Patent ID: 6173615
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: G01G,G01L

Abstract:
A sensing device for sensing a load and for outputting a signal corresponding to said load, comprising:a base member including first and second portions, and a third portion interconnecting the first and second portions, the third portion being strained upon movement of the second portion relative to the first portion, so that a shearing force, acting in a direction of the relative movement, is produced at the third portion;an insulating region formed on at least part of a surface of a third portion; andfirst and second sensors formed respectively on the insulating region;wherein said first, second and third portions extend in an interconnecting direction;wherein each of the first and second sensors includes four resistors of an electrically-conductive material connected together at four connecting regions to form a bridge having a rectangular configuration, and when a voltage is applied between two of the four connecting regions, each interconnecting the associated resistors, which are disposed on one diagonal line, a potential difference, developing between the other two connecting regions disposed on the other diagonal line, varies in accordance with the shearing force produced at the third portion;wherein the first sensor is arranged on the insulating region in such a manner that a line, connecting the two connecting regions on the one diagonal line together, extends in said interconnecting direction; andwherein the second sensor is arranged on the insulating region in such a manner that two of the four resistors are opposed to each other, and are spaced from each other in the interconnecting direction while the other two resistors are opposed to each other, and are spaced from each other in an intersecting direction perpendicular to the interconnecting direction.