Analytical Modelling of Magnetic Multimedia Control Elements Based on a Single Magnetic Sensor

Magnetic multimedia control elements have many advantages in comparison with other systems based on mechanical, electrical, or optical readout. For system layouting, the practicality of analytical models over extensive numerical simulation was demonstrated in the past. In this work, we apply the analytical approach to design magnetic multimedia control elements. Particularly, we focus on a joystick that includes only a single 3D magnetic sensor and can be used in continuous operating mode. Presented results relate to a system based on a single permanent magnet and a single 3D sensor. The scheme was used to build a prototype to perform prove of principle experiments. A semi-analytic method to determine positions of the joystick from the observed magnetic field is discussed.