The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 04, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 08, 1994
Pita Witehira, Temple View, Hamilton, NZ;
Other;
Abstract
A motion sensor includes a piezoelectric transducer and a ball positioned against the transducer, with the ball rollably engaged with the transducer. The transducer generates an electrical signal in response to motion of the ball on the transducer. In a preferred embodiment, the transducer includes a piezoelectric ceramic composite disc which is bonded to a metallic, preferably brass, plate. The ball is positioned against the brass plate for rolling engagement of the ball on the brass plate. When motion of the ball relative to the transducer occurs, the low frequency rolling movement of the ball on the transducer induces the transducer to generate an electrical signal. In an alternate embodiment, the ball is dispensed with, and the transducer is suspended beneath a circuit board by a stiff wire connected to a first end of the transducer and a flexible wire connected to a second end of the transducer. Both wires are attached to the circuit board, so that the transducer can vibrate about its first end in response to movement of the sensor.