Force sensor, force detection system and force detection program
First Claim
1. A force sensor comprising:
- a displacement unit that displaces when a force is applied;
at least one first sensor unit that generates a first output by detecting the displacement of said displacement unit as change of capacitance; and
a second sensor unit that is annexed to said first sensor unit and generates a second output which is independent of said first output and rises steeply from said first output and shifts to a saturated state ahead of said first output by detecting the displacement of said displacement unit of the same direction that said first sensor unit detects as change of capacitance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A force sensor converts a force into capacitance and makes it possible to generate a plurality of outputs with different output characteristics, force detection system, and a digital force detection program for it. The force sensor 20 has a displacement unit 24 for generating a displacement when a force is applied; a single or a plurality of first sensor units (36, 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D) for generating a first output C1 from said displacement of the displacement unit; and a second sensor unit 44, which is annexed to the first sensor unit, for generating a second output C2 from the displacement of said displacement unit. The force detection system enhances the output accuracy by means of the first and second outputs of such a force sensor. The force detection program is used in the force detection system for executing the output process.
26 Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A force sensor comprising:
-
a displacement unit that displaces when a force is applied; at least one first sensor unit that generates a first output by detecting the displacement of said displacement unit as change of capacitance; and a second sensor unit that is annexed to said first sensor unit and generates a second output which is independent of said first output and rises steeply from said first output and shifts to a saturated state ahead of said first output by detecting the displacement of said displacement unit of the same direction that said first sensor unit detects as change of capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A force detection system comprising:
-
a force sensor equipped with a displacement unit that displaces when a force is applied, at least one first sensor unit that generates a first output by detecting the displacement of said displacement unit as change of capacitance; and
a second sensor unit that is annexed to said first sensor unit and generates a second output which is independent of said first output and rises steeply from said first output and shifts to a saturated state ahead of said first output by detecting the displacement of said displacement unit of the same direction that said first sensor unit detects as change of capacitance; anda processing unit that obtains said first output using said second output of said force sensor as a reference information for said first output. - View Dependent Claims (5, 7)
-
-
6. A force detection system comprising:
-
a force sensor equipped with first and second sensor units in a displacement unit that displaces when a force is applied and generates first and second outputs that are independent to each other and represent the displacement of said displace unit; and a processing unit that obtains said first output using said second output of said force sensor as a reference information for said first output, wherein said second sensor unit of said force sensor shifts said second output to a saturated condition after said displacement unit starts to displace.
-
-
8. A method for detecting a force comprises the following steps:
-
obtaining a first output from a first sensor unit provided in a displacement unit that displaces in response to the application of the force; obtaining a second output which is independent of said first output and rises steeply from said first output and shifts to a saturated state ahead of said first output as change of capacitance from a second sensor unit provided in said displacement unit and detecting the displacement of said displacement unit of the same direction that said first sensor unit detects as change of capacitance; extracting time information representing a level period that exceeds a specified level from said second output; and obtaining said first output referencing said time information.
-
Specification