Pivotal magnetic coupling and position sensor
First Claim
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1. A multi-axes position and movement sensing device which comprises:
- a first magnet element having a first magnetic field;
a magnetically permeable second element;
means for holding said elements in a modifiable spatial relationship to each other;
said means for holding comprising a magnetically permeable spacer having each of two opposite sides contiguous to one of same first and second elements, said first magnet element being rockingly and swivelingly coupled to one side of said spacer and having a central opening engaging one side of said spacer;
wherein said first magnetic field interacts with the second element through the spacer to resiliently keep the first element into an equilibrium position in relation to the second element, whereby any movement imparted upon the first element in relation to the second element creates a measurable variation in said first magnetic field.
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Abstract
Two toroidal magnets (221, 22) are coupled to each other by a ferrous spherical spacer (23). The spacer (23) partially engages openings (24, 25) provided in the two magnet surfaces facing each other. The facing magnet surfaces have the same polarity, repelling each other. The configuration creates a stable equilibrium by conduction of the magnetic flux through the spacer and the repulsive forces at the periphery of the magnets. This structure forms a resilient pivot joint which when capped by a spherical handle (30) attached to the upper magnet (21) becomes a multiple-axis pointng device or a tactile sensor (20).
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16 Claims
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1. A multi-axes position and movement sensing device which comprises:
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a first magnet element having a first magnetic field; a magnetically permeable second element; means for holding said elements in a modifiable spatial relationship to each other; said means for holding comprising a magnetically permeable spacer having each of two opposite sides contiguous to one of same first and second elements, said first magnet element being rockingly and swivelingly coupled to one side of said spacer and having a central opening engaging one side of said spacer; wherein said first magnetic field interacts with the second element through the spacer to resiliently keep the first element into an equilibrium position in relation to the second element, whereby any movement imparted upon the first element in relation to the second element creates a measurable variation in said first magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification