Tekscan systems are used in test & measurement, research & development, quality assurance and machine set-up applications worldwide, providing important insight into STATIC and DYNAMIC pressure events. This information can help save company money in design, design verification, reengineering, and machine set-up costs.

Each pressure measurement system includes innovative electronics, unique WindowsTM based software, and application appropriate sensors. The flexibility of our pressure measurement systems allow for use in a multitude of industrial and research applications.

I-Scan, the user-friendly force and pressure measurement system, records and saves static and dynamic pressure data directly to your PC. With a choice of over 200 available sensors in a variety of shapes and sizes, this versatile system is tailored to meet your application needs.

I-Scan has been used in many applications including brake, wafer polishing, nip pinch, packaging and many more. The system's technology has played a key role in research and development, test and measurement, quality assurance, and machine set-up applications in a wide range of industries.

At the heart of the I-Scan system are Tekscan's thin sensors. Our sensors are minimally disruptive to the true pressure pattern and fit in almost any application. Sensors are available in many pressure ranges and sizes; many of our standard sensors have been designed for specific purposes such as tire bead and nip pinch.

We also offer a full range of basic shape sensors that work with a wide range of applications. These offerings coupled with the sensor's patented high spatial resolution (up to 1600 sensels/in2 or 248 sensels/cm2) have made us the industry leader in solving difficult applications.

The I-Scan system provides advanced, yet simple to use software that displays force and pressure data in real-time. Data can also be saved, analyzed in a multitude of graphs, or exported into ASCII programs.

The FlexiForce sensor acts as a force sensing resistor in an electrical circuit. When the force sensor is unloaded, its resistance is very high. When a force is applied to the sensor, this resistance decreases. The resistance can be read by connecting a multimeter to the outer two pins, then applying a force to the sensing area.

Click here for Model A201 data sheet.

The FlexiForce sensor acts as a force sensing resistor in an electrical circuit. When the force sensor is unloaded, its resistance is very high. When a force is applied to the sensor, this resistance decreases. The resistance can be read by connecting a multimeter to the outer two pins, then applying a force to the sensing area.

Click here for Model A401 data sheet.

Body Pressure Measurement System (BPMSTM)

BPMS measures the pressure distribution of a human body on support surfaces such as seats, mattresses, cushions, and backrests.

The system includes hardware, software, and thin-film pressure sensors (mats). The mats feature spatial resolutions as high as one sensing element/cm2 and contains as many as 2016 individual sensing elements per sensor.

The mats' thinness enables the user to confidently incorporate the sensor into the application without altering the characteristics of the support surface. The combination of these factors enables precise measurement of the location and magnitude of peak pressures and overall pressure distribution patterns. BPMS is built on a "modular" sensor construct concept.

This means you can acquire a system in many ways from one sensor up to eight. This allows you to grow your BPMS as your needs expand, thus protecting your initial investment.

Applications:

TireScan is the industry's premier tire footprint pressure measurement system. TireScan electronically measures static and dynamic tire footprint pressure distribution patterns for passenger, truck, off-road, agricultural, and aircraft tires. TireScan has been used to evaluate tire designs and tread patterns, conduct quality control measurements, perform competitive benchmarking, assess vehicle suspension, as well as many other tire related measurements.

TireScan is simple to set-up and operate; you just need to drive over the sensing mat to take a measurement. Real-time data can be captured, stored, and analyzed. TireScan uses patented, thin-film (0.004 in/0.1 mm) sensing pressure mats with very dense spatial resolution. The mats are placed between the tire and the ground or surface to be measured. The accompanying electronics and software rapidly scan the mats and capture the dynamic contact pressure data for analysis.

Force output measured - wiper blade at 30^o angle on windshield

Output displayed graphically - Force vs. Distance across sensor rows

The Wiper system measures force distribution between blade and glass. A uniform force profile leads to excellent visibility through the windshield. An uneven profile, such as high force under one or two claws can lead to scratches. If there are low force regions, such as a claw misalignment, or a blade bowing between claws, poor wiping and streaks are likely.

Many windshields have compound curves, presenting a challenge to the arm mechanism. The blade could mate well with the glass positions, but not at others. Sequential static measurements taken at representative blade angles simulate upstroke and down-stroke movement and determine how well the arm assembly follows the contour of the windshield. Some users operate the system on highways and wind tunnels to find if wind impingement results in blade lift-off or higher contact force.

The Wiper system uses a long, very thin sensor secured to the glass. Active sensor elements (sensels) spaced every 1/4� (6.3mm) register the force along the length of the blade. Active electronics in a small handle, sends the sensor information to your computer through a USB port. Force is shown as vivid colors in 2-D and 3-D images of the sensor. Digital photographs can be stored with each measurement to document test conditions. A series of individual measurements can be merged into a single view to illustrate passage of the blade over the entire windshield. Data can be shown in graphs, and exported in ASCII format.