Mounted shock sensor

• US 20080224879A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Zadesky, Stephen P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,541,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/653
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/06 using members subjected to a permanent deformation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 29/002 Inertia switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002

Abstract

This application is directed to a shock sensor mounted in an electronic device. The shock sensor includes both active and passive shock detection methods that allow a technician to determine whether the electronic device was subjected to a shock event that exceeded an impact threshold level. The shock sensor may include shock detection contacts that form an electrical circuit that remains open in the absence of a shock event that exceeds an impact threshold level. In response to a significant shock event, a movable component or substance of the shock sensor may move from a first position to a second position, thereby closing the electrical circuit formed by the shock detection contacts. The change in circuit may be detected and used to provide active indication of whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event. In addition, the shock sensor may be observed to passively determine whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event.

Claims

1. A shock sensor that actively and passively indicates the occurrence of a shock event, comprising:

at least one shock detection contact coupled to shock detection circuitry to form an open electrical circuit; and

a movable component or substance operative to move from a first position to a second position wherein, in response to a shock event, the movable component or substance moves to the second position and shorts the electrical circuit to provide active shock detection and is observed in the second position to provide passive shock detection.

2. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the shock detection circuitry provides an electrical signal in response to shorting the electrical circuit.

3. The shock sensor of claim 2, wherein the electrical signal changes the state of the shock sensor.

4. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the movable component or substance remains in the second position in response to the shock event.

5. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the shock event exceeds an impact threshold level for the shock sensor.

6. The shock sensor of claim 1, further comprising an RFID tag that is rendered operable to emit a signal when the movable component or substance moves to the second position.

7. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the movable component or substance comprises a chamber and a reservoir enclosed within the chamber.

8. The shock sensor of claim 7, wherein:

conductive fluid is retained within the reservoir when the movable component or substance is in the first position; and

the conductive fluid is released from the reservoir when the movable component or substance is in the second position.

9. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the movable component or substance comprises a cantilever spring and a magnet mounted to a first end of the cantilever spring.

10. The shock sensor of claim 9 further comprising a chamber, wherein:

the magnet is not in contact with the chamber when the movable component or substance is in the first position; and

the magnet is in contact with the wall when the movable component or substance is in the second position.

11. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein shock sensor is configured to be reset after the shock event.

12. The shock sensor of claim 11, wherein the movable component or substance is placed in the first position to reset the shock sensor.

13. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the shock sensor is configured to be soldered to the circuit board of an electronic device.

14. A shock sensor that actively and passively indicates the occurrence of a shock event, comprising:

a chamber;

first and second contacts extending into the chamber; and

conductive fluid enclosed within the chamber, wherein the conductive fluid is configured to short the first and second contacts in response to a shock event.

15. The shock sensor of claim 14, wherein the shock event exceeds an impact threshold level for the shock sensor.

16. The shock sensor of claim 14, wherein the first and second contacts are spaced a predetermined distance apart.

17. The shock sensor of claim 14, wherein the first and second contacts are inserted in the chamber while preventing the conductive fluid from escaping the chamber.

18. The shock sensor of claim 14, further comprising a reservoir containing the conductive fluid, wherein the reservoir is enclosed in the chamber.

19. The shock sensor of claim 18, further comprising a membrane configured to maintain the conductive fluid within the reservoir, the membrane configured to rupture in response to the shock event.

20. The shock sensor of claim 14, further comprising detection circuitry configured to provide an electrical signal in response to the conductive fluid shorting the first and second contacts to actively detect a shock event.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrical signal is configured to modify the state of the shock sensor.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the detection circuitry is configured to provide the electrical signal continuously.

23. The shock sensor of claim 14, wherein the conductive fluid is colored for ease of observation for passive shock detection.

24. The shock sensor of claim 14, wherein at least part of the chamber is translucent.

25. The shock sensor of claim 14, wherein the shock sensor is configured to be soldered to the circuit board of an electronic device.

26. A shock sensor, comprising:

an electrical signal conductive and magnetically attractive shock detecting chamber;

a cantilever spring having a first end fixed to a support structure and a second end disposed within the chamber; and

a magnet fixed to the second end of the cantilever spring, the magnet operative to be magnetically attached to the chamber in response to a shock event.

27. The shock sensor of claim 26, wherein the chamber is constructed from a magnetic metal.

28. The shock sensor of claim 26, further comprising:

a first shock detection contact electrically coupled to the cantilever spring; and

a second shock detection contact electrically coupled to the chamber.

29. The shock sensor of claim 28, wherein the magnet is operative to short the first and second shock detection contacts in response to the shock event.

30. The shock sensor of claim 29, operative to provide active shock detection.

31. The shock sensor of claim 26, wherein the magnet remains in contact with the chamber in response to the shock event to provide passive shock detection.

32. The shock sensor of claim 26, wherein shock sensor is configured to be reset after the shock event.

33. The shock sensor of claim 32, wherein the magnet is detached from the chamber to reset the shock sensor.

34. The shock sensor of claim 26, wherein the shock sensor is configured to be soldered to the circuit board of an electronic device.

35. A method for actively and passively indicating the occurrence of a shock event using a single shock sensor, comprising:

providing active indication of whether the shock sensor endured a shock event; and

providing passive indication of whether the shock sensor endured the shock event.

36. The method of claim 35, the method further comprising:

moving a movable component or substance from a first position to a second position;

wherein providing active indication further comprises further comprises providing an electrical signal indicative of the occurrence of the shock event in response to the movable component or substance being in the second position; and

wherein providing passive indication further comprises observing the movable component or substance in the second position.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the movable component or substance comprises a chamber and a reservoir enclosed within the chamber.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

retaining conductive fluid within the reservoir when the movable component or substance is in the first position; and

releasing the conductive fluid from the reservoir in response to the shock event.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the movable component or substance comprises a cantilever spring and a magnet mounted to a first end of the cantilever spring.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

maintaining the magnet away from the walls of a chamber enclosing the magnet when the movable component or substance is in the first position; and

placing the magnet in contact with the chamber in response to the shock event.

41. The method of claim 36, further comprising modifying the state of an electronic device in response to providing the electrical signal.

42. A system for actively and passively indicating the occurrence of a shock event, comprising:

an electronic device; and

a shock sensor implemented in the electronic device, wherein the shock sensor further comprises;

at least one shock detection contact coupled to shock detection circuitry to form an open electrical circuit; and

a movable component or substance configured to move from a first position to a second position wherein, in response to a shock event, the movable component or substance moves to the second position and shorts the electrical circuit to provide active shock detection and is observed in the second position to provide passive shock detection.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the shock detection circuitry is configured to provide an electrical signal in response to the shorting of the electrical circuit.

44. The system of claim 43, further comprising a diagnostic device configured to detect the electrical signal.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the electronic device further comprises a processor configured to change the state of the electronic device in response to detecting the electronic signal.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the electronic device further comprises a storage device configured to store the change of state of the electronic signal.

47. The system of claim 43, further comprising a RFID tag that is rendered operative to emit a signal when the electrical signal is detected.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein the movable component or substance is returned to the first position to reset the shock sensor.

49. The system of claim 42, wherein the shock sensor is configured to be soldered to a component of the electronic device.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the component of the electronic device is a circuit board.