Detection of damping force for shock absorber control

An apparatus for detecting the magnitude of a damping force applied to a shock absorber having a cylinder and a piston slidably inserted therein, said piston having a cylindrical piston rod affixed thereto, the damping force being detected occurring in a direction opposite to a direction of motion of said piston relative to said cylinder, said apparatus comprising:

• piezoelectric means for generating a signal corresponding to a pressure applied thereto, said piezoelectric means having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said piston rod and being disposed in a hollowed region thereof;
• and
• pressurizing means, coupled with said piston rod and contacting said piezoelectric means, for applying said pressure thereto in correspondence with a distortion of said piston rod caused by the damping force, wherein said pressurizing means comprises a convex member having at its one end portion a convexshaped surface, and a concave member having at its one end portion a concave-shaped surface, said concave and convex members being arranged such that said convex-shaped and concave-shaped surfaces are connected.