Force transducer with screen printed strain gauges

Patent 5867808 Issued on February 2, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 6, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3447766

Device for pressure measurement using a resistor strain gauge
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More ...

Inventors

Application

No. 688614 filed on 08/06/1996

US Classes:

702/41, Force or torque measurement338/2, STRAIN GAUGE TYPE338/47, Force-actuated338/307, Resistance element and/or terminals printed or marked on base338/308, Resistance element coated on base338/314, Resistance element and base formed in layers708/141Including specific nonkeyboard-type information entry

Examiners

Primary: Cosimano, Edward R.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Gray Cary Ware Friedenrich

Foreign Patent References

50-15669 JP. 06/13/1975
59-155735 JP. 09/13/1984
59-155732 JP. 09/13/1984
62-153538 JP. 09/13/1987
2000423 JP. 01/13/1998
2 234 629 A GB. 02/13/1969
PCT/US92/03194 WO. 04/13/1992
WO 92/09996 WO. 06/13/1992

International Classes

G06F 003/033
G01L 001/18
H01C 010/10

Abstract

A force transducer includes an elongated lever arm attached to a substrate having a central portion and substantially planar tab regions that project outwardly from the central portion along first and second orthogonal force-detecting axes. The substrate undergoes localized strain approximately at the junctions of the tab regions and the central portion when an external force is applied to the free end of the lever arm. A thick film strain gauge material is screen printed directly onto the substrate in at least a first location and a second location and conductive pads on the substrate are electrically coupled to the thick film strain gauge material at each location to define a first strain gauge oriented along the first force detecting axis and a second strain gauge oriented along the second force detecting axis. The lever arm can be of a compliant construction to provide proprioreceptive feedback to a user.

Other References

Sanjay Chitale, Cornelius Huang, and Michael Stein, "High Gauge Factor Thick Film Resistors For Strain Gauges," reprinted from Hybrid Circuit Technology,May 1989, Lake Publishing Corp., Libertyville, Illinois (7 pages