Patent ID: 7441467

Claim:
A sensor for sensing an applied load comprising: a) a rigid substrate having a first surface and a second surface; b) a first strain sensitive resistor mounted to the first surface, the first resistor having a first end and a second end, the first resistor having a first length and a first width defining a first area, a second strain sensitive resistor mounted to the first surface, the second resistor having a third end and a fourth end, the second resistor having a second length and a second width defining a second area, a third strain sensitive resistor mounted to the first surface, the third resistor having a fifth end and a sixth end, the third resistor having a third length and a third width defining a third area, a fourth strain sensitive resistor mounted to the first surface, the fourth resistor having a seventh end and an eighth end, the fourth resistor having a fourth length and a fourth width defining a fourth area; c) a plurality of conductors mounted to the first surface and connected between the resistors; d) a dielectric layer mounted over the first and second resistors; and e) a load transfer device mounted to the dielectric layer, the load transfer device transferring the applied load directly to the first and second strain sensitive resistors such that the first and second resistors are compressed, the first and second resistors changing resistance in response to the applied load.