Accelerometer with hall effect sensor

Abstract

Accelerometer with Hall effect sensor. The accelerometer may have a rounded magnetic assembly with rounded flux concentrator, such as a C-shape or horseshoe. Opposing ends of the concentrator may each have a magnet and form a gap having a highly-concentrated, non-linear magnetic field. Opposing ends of the concentrator may have a reduced width, such as cone-shaped. A Hall sensor may be located within or near the gap. The sensor or magnet may be moveably supported by a spring. The sensor may move perpendicularly relative to a direction of the magnetic field lines. A second magnet may be included, for example adjacent the gap, to provide a second set of magnetic field lines with shallower gradient for lower sensitivity. Movement of the sensor within the two magnetic fields may provide multiple wide-ranging sensitivities, such as “X” V/g as well as X/500 mV/g or X/5,000 mV/g.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.