Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Laurens C Fortgens

Jan-Willem Sloetjes

Edwin Vonk

Ruben Auer

Cristobal Ruiz Zwollo

Thomas Gerjen Hendrik Kouwen

A pedal system includes a user interface, e.g., a pedal for contacting by a driver of a vehicle, a force sensor, and a force transfer member between the user interface and the force sensor. A force applied to the user interface is detected and measured by the force sensor. One or more membranes, e.g., two membranes, are arranged at an outer surface of the force transfer member to decouple off-center loading and non-uniform forces, e.g., resulting from off-center force application at the user interface.

Brake pedal with force sensor and membranes

In a particular embodiment, a force sensor apparatus is disclosed that includes a force-compliant element that deforms in response to forces applied to the force sensor apparatus. The apparatus also includes a sensing element coupled to the force-compliant element and is configured to generate a signal indicating the degree that the force-compliant element deforms in response to the applications of forces to the force sensor apparatus. In this embodiment, the apparatus also includes a printed circuit board configured to receive the signal from the sensing element and a support structure having a surface on which the printed circuit board is coupled. The support structure has an outer rim that is attached to the force-compliant element. The apparatus also includes a sensor housing that covers the printed circuit board. The sensor housing has an outer rim attached to the force-compliant element.

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Odijk, Netherlands

Laurens C Fortgens