Loadstar uses a feather to indicate iLoad’s sensitivity. (Photo: Loadstar Sensors)

June 15, 2007 — The iLoad series of digital load/force sensors from Loadstar Sensors, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. incorporates patented capacitive sensing technology enabled by nanomaterial for super sensitivity and ruggedness.

The iLoad series is available in 10, 50, 100, 250 and 500 lb capacities to measure both compressive and tensile loads and offer accuracies of 0.25% to 0.025% of full scale loads. Higher capacities up to 15,000 lbs will be released in the coming months and available earlier for special order.

The sensors combine sensing with integrated computing and communications modules for “plug and sense” simplicity and ease of use in a low-profile package. Loadstar says the iLoad Digital USB is the world’s first capacitive load sensor with USB output. With all electronics integrated, it requires no additional signal conditioning, data acquisition or special software. It appears as a virtual COM port on a PC enabling a user to directly read data using simple ASCII commands, and Loadstar’s software that takes care of all communication functions and displays loads in lbs, Kgs or Newtons.

“Communication features integrated within the sensor enable a whole new set of computerized applications that were not possible earlier,” said Div Harish, the Co-Founder and CEO of Loadstar Sensors.