ACCELERATION SENSOR

• US 20160327588A1
• Filed: 07/23/2016
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SignalQuest Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SignalQuest Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelley, Whitmore B. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,702,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 with conversion into electric or magnetic values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/242 the contact forming a part of a coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/5888 Terminals of surface mounted devices [SMD]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/141 Details

Abstract

An acceleration sensor is provided. The acceleration sensor contains a first electrically conductive element and a second electrically conductive element. An electrically insulative element is connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element, where at least a portion of the first electrically conductive element and at least a portion of the second electrically conductive element make contact with the electrically insulative element. At least one electrically conductive spring is located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

a first electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the first electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the first electrically conductive element;

a second electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the second electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the second electrically conductive element;

an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element, where at least a portion of the first electrically conductive element and at least a portion of the second electrically conductive element make contact with the electrically insulative element; and

at least one electrically conductive spring located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element,

wherein the at least one electrically conductive spring is connected to an inner surface of the second electrically conductive element and is movable inside the cavity between a first position not contacting the first electrically conductive element, and a second position in contact with the inner surface of the first electrically conductive element.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is in a closed state (ON) if a conductive path exists from the first electrically conductive element, through the at least one electrically conductive spring, to the second electrically conductive element, and wherein the sensor is in an open state (OFF) if there is no conductive path from the first electrically conductive element, through the at least one electrically conductive spring, to the second electrically conductive element.

3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein a diameter of a distal portion of the first electrically conductive element and a diameter of a distal portion of the second electrically conductive element are smaller than a diameter of the electrically insulative element.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the tilt sensor is further defined by the first electrically conductive element further comprising a flat end surface located on a side opposite the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element, and wherein the second electrically conductive element further comprises a flat end surface located on a side opposite the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element.

5. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the at least one electrically conductive spring is connected to either the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element or the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulative element is tube-like in shape.

7. The sensor of claim 1, where the electrically insulative element is square-like in shape.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive element comprises a cylindrical lip that extends away from an inner surface of the first electrically conductive element further into the cavity of the sensor.

9. The sensor of claim 8, wherein the at least one electrically conductive spring is movable to a third position in contact with the cylindrical lip of the first electrically conductive element.

10. The sensor or claim 8, wherein the cylindrical lip is electrically conductive.

11. A sensor, comprising:

a first electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the first electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the first electrically conductive element;

a second electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the second electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the second electrically conductive element;

an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element, where at least a portion of the first electrically conductive element and at least a portion of the second electrically conductive element make contact with the electrically insulative element;

at least one electrically conductive spring located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element; and

a first electrically conductive weight located within the cavity of the sensor, wherein the first electrically conductive weight is connected to a first end of the electrically conductive spring.

12. The sensor of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrically conductive spring is connected to an inner surface of the second electrically conductive element.

13. The sensor of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrically conductive spring is connected to the inner surface of the second electrically conductive element at a portion of the inner surface of the second electrically conductive element that is substantially or completely flat.