Patent ID: 7077016

Claim:
A load sensor comprising: a resilient member including a stationary segment, a first load-receiving segment extending outward from the stationary segment, and a first arm segment between the first load-receiving segment and the stationary segment; and first and second strain-sensor elements disposed on the same surface of the first arm segment, the first strain-sensor element being adjacent to the first load-receiving segment, the second strain-sensor element being adjacent to the stationary segment, wherein the first arm segment is tapered such that the cross-sectional area of the arm segment decreases from the stationary segment to the first load-receiving segment, the narrowest portion of the first arm segment having the first strain-sensor element disposed thereon, whereby a difference between a stress applied to the first strain-sensor element and a stress applied to the second strain-sensor element is minimized when a load generated by an impact is applied to the first load-receiving segment.