Claims
- 1. A movement sensor comprising:a) an elongate object, comprising a piezoelectric material, having an anchored end that is anchored to a base, and an unanchored end to which a force is applied, the unanchored end of the elongated object being configured to move in response to the applied force; b) a plurality of electrodes disposed on the elongate object, configured to cooperate with the elongate object in producing signals usable to determine the magnitude and direction of the movement of the unanchored end due to the applied force; and c) sensing circuitry electrically coupled to the electrodes, configured for processing the signals from the electrodes so as to determine a magnitude and a direction of movement and produce a signal indicative of said magnitude and direction.
- 2. The movement sensor of claim 1, wherein said elongate object has a substantially circular transverse cross-section and said electrodes are circumferentially spaced about the elongate object.
- 3. A movement sensor as set forth in claim 2, wherein each one of the electrodes is positioned so as to be circumferentially not more than about 120 degrees apart from an adjacent electrode.
- 4. The movement sensor of claim 1, wherein two electrodes are placed so as to be positioned at locations on an outer surface of the elongate object and substantially ninety degrees from each other from a perspective of circling about the elongate object in a circular path orthogonal with respect to a direction of elongation of the object.
- 5. The movement sensor of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are disposed in substantial alignment about the elongate object.
- 6. The movement sensor of claim 1, wherein said sensing circuitry comprises a microprocessor.
- 7. The movement sensor of claim 1, wherein said electrodes comprise a plurality of conductive elements disposed generally in a longitudinal array on one side of the elongate object.
- 8. The movement sensor of claim 1, wherein said electrodes comprise at least one elongate conductive element disposed on one side of the elongate object.
- 9. A movement sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to sense rotational movement of the unanchored end.
- 10. A movement sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to sense translational movement of the unanchored end.
- 11. A movement sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrodes are aligned substantially parallel with a direction of elongation of the elongate object.
Parent Case Info
This application is a Division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/480,018 filed Jun. 7, 1995, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,330; which is a Division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/898,216 filed Jun. 12, 1992, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,184; which is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/816,628 filed Dec. 31, 1991, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,882; which is a CIP of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 07/647,659 filed Jan. 28, 1991, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,455.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
07/816628 |
Dec 1991 |
US |
Child |
07/898216 |
|
US |
Parent |
07/647659 |
Jan 1991 |
US |
Child |
07/816628 |
|
US |