US Patent 7481123 Load and load direction detecting apparatus

A load and load direction detecting apparatus is so constructed that a shear force acts on a cylindrical strain body when a load W is applied from a displacing member to a case member in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the strain body. Thus, the strain body deforms readily. Consequently, detecting sensitivity of the value of load W is improved, which is calculated by a first differential amplifier (load value calculating unit) based on an output voltage output from a first bridge. A direction (θW) of the load W is calculated by a load direction calculator (load direction calculating unit) based on an output voltage output from a second bridge, and the output voltage output from the first bridge.