Motion and tilt angle sensor
AssigneeMobile Storage Technology Inc.
InventorsBruce D. Emo, James M. Jones, Paul J. Poisson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mass moves within a bore defined in a body. During normal operation the axis of the bore is approximately vertical, so that the mass rests at the bottom. A magnet is positioned adjacent the top of the bore and imparts an upwards force on the mass that is less than the downwards force on the mass upwards force on the mass that is less than the downwards force on the mass from gravity. A coil is positioned adjacent the bottom of the bore. When the body is dropped, or tilted beyond a critical angle from vertical, the force from the magnet causes the mass to move upwards in the bore. The upwards movement is sensed as a change in the coil's inductance.
Claims31
A sensor comprising:
- a body in which a bore is defined along an axis, wherein the bore has a first end and a second end distal from the first end;
- a mass positioned within the bore, wherein the mass is subject to magnetic attraction;
- a magnet positioned adjacent the second end of the bore so as to impart a magnetic attraction on the mass;
- and
- an electrically conductive coil positioned adjacent the first end of the bore;
- wherein as a component force of gravity along the axis and with reference to the body is reduced, the magnetic attraction on the mass moves the mass from the first end to the second end.
A sensor comprising:
- a body in which a bore is defined along an axis, wherein the bore has a first end and a second end distal from the first end;
- a mass positioned within the bore, wherein the mass is subject to magnetic attraction;
- a magnet positioned adjacent,the second end of the bore so as to impart a magnetic attraction on the mass;
- and
- an electrically conductive coil positioned adjacent the first end of the bore;
- wherein movement of the mass within the bore is limited such that a first magnetic force on the mass is greater than zero percent (0%) of a weight of the mass for the mass positioned adjacent the first end of the bore, and a second magnetic force on the mass is less than 100 percent (100%) of the weight of the mass for the mass positioned adjacent the second end of the bore.
A portable computer in which a sensor is mounted comprising:
- a housing for the portable computer;
- a body, mounted inside the housing, in which a bore is defined along an axis, wherein the bore has a first end and a second end distal from the first end;
- a mass positioned within the bore, wherein the mass is subject to magnetic attraction;
- a magnet positioned adjacent the second end of the bore so as to impart a magnetic attraction on the mass;
- and
- an electrically conductive coil positioned adjacent the first end of the bore;
- wherein as a component force of gravity along the axis and with reference to the body is reduced, the magnetic attraction on the mass moves the mass from the first end to the second end.
A computer hard disk drive assembly comprising:
- a housing for the disk drive assembly;
- a body, mounted inside the housing, in which a bore is defined along an axis, wherein the bore has a first end and a second end distal from the first end;
- a mass positioned within the bore, wherein the mass is subject to magnetic attraction;
- a magnet positioned adjacent the second end of the bore so as to impart a magnetic attraction on the mass;
- and
- an electrically conductive coil positioned adjacent the first end of the bore;
- wherein as a component force of gravity along the axis and with reference to the body is reduced, the magnetic attraction on the mass moves the mass from the first end to the second end.
A method of detecting a change in position of a mass, comprising:
- positioning the mass within a bore defined along an axis in a body, wherein the bore has a first end and a second end distal from the first end, and wherein the mass is subject to magnetic attraction;
- positioning a magnet adjacent the second end of the bore so as to impart a magnetic force on the mass;
- and
- positioning an electrically conductive coil adjacent the first end of the bore;
- wherein positioning the mass and the magnet is such that as a component force of gravity along the axis and with reference to the body is reduced, the magnetic attraction on the mass moves the mass from the first end to the second end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.