverse movement mechanism, an elevating movement mechanism, a vertical movement mechanism, a support and a data acquisition control system. The support is erected with the vertical movement mechanism. One side of the vertical movement mechanism is provided with the transverse movement mechanism. A top of the transverse movement mechanism is provided with the elevating movement mechanism. The elevating movement mechanism is fixedly provided with the rotary movement mechanism. A top of the rotary movement mechanism is provided with the measuring mechanism. A force transducer of the measuring mechanism is electrically connected with the data acquisition control system. The test board has four degrees of freedom, and can carry out a plurality of detection needed by a pedal such as stroke detection, pedal force detection, output force characteristic detection, elevating time detection, master cylinder pressure characteristic detection, endurance performance detection, actuator head adjusting detection and the like, an exploitation trial-production period of the automobile pedal is shortened, and the test cost in an exploitation process is saved.