Omnidirectional accelerometer device and medical device incorporating same
First Claim
1. An omnidirectional accelerometer device comprising:
- a piezoelectric sensor element comprising a mass-supporting platform and a plurality of mass-supporting arms for a plurality of electrically distinct sensor electrodes, each of the mass-supporting arms extending from a central bore defined in the mass-supporting platform, and each of the mass-supporting arms having one of the sensor electrodes formed thereon;
a connecting rod having a mounting end, a mass end, and a longitudinal length defined between the mounting end and the mass end, the mounting end being coupled to the mass-supporting platform such that the connecting rod passes through the central bore;
a conductive offset block coupled to a perimeter of the mass supporting platform of the piezoelectric sensor element so as to be positioned between the piezoelectric sensor element and a circuit board, the offset block sized such that the mounting end of the connecting rod is spaced apart from the circuit board; and
a proof mass coupled to the mass end of the connecting rod, wherein acceleration of the proof mass causes deflection of the mass-supporting arms, which generates distinct sensor signals at the sensor electrodes;
wherein;
the longitudinal length of the connecting rod is tuned in accordance with a predetermined parallel acceleration sensitivity for the omnidirectional accelerometer device;
each of the sensor electrodes has a longitudinal sensor length along its respective mass-supporting arm; and
the longitudinal sensor length is tuned in accordance with a predetermined perpendicular acceleration sensitivity for the omnidirectional accelerometer device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable medical device is provided with an internal accelerometer device. The medical device includes a circuit board, the accelerometer device, and a response module coupled to the accelerometer device. The accelerometer device is mechanically and electrically coupled to the circuit board, and it includes a plurality of mass-supporting arms for a plurality of electrically distinct sensor electrodes, piezoelectric material for the mass-supporting arm, and a proof mass supported by the mass-supporting arms. Each of the mass-supporting arms has one of the sensor electrodes located thereon. Acceleration of the proof mass causes deflection of the piezoelectric material, which generates respective sensor signals at one or more of the sensor electrodes. The response module is configured to initiate an acceleration-dependent operation of the portable medical device in response to generated sensor signals present at the sensor electrodes.
77 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An omnidirectional accelerometer device comprising:
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a piezoelectric sensor element comprising a mass-supporting platform and a plurality of mass-supporting arms for a plurality of electrically distinct sensor electrodes, each of the mass-supporting arms extending from a central bore defined in the mass-supporting platform, and each of the mass-supporting arms having one of the sensor electrodes formed thereon; a connecting rod having a mounting end, a mass end, and a longitudinal length defined between the mounting end and the mass end, the mounting end being coupled to the mass-supporting platform such that the connecting rod passes through the central bore; a conductive offset block coupled to a perimeter of the mass supporting platform of the piezoelectric sensor element so as to be positioned between the piezoelectric sensor element and a circuit board, the offset block sized such that the mounting end of the connecting rod is spaced apart from the circuit board; and a proof mass coupled to the mass end of the connecting rod, wherein acceleration of the proof mass causes deflection of the mass-supporting arms, which generates distinct sensor signals at the sensor electrodes;
wherein;the longitudinal length of the connecting rod is tuned in accordance with a predetermined parallel acceleration sensitivity for the omnidirectional accelerometer device; each of the sensor electrodes has a longitudinal sensor length along its respective mass-supporting arm; and the longitudinal sensor length is tuned in accordance with a predetermined perpendicular acceleration sensitivity for the omnidirectional accelerometer device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An omnidirectional accelerometer device comprising:
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a piezoelectric sensor element comprising a mass-supporting platform and a plurality of mass-supporting arms for a plurality of electrically distinct sensor electrodes, each of the mass-supporting arms extending from a central bore defined in the mass-supporting platform, and each of the mass-supporting arms having one of the sensor electrodes formed thereon; a connecting rod having a mounting end, a mass end, and a longitudinal length defined between the mounting end and the mass end, the mounting end being coupled to the mass-supporting platform such that the connecting rod passes through the central bore; a conductive offset block coupled to a perimeter of the mass supporting platform of the piezoelectric sensor element so as to be positioned between the piezoelectric sensor element and a circuit board, the offset block sized such that the mounting end of the connecting rod is spaced apart from the circuit board; and a proof mass coupled to the mass end of the connecting rod and adjustable along the longitudinal length of the connecting rod to tune the omnidirectional accelerometer device in accordance with a predetermined parallel acceleration sensitivity, wherein acceleration of the proof mass causes deflection of the mass-supporting arms, which generates distinct sensor signals at the sensor electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification