Configurable accelerometer assembly

• US 20060042381A1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veoneer, Inc. (SSW Partners LP)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Still, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,181,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices

Abstract

An improved accelerometer assembly including a circuit board and an accelerometer is provided. The accelerometer is configured to sense acceleration along a sensing axis. The accelerometer is attached to the circuit board and configured to sense acceleration along a sensing axis. A housing is configured to receive the circuit board in a first and second orientation, wherein the sensing axis in the first orientation is rotated 90° from the sensing axis in the second orientation.

Claims

1. An accelerometer assembly comprising:

a circuit board having a plurality of connection points;

an accelerometer attached to the circuit board, the accelerometer having a sensing axis;

a housing configured to receive the circuit board in a first and second orientation, wherein the sensing axis in first orientation is rotated 90°

from the sensing axis in the second orientation.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board has a rotational axis defined at a 45°

offset to the sensing axis, connection points forming a geometrically symmetric pattern with respect to the rotational axis, such that, the second orientation being rotated 180°

about the rotational axis from the first orientation, thereby rotating the sensing axis by 90°

while maintaining the location of the geometrically symmetric pattern of connection points.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, where n a first set connection points on a first side of the rotational axis are duplicates of a second set of connection points on a second side of the rotational axis such that a functional pin configuration of the plurality of connection points is consistent in both the first and second orientation.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising pins attached to the housing and configured to provide an electrical connection to the plurality of connection points.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pins provide an electrical connection to a set of connection points of the plurality of connection points.

6. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pins are insert molded into the housing.

7. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pins are stitched into the housing.

8. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pins are soldered to the connection points.

9. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pins are attached to the connection points through a mechanical interference.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board has a first and second set of connection points, the first set of connection points forming a first pattern and the second set of connection points forming a second pattern having a same geometric shape as the first pattern

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the housing is configured to receive the first set of connection points in the first orientation, and the second set of connection points in the second orientation.

12. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first set connection points are duplicates of the second set of connection points such that a functional pin configuration of the plurality of connection points is consistent in both the first and second orientation.

13. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first orientation is rotated 90°

about the center of the circuit board from the second orientation.