Load sensor, load sensor unit and insertion detection device
First Claim
1. A load sensor comprising:
- an elastic tube, at least one part of which, in the circumferential direction, is a conductive portion;
an elongated insertion member that has longitudinally arranged first and second electrode members provided at a distance, and that is inserted into the elastic tube; and
envelope members that are provided longitudinally, at a predetermined distance, to enclose the insertion member, and that, together with the insertion member, are inserted into the elastic tube to separate the insertion member from the elastic tube, wherein, while the elastic tube is in the normal state, the first and the second electrode members are so positioned, at a distance from the conductive portion of the elastic tube, that when an external load bends the elastic tube an electrical connection is established between the first and the second electrode members, with or without the conductive portion of the elastic tube.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load sensor 10 is provided with an elastic conductive tube 21, and a first electrode member 22 and second electrode member 23 separated by a distance in the longitudinal direction. The load sensor 10is further provided with an elongated insertion member 24 to be inserted into the elastic conductive tube 21, and envelope members 25, which are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction to enclose the insertion member 24, and together with the insertion member 24 are inserted into the tube 21 to separate the insertion member 24 from the tube 21. When the tube 21 is bent by the application of a load, the electrode members 22 and 23 contact the tube 21. The load is detected by determining whether the electrode members 22 and 23 have been rendered conductive via the tube 21. The sensitivity of the sensor 10 can be easily controlled by adjusting the interval between envelope members 25 and the thicknesses thereof.
9 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A load sensor comprising:
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an elastic tube, at least one part of which, in the circumferential direction, is a conductive portion;
an elongated insertion member that has longitudinally arranged first and second electrode members provided at a distance, and that is inserted into the elastic tube; and
envelope members that are provided longitudinally, at a predetermined distance, to enclose the insertion member, and that, together with the insertion member, are inserted into the elastic tube to separate the insertion member from the elastic tube, wherein, while the elastic tube is in the normal state, the first and the second electrode members are so positioned, at a distance from the conductive portion of the elastic tube, that when an external load bends the elastic tube an electrical connection is established between the first and the second electrode members, with or without the conductive portion of the elastic tube. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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2. A load sensor comprising:
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an elastic tube, at least one part of which, in the circumferential direction, is a conductive portion;
an elongated insertion member that has longitudinally arranged electrode members provided at a distance, and that is inserted into the elastic tube; and
envelope members that are provided longitudinally, at a predetermined distance, to enclose the insertion member, and that, together with the insertion member, are inserted into the elastic tube to separate the insertion member from the elastic tube, wherein, while the elastic tube is in the normal state, the electrode members are so positioned, at a distance from the conductive portion of the elastic tube, that when an external load bends the elastic tube an electrical connection is established between the electrode members and the conductive portion of the elastic tube, with or without the conductive portion of the elastic tube. - View Dependent Claims (11, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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36. A load sensor comprising:
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an elastic tube, at least one part of which, in the circumferential direction, is a conductive portion;
an elongated insertion member, which has an electrode member provided longitudinally and which is inserted into the elastic tube;
envelope members, which are provided longitudinally at predetermined intervals to enclose the insertion member, and are inserted together with the insertion member into the elastic tube to separate the insertion member from the elastic tube; and
a metal conductive line, laid in the longitudinal direction of the elastic tube, wherein the electrode member is located at a distance from the conductive portion of the elastic tube while the elastic tube is in the normal state, so that when the flexible elastic tube is bent by the application of an external load, an electrical connection is established by the electrode member, through or apart from the conductive portion of the elastic tube, and wherein the metal conductive line is so arranged that, when the elastic tube is bent by the external application of a load, at least the portion of the metal conducive line at the load application position is capable of being electrically connected to the conductive portion of the elastic tube.
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Specification