Acceleration sensor and process for its production
First Claim
1. An acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration of a motor vehicle, comprising a spring-mass system responsive only to a component of the acceleration of the vehicle which is directed along an axis, the spring mass system including:
- a plate-shaped substrate;
a seismic mass;
a contact block coupled to the substrate;
a bearing block coupled to the substrate; and
a spring coupled between the seismic mass and the bearing block so that a clearance exists between the spring and the substrate and between the seismic mass and the substrate, wherein the seismic mass, the spring and the bearing block are integrally formed of metal and wherein the spring, the seismic mass, the bearing block and the contact block define side walls which are substantially perpendicular to a surface of the substrate;
wherein the spring-mass system has an initial position and a deflection position in which a contact is closed between the seismic mass and the contact block, and wherein, upon an acceleration of the vehicle having a component along the axis of less than a predetermined magnitude, the spring-mass system deviates, along the axis, only slightly from the initial position and, upon an acceleration of the vehicle having a component along the axis greater than the predetermined magnitude, the spring-mass system is deflected along the axis to the deflection position and does not return to the initial position until the vehicle is subjected to an acceleration having a component along the axis greater than the predetermined magnitude and directed opposite to the previous acceleration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An acceleration sensor is used in particular for recognizing an impact experienced by a motor vehicle. The sensor has a spring-mass system (1) with at least one stable original position (4) and one stable deflection position (5). Upon acceleration in the measuring direction, the spring-mass system is initially deflected only slightly out of the original position (4). However, if a predetermined acceleration value is exceeded, then the spring-mass system (1) jumps into the deflection position (5), in which an electrical contact is closed.
47 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration of a motor vehicle, comprising a spring-mass system responsive only to a component of the acceleration of the vehicle which is directed along an axis, the spring mass system including:
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a plate-shaped substrate; a seismic mass; a contact block coupled to the substrate; a bearing block coupled to the substrate; and a spring coupled between the seismic mass and the bearing block so that a clearance exists between the spring and the substrate and between the seismic mass and the substrate, wherein the seismic mass, the spring and the bearing block are integrally formed of metal and wherein the spring, the seismic mass, the bearing block and the contact block define side walls which are substantially perpendicular to a surface of the substrate; wherein the spring-mass system has an initial position and a deflection position in which a contact is closed between the seismic mass and the contact block, and wherein, upon an acceleration of the vehicle having a component along the axis of less than a predetermined magnitude, the spring-mass system deviates, along the axis, only slightly from the initial position and, upon an acceleration of the vehicle having a component along the axis greater than the predetermined magnitude, the spring-mass system is deflected along the axis to the deflection position and does not return to the initial position until the vehicle is subjected to an acceleration having a component along the axis greater than the predetermined magnitude and directed opposite to the previous acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process for producing an acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:
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providing, as a substrate, an insulating plate having a structured, conductive layer and a structured, dissolvable layer; producing a plastic layer including a plurality of recesses on the substrate, wherein the recesses are partially situated on the dissolvable layer; galvanically filling the recesses with a metal; and thereafter, removing the plastic layer and the dissolvable layer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 15)
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14. A process for producing an acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:
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providing, as a substrate, an insulating plate having a structured, conductive layer and a structured, dissolvable layer; producing a plastic layer including a plurality of recesses on the substrate, wherein the recesses are partially situated on the dissolvable layer; galvanically filling the recesses with a metal; partially irradiating the plastic layer with X-ray radiation; dissolving out the irradiated region selectively in relation to the non-irradiated region, to form a cavity; filling the cavity with another metal; and removing the plastic layer and the dissolvable layer.
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Specification