Inclination switch
First Claim
1. An inclination responsive switch for repetitively actuating and deactuating a high-current load connected with a high-current output terminal of said switch, when said switch is connected with a source of electrical energy, comprising:
- a housing;
a gravity responsive device in said housing having a low-current output terminal;
a semiconductor switching device having a low-current input terminal and a high-current output terminal;
said low-current output terminal being connected with said low-current input terminal, wherein electrical current produced by said gravity responsive device is supplied to said semiconductor switching device, and wherein electrical current produced by said semiconductor switching device is supplied to a load connected with said high current output signal; and
wherein said gravity responsive device produces a low-current electrical signal on said low-current output terminal and said semiconductor switching device amplifies said low-current electrical signal to produce a high-current electrical signal, said low-current electrical signal having a first state when said housing is in a first inclination position in order to cause said switching device to supply a high current to actuate said electrical load, and said low-current electrical signal having a second state when said housing is in a second inclination position in order to cause said switching device to terminate said high current to deactuate said electrical load.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inclination responsive switch is provided for repetitively actuating and deactuating a high-current load, such as a low-voltage lamp in an automobile. A gravity responsive device produces a low-current output signal, which has a first state when the gravity responsive device is in a first inclination position and a second state when the device is in a second inclination position. A semiconductor switching device has a low-current input terminal connected with a low-current output of the gravity responsive device. The switching device amplifies the low-current electrical signal to produce a high-current electrical signal in order to supply high current to a load connected with the high-current output terminal of the switching device to actuate the load in one inclination position and terminates the high current to deactuate the load in the other inclination position.
12 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An inclination responsive switch for repetitively actuating and deactuating a high-current load connected with a high-current output terminal of said switch, when said switch is connected with a source of electrical energy, comprising:
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a housing; a gravity responsive device in said housing having a low-current output terminal; a semiconductor switching device having a low-current input terminal and a high-current output terminal; said low-current output terminal being connected with said low-current input terminal, wherein electrical current produced by said gravity responsive device is supplied to said semiconductor switching device, and wherein electrical current produced by said semiconductor switching device is supplied to a load connected with said high current output signal; and wherein said gravity responsive device produces a low-current electrical signal on said low-current output terminal and said semiconductor switching device amplifies said low-current electrical signal to produce a high-current electrical signal, said low-current electrical signal having a first state when said housing is in a first inclination position in order to cause said switching device to supply a high current to actuate said electrical load, and said low-current electrical signal having a second state when said housing is in a second inclination position in order to cause said switching device to terminate said high current to deactuate said electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An inclination responsive switch for repetitively actuating and deactuating a high-current load connected with a high-current output terminal of said switch, when said switch is connected with a source of electrical energy, comprising:
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a housing having an electrically insulating portion; a sphere made of an electrically conductive material and having a defined diameter, said sphere captured between said insulating portion and another housing portion; first and second contacts made of electrically conductive material and spaced apart on said electrically insulating portion of said housing less than said diameter of said sphere; a semiconductor switching device having a low-current input terminal and a high-current output terminal; one of said first and second contacts being electrically connected with said low-current input terminal and said sphere juxtaposed with said first and second contacts in order to electrically connect one terminal of a power source connected with the other of said first and second contacts with said low-current input when said housing is in a first inclination position and to isolate said source from said low-current input terminal when said housing is in a second inclination position; and wherein said semiconductor switching device amplifies current supplied to said low-current input terminal to actuate an electrical load connected with said high-current output terminal when said housing is in one of said inclination positions and to deactuate said electrical load when said housing is in said second inclination positions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An inclination responsive switch for repetitively actuating and deactuating a high-current load connected with a high-current output terminal of said switch, when said switch is connected with a source of electrical energy, comprising:
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a housing having an electrically insulating portion; a sphere made of an electrically conductive material and having a defined diameter, said sphere captured between said insulating portion and another housing portion; first and second elongated parallel contacts made of electrically conductive material and spaced apart on said electrically insulating portion of said housing less than said diameter of said sphere, said contacts and said insulating portion of said housing defining a channel wherein said sphere can roll between a first position contacting said first and second contacts and a second position not contacting said first and second contacts in response to said housing moving from a first inclination position to a second inclination position; a semiconductor switching device having a low-current input terminal and a high-current output terminal; one of said first and second contacts electrically connected with said low-current input terminal and said sphere juxtaposed with said channel in order to electrically connect one terminal of a power source connected with the other of said first and second contacts with said low-current input terminal when said housing is in a first inclination position and to isolate said source from said low-current input terminal when said housing is in a second inclination position; and wherein said semiconductor switching device amplifies current supplied to said low-current input terminal to activate said electrical load connected with said high-current output terminal when said housing is in one of said positions and to deactuate said electrical load when said housing is in the other of said inclination positions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An inclination responsive switch for repetitively actuating and deactuating a high-current load connected with a high-current output terminal of said switch, when said switch is connected with a source of electrical energy, comprising:
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a housing having an electrically insulating portion; a sphere made of an electrically conductive material and having a diameter; first, second and third parallel planar electrical contacts made of electrically conductive material and spaced apart on said electrically insulating portion of said housing less than said diameter of said sphere, means defining an opening in the middle one of said contacts that is larger than said diameter of said sphere, whereby said sphere can move between a first position contacting said first and second contacts and a second position contacting said second and third contacts in response to said housing moving from a first inclination position and a second inclination position; a semiconductor switching device having a low-current input terminal and a high-current output terminal; said second contact electrically connected with said low-current input terminal and said first and third contacts electrically connectable with respective first and second terminals of a power source, wherein said low-current input is electrically connected with a first terminal of said electrical source connected with said first contact when said housing is in one of said inclination positions and with a second terminal of said electrical source connected with said first contact when said housing is in the other of said inclination positions; and wherein said semiconductor switching device amplifies current supplied to said low-current input terminal to activate said electrical load when said housing is in one of said positions and to deactuate said electrical load when said housing is in the other of said inclination positions. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification