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Author Topic: Swing Sensors Revealed  (Read 4152 times)

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Offline Wilson McDermot

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Swing Sensors Revealed
« on: November 13, 2010, 12:08:23 PM »
Slightly smaller in diameter than clash sensors, swing sensors are 3/32-inch across and 1/2-inch long.



This one, purchased from TCSS, doesn't have any identification codes printed on it. Removing the outer layer of insulating heat shrink shows the sensor consists of a long metal cup fitted with a plastic plug.



Filing off one side of the cup provides a close-up of the sensor's inner workings.



When a lightsaber swings, the balls are thrown against the head of the pin in the center of the insulating plug. Electrical contact is made between the cup and the pin, signaling the sound board it's time to issue a swing sound.
« Last Edit: February 13, 2018, 09:46:20 PM by Wilson McDermot »

Offline Skottsaber

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2010, 10:47:47 AM »
Ahh, that makes a whole lot of sense!
I managed to work out how clash sensors worked, but I never did understand swing sensors!

Thanks!

I wonder why there are 2 ball bearings though?

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Offline Saarai

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2010, 10:53:36 AM »
not long now before someone makes a new improved swing sensor
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Offline Skottsaber

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2010, 10:54:51 AM »
Do you mean you know somebody is working on it, or just speculation?

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Offline Saarai

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2010, 10:59:07 AM »
Elementary my dear Skottsaber. This is a community of people who take the mediocre and figure out ways to improve it making it spectacular. Revealing how a swing sensoer works, (which is pretty simple) I guarantee there are a few people looking at that right now going, "I bet I could do it better."
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Character and integrity are what you do when no one is around or looking.
Bowties are cool.
From now on I'll be green, I'll be all the shades of green, they'll call me El Verde and tell my tale in Greenland.
Yoda: "To the hand you must talk." ROP5

Offline cannibal869

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2010, 11:40:11 AM »
ahhhh cool! thanks for that!

Offline Luke S.

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2010, 10:22:14 PM »
Elementary my dear Skottsaber. This is a community of people who take the mediocre and figure out ways to improve it making it spectacular. Revealing how a swing sensoer works, (which is pretty simple) I guarantee there are a few people looking at that right now going, "I bet I could do it better."

They already have.  A long time ago.  It's called Plecter Labs.  CF currently on version 5.  The best of the best.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2010, 11:43:33 PM by LUKE SKYWALKER »

Offline Jamanticus

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2010, 12:52:09 AM »
not long now before someone makes a new improved swing sensor

Yeah lol... Starts with "acceler" and ends with "ometer" 

That's the feature that puts Erv's Crystal Focus boards lightyears beyond the ball bearing sensors in my mind  ;D

Offline gchu149

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2010, 01:29:49 AM »
One question from ne. Did Ultrasound board use accelerometers  Or did thy use the ball and spring system?
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Offline Skottsaber

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #9 on: December 03, 2010, 01:35:16 AM »
Ultrasound does use an accelerometer, but it is not handled in the same perfect fashion like CF.
Therefore you get the annoying Clash on swing  >:(

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Offline Wilson McDermot

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2018, 09:48:39 PM »
With accelerometers taking over swing and clash functions, these mechanical sensors may be out of date, but I've reposted the images so anyone interested in how it used to be done could see what they looked like.

Offline Obi_1

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2018, 04:35:24 AM »
All the current saber boards use some kind of semiconductor based accelero- and/or gyrometer. More advanced boards use IMUs (inertial measurement unit), which combines accelerometer and gyroscope in one package and offers on-chip digital signal processing to offload complicated calculations like orientation, quaternion etc. from the controller. I'm not sure what commercial boards use, I mount one of the industry's best IMU (MPU6050) on my DIYino saber boards, because I simply want to use the best available hardware. Of course the hardware capability is one thing, what makes a real difference how you use the data provided from these sensors to detect gestures, trigger clashes and other FX's.

Offline Wilson McDermot

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2018, 09:34:51 AM »
You've given me the idea of purchasing some of the latest sensors and taking them apart to show people what's inside. Thank you!

Offline Wilson McDermot

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2018, 01:56:28 PM »
As long as I'm posting images of old-style swing sensors, I thought some people might be interested in what the cheap $20 Hasbro lightsabers use. The first image is of the cylindrical swing sensor on the circuit board.



This second image shows the inside of the sensor:



While it looks different, it employs the same moving-ball bearing in a chamber as the first sensor.
« Last Edit: February 14, 2018, 02:07:10 PM by Wilson McDermot »

Offline Wilson McDermot

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Re: Swing Sensors Revealed
« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2018, 08:09:19 PM »
The configuration of the Hasbro swing sensor suggests it operates like a normally closed switch. When the saber is swung, the ball bearing moves to one side breaking the connection, which is recognized by the circuit as the signal to initiate the swing sound effect.

 

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