Capacitor bridges in the measurement of force and torque

It is established that the use of capacitor bridge techniques is appropriate to the measurement of force and torque via strain. Correct electrical and electronic design avoids the problems often believed to be inherent in such techniques. The limiting practical sensitivity is at the sub-micron level and the results show that good performance is achieved through integration of the plates into the mechanical design. Potentially manufacture is simple. It is possible to use long leads with remote electronics but there is also the potential to design and build an integrated circuit which could be incorporated within the device. An additional advantage is the potential low power consumption. That of the bridge itself is effectively zero and it would be possible to design the electronics to consume very little power