Magnetofluidic accelerometer with partial filling of cavity with magnetic fluid
First Claim
1. A sensor comprising:
- a housing;
a magnetic fluid within the housing, the magnetic fluid incompletely filling the housing; and
an inertial body in contact with the magnetic fluid, wherein displacement of the inertial body relative to the magnetic fluid is indicative of acceleration on the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor includes a housing and a magnetic fluid within the housing that incompletely fills the housing. An inertial body is in contact with the magnetic fluid. Displacement of the inertial body relative to the magnetic fluid is indicative of acceleration on the housing. The acceleration includes linear and/or angular acceleration. The inertial body can be an air bubble, or a dissimilar liquid. A plurality of magnets are mounted on the housing, wherein the magnetic fluid is positioned in droplets between the magnets and the inertial body. The magnetic fluid can be a single droplet between each magnet and the inertial body, or multiple droplets between each magnet and the inertial body. The remaining volume in the housing can be filled with a non-magnetic fluid.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising:
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a housing;
a magnetic fluid within the housing, the magnetic fluid incompletely filling the housing; and
an inertial body in contact with the magnetic fluid, wherein displacement of the inertial body relative to the magnetic fluid is indicative of acceleration on the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensor comprising:
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a magnetic fluid arranged in droplets generally around an inertial body; and
a second fluid different from the magnetic fluid arranged generally between the magnetic fluid and the inertial body, wherein displacement of the inertial body is indicative of acceleration of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A sensor comprising:
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an inertial body;
a plurality of droplets of magnetic fluid holding the inertial body in suspension; and
a plurality of magnetic poles maintaining the droplets of the magnetic fluid in place, wherein displacement of the inertial body relative to the magnetic fluid is indicative of acceleration on the sensor.
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17. A method for measuring acceleration comprising:
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suspending an inertial body using droplets of magnetic fluid;
measuring a position of the inertial body in response to a force applied to the inertial body; and
calculating acceleration based on the displacement.
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Specification