Patent ID: 6634235
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G01B,G01L

Abstract:
A load sensor comprising:a mount portion on one end of said load sensor, said mount portion being secured to an external device; an opening adjacent to the mount portion; strain-generating portions extending from said mount portion to the other end of said load sensor along side rims of said opening, said strain-generating portions having at least one flat print surface; a pressure-receiving portion, linked to said strain-generating portions at the other end, projecting in a shape of a tongue into said opening; and strain-sensing elements, formed by printing on said print surface of said strain-generating portions, for sensing strain of said strain generating portions, said strain caused by a load applied to said pressure-receiving portion, wherein the tip portion of said pressure-receiving portion is thinner than a proximal end of said pressure-receiving portion in thickness so that under no load applied to said pressure-receiving portion, said tip portion of said pressure-receiving portion stays below a plane containing said print surface in the direction of thickness of said pressure-receiving portion.