Device for measuring force

Claim 1

A device for measuring force comprising: an upper rigid element and a lower rigid element; an elastic body linking the upper and lower rigid elements; measuring means, independent of the elastic body and integral with the rigid elements, consisting of at least one capacitive sensor comprising a first part and a second part, each part presenting a flat surface bearing at least one flat electrode, these parts being so placed that the electrodes of the first part are opposite the electrodes of the second part, separated by a dielectric; a measuring device connected to the capacitive sensor; the capacitive sensor including a plurality of flat electrodes, at least one electrode of one of the two parts of the sensor being laterally displaced in comparison with the electrodes of the other part, so that, depending on the combination of electrode associations and connections, the sensor acts either as a differential sensor or as a proximity sensor; and wherein the measuring device comprises electronic means for processing the signals generated by the various electrode combinations and for measuring all the degrees of freedom of movement relative to the two rigid elements.

Claim 2

A device for measuring force comprising: an upper rigid element and a lower rigid element; an elastic body linking the upper and lower rigid elements; measuring means, independent of the elastic body and integral with the rigid elements, consisting of at least one capacitive sensor comprising a first part and a second part, each part presenting a flat surface bearing at least one flat electrode, these parts being so placed that the electrodes of the first part are opposite the electrodes of the second part, separated by a dielectric; a measuring device connected to the capacitive sensor; the capacitive sensor including a plurality of flat electrodes, at least one electrode of one of the two parts of the sensor being laterally displaced in comparison with the electrodes of the other part, so that, depending on the combination of electrode associations and connections, the sensor acts either as a differential sensor or as a proximity sensor; and wherein the measuring device comprises electronic means for processing the signals generated by the various electrode combinations and for measuring all the degrees of freedom of movement relative to the two rigid elements.

Claim 4

A device for measuring force comprising: an upper rigid element and a lower rigid element; an elastic body linking the upper and lower rigid elements, the elastic body being constituted by a hollow cylinder machined to form two rigid rings at the top and bottom, liked by an elastic member of angle-bend ribbing; measuring means, independent of the elastic body and integral with the rigid elements, consisting of at least one capacitive sensor comprising a first part and a second part, each part presenting a flat surface bearing at least one flat electrode, these parts being so placed that the electrodes of the first part are opposite the electrodes of the second part, separated by a dielectric; a measuring device connected to the capacitive sensor; the capacitive sensor including a plurality of flat electrodes, at least one electrode of one of the two parts of the sensor being laterally displaced in relation to the electrodes of the other part, so that, depending on the combination of electrode associations and connections, the sensor acts either as a differential sensor or as a proximity sensor; and wherein the measuring device comprises electronic means for processing the signals generated by the various electrode combinations and for measuring all the degrees of freedom of movement relative to the two rigid elements.

Claim 5

A device for measuring force comprising: an upper rigid element and a lower rigid element; an elastic body linking the upper and lower rigid elements, the elastic body being constituted by a hollow cylinder machined to form two rigid rings at the top and bottom, liked by an elastic member of angle-bend ribbing; measuring means, independent of the elastic body and integral with the rigid elements, consisting of at least one capacitive sensor comprising a first part and a second part, each part presenting a flat surface bearing at least one flat electrode, these parts being so placed that the electrodes of the first part are opposite the electrodes of the second part, separated by a dielectric; a measuring device connected to the capacitive sensor; the capacitive sensor including a plurality of flat electrodes, at least one electrode of one of the two parts of the sensor being laterally displaced in relation to the electrodes of the other part, so that, depending on the combination of electrode associations and connections, the sensor acts either as a differential sensor or as a proximity sensor; and wherein the measuring device comprises electronic means for processing the signals generated by the various electrode combinations and for measuring all the degrees of freedom of movement relative to the two rigid elements.

Claim 7

A device for measuring force comprising: an upper rigid element and a lower rigid element; an elastic body linking the upper and lower rigid elements, the elastic body being constituted by a perforated hollow cylinder; measuring means, independent of the elastic body and integral with the rigid elements, consisting of at least one capacitive sensor comprising a first part and a second part, each part presenting a flat surface bearing at least one flat electrode, these parts being so placed that the electrodes of the first part are opposite the electrodes of the second part, separated by a dielectric; a measuring device connected to the capacitive sensor; the capacitive sensor including a plurality of flat electrodes, at least one electrode of one of the two parts of the sensor being laterally displaced in relation to the electrodes of the other part, so that, depending on the combination of electrode associations and connections, the sensor acts either as a differential sensor or as a proximity sensor; and wherein the measuring device comprises electronic means for processing the signals generated by the various electrode combinations and for measuring all the degrees of freedom of movement relative to the two rigid elements.

Claim 8

A device for measuring force comprising: an upper rigid element and a lower rigid element; an elastic body linking the upper and lower rigid elements, the elastic body being constituted by a perforated hollow cylinder; measuring means, independent of the elastic body and integral with the rigid elements, consisting of at least one capacitive sensor comprising a first part and a second part, each part presenting a flat surface bearing at least one flat electrode, these parts being so placed that the electrodes of the first part are opposite the electrodes of the second part, separated by a dielectric; a measuring device connected to the capacitive sensor; the capacitive sensor including a plurality of flat electrodes, at least one electrode of one of the two parts of the sensor being laterally displaced in relation to the electrodes of the other part, so that, depending on the combination of electrode associations and connections, the sensor acts either as a differential sensor or as a proximity sensor; and wherein the measuring device comprises electronic means for processing the signals generated by the various electrode combinations and for measuring all the degrees of freedom of movement relative to the two rigid elements.