Force transducer forming a capacitive load cell

US9335226B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Karlheinz Amtmann · Gerhardshofen, DE
• Dominik Braun · Karlsruhe, DE
• Jörg Hassel · Erlangen, DE
• Harry Hedler · Germering, DE
• Hans-Peter Lindner · Bad Mergentheim, DE
• Delphine Meunier · Soufflenheim, FR
• Daniel Reznik · Berlin, DE
• Klaus Rother · Blankenloch, DE
• Dirk Scheibner · Nuremberg, DE
• Arno Steckenborn · Berlin, DE
• Oliver Theile · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 11, 2012
• Grant date: May 10, 2016
• Expiry date: Oct 10, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01L1/142
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A force transducer, in particular a load cell, includes a spring body that deforms when loaded with a force or load to be measured. Two support parts, which are separated by a gap, are moved out of a position of rest. A capacitive displacement detector is used to detect the relative movement of the support parts, where the capacitor includes two electrode combs that are each held on one of the support parts and includes a multiplicity of electrode fingers. The electrode combs are configured designed and mounted on the two support parts such that the electrode fingers of the one electrode comb pass into the finger interspaces of the other electrode comb when the spring body is loaded so that the force transducer is resistant to overloading.