Apparatus for sensing a load of pressure applied to a surface

Apparatus for sensing and/or measuring load distribution applied to a surface, having a platen providing a continuous, stiff, unapertured surface, a flexible load receiving sheet extending over the platen surface, and a layer of deformable material separating and capable of contacting both the platen surface and the load receiving sheet and which is compressed in thickness when loads are applied to the sheet. The deformable layer is provided with regularly spaced voids, for example holes or gaps, such that the deformable material bulges into these voids when compressed across its thickness. Either the platen or the load receiving sheet is transparent, and the deformable layer is viewed through a surface of the transparent member to detect reductions in the areas of the voids caused by loading of the load receiving sheet. The viewing may be done by a video camera.NRC publication: Ye