Tilt sensor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for developing a signal representing application of a force, comprising:
- a movable mass having one of an attractive and a repulsive response to the force, the movable mass being mounted for displacement along a path from a preloaded position to an unloaded position upon application of the force;
a piezoelectric element operable to generate an electrical potential when deflected, the piezoelectric element being mounted so as to be deflected upon displacement of the mass along the path;
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tilt switch generates a signal as a function of orientation relative to a force, especially to detect tilting relative to vertical under the influence of gravity. A movable mass is mounted for displacement along a path between preloaded and unloaded positions. In the example of gravity tilt detection, a free-falling weight or an overbalanced inverted pendulum toggles by a mass falling back and forth between the preloaded and unloaded states. The weight is unstable and accelerates from the preloaded position to an unloaded position upon application of the force. A piezoelectric element such as a resilient strip is arranged to be deflected suddenly by the movable mass, and generates an electrical signal. The piezoelectric element can be mounted to obstruct the path of the mass. In the example of a pendulum toggle, the pendulum can have two angularly spaced legs that respectively move the piezoelectric element to opposite sides of its relaxed rest position between the preloaded and unloaded positions of the mass. The switch preferably is carried on a mounting structure that constrains the path of the movable mass and defines a directional reference.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for developing a signal representing application of a force, comprising:
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a movable mass having one of an attractive and a repulsive response to the force, the movable mass being mounted for displacement along a path from a preloaded position to an unloaded position upon application of the force;
a piezoelectric element operable to generate an electrical potential when deflected, the piezoelectric element being mounted so as to be deflected upon displacement of the mass along the path;
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification