Multi-directional Sensor Using Magnetic Suspension for Impact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional collision and tilt sensors are limited in detecting impact direction and suffer from complex structures and electric shock risks due to their inability to detect impacts from multiple directions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A multi-directional sensor design featuring a housing unit with a conductive body magnetically attracted to magnetic components and surrounded by electrically conductive terminals, allowing detection of impact direction through electrical interconnection of terminals upon impact, with a simplified structure and reduced risk of electric shock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional collision sensors use a single contact terminal design, then the structure is simple, but the sensor can only detect impact from a single predetermined direction
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor divides the detection function into multiple independent contact terminals (first contact terminal and second contact terminal) arranged at different positions. Each terminal can detect impacts from different directions, allowing the sensor to identify impact direction by determining which terminal is activated. This segmentation enables multi-directional detection while maintaining relatively simple individual terminal structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from single-direction detection to multi-directional detection by adding spatial dimensionality through multiple contact terminals positioned at different locations and orientations. The first contact terminal detects impacts along a first direction while the second contact terminal detects impacts along a second direction, creating a multi-dimensional detection capability that identifies impact direction through spatial distribution of terminals.
2Reliability
If eight-directional induction starting device uses bearings to reduce friction, then sensitivity is enhanced, but the overall structure becomes complicated and electric shock risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the bearing component from the sensor structure entirely. Instead of using bearings to reduce friction during contact terminal movement, the design employs magnetic suspension to hold the conductive body floating in the magnetic fluid. This extraction of the bearing component simplifies the overall structure, eliminates the associated complexity, and removes the electric shock risk associated with conductive bearings while maintaining detection sensitivity through the magnetic field interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical bearing system with a magnetic field-based suspension system. The conductive body is held floating in the magnetic fluid by magnetic forces from the magnetic components, eliminating the need for physical contact and mechanical friction. This substitution of mechanical support with magnetic suspension reduces structural complexity and eliminates electric shock risks while preserving the ability to detect impacts through conductive body displacement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tilt sensor uses fixed contacts disposed transversely, then four-direction impact detection is enabled, but horizontal impact detection fails when no top-bottom direction tilt occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention assigns different detection capabilities to different contact terminals based on their local positioning and orientation. The first contact terminal is specifically configured to detect impacts along a first direction, while the second contact terminal is configured to detect impacts along a second direction. This local differentiation of terminal functions ensures that horizontal impacts are reliably detected by the appropriate terminal without requiring tilting in the top-bottom direction, overcoming the limitation of transverse fixed contact arrangements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables detection of impact occurrence and direction while maintaining a safe and uncomplicated design, enhancing sensitivity and industrial applicability by surrounding the conductive body with conductive terminals and using insulating materials for the housing unit.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive body is made of an electrically magnetically conductive material, is disposed in the housing space, and is magnetically attracted to the first magnetic component
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-directional sensor includes a housing unit having a surrounding wall that defines a housing space, a first magnetic component disposed on the housing unit, a conductive body disposed in the housing space and magnetically attracted to the first magnetic component, and a plurality of spaced-apart electrically conductive terminals surrounding the conductive body. When the multi-directional sensor is subjected to an impact, the conductive body is forced to move toward two adjacent conductive terminals which are opposite to the direction of impact due to inertia so as to bridge and electrically interconnect the two adjacent conductive terminals so that a signal can be generated.