Motion transducer
View Patent ↗A motion sensing transducer is disclosed that includes a case having an inner surface, a first cap that closes the case at a first end and a second cap that closes the case at a second end. The case inner surface, first cap and second cap define a space within the case. The apparatus further includes at least one inner plate member separating the space into at a first compartment and a second compartment within the case, a coil-magnet assembly that produces a signal when subjected to motion, the coil-magnet assembly disposed immediately within the case and in the first compartment, and an electronic circuit disposed within the second compartment that modifies the signal.
1. A motion transducer apparatus, comprising:
a case having an inner surface;
a first cap that closes the case at a first end;
a second cap that closes the case at a second end, the case inner surface, first cap and second cap defining a space within the case;
at least one inner plate member separating the space into at a first compartment and a second compartment within the case;
a coil-magnet assembly that produces a signal when subjected to motion, the coil-magnet assembly disposed immediately within the case and in the first compartment; and
an electronic circuit disposed within the second compartment that modifies the signal.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises a circuit board.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the circuit board comprises a plurality of circuit boards.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of circuit boards are vertically arranged in a stacked relationship.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises one or more of i) an amplifier, ii) a signal conditioning circuit, iii) a force feedback circuit, and iv) an A/D converter circuit.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a dividing member disposed within the second compartment separating the second compartment to provide a third compartment.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises a first electronic circuit and a second electronic circuit, the first electronic circuit being disposed within the second compartment and the second electronic circuit being disposed within the third compartment.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one inner plate member comprises a first inner plate member and a second inner plate member, the first inner plate member and the second inner plate member being disposed on opposite ends of the coil-magnet assembly, the second inner plate member, case and second cap defining a third compartment within the case.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a second electronic circuit disposed in the third compartment.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the case includes an extended wall section having a reduced thickness portion.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the case includes an extended wall section having an increased thickness portion.
12. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the case includes an extended wall section, the apparatus further comprising a spacer disposed within the second compartment and adjacent the extended wall section.
13. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coil-magnet assembly includes a member having a material for concentrating magnetic flux.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the member comprises a sleeve disposed about a coil form.
15. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the material is selected from a paramagnetic material and a ferromagnetic material.
16. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coil-magnet assembly includes a magnet coupled to the case and a coil moveable with respect to the case and the magnet.
17. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coil-magnet assembly includes magnet and a coil, the magnet being moveable with respect to the case and the coil.
18. An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the circuit board is vertically arranged.
19. A method for sensing motion, comprising:
generating a signal representative of motion using a motion transducer, the motion transducer including a case having an inner surface, a first cap that closes the case at a first end, a second cap that closes the case at a second end, the case inner surface, first cap and second cap defining a space within the case, at least one inner plate member separating the space into at a first compartment and a second compartment within the case, a coil-magnet assembly that produces the signal when subjected to motion, the coil-magnet assembly disposed immediately within the case and in the first compartment; and
modifying the signal using an electronic circuit disposed within the second compartment.
20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises one or more of i) an amplifier, ii) a signal conditioning circuit, iii) a force feedback circuit, and iv) an A/D converter circuit.
21. A method according to claim 19 , wherein generating the signal includes concentrating magnetic flux of the coil-magnet assembly using a member having material selected from a paramagnetic material and a ferromagnetic material.