Magnetic apparatus for actuating a reed switch and associated system

• US 5,646,601 A
• Filed: 05/16/1994
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Pospick, Robert W., Wallace, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/243,060
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686, 340/689, 340/669, 340/692, 340/693, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.53, 335/205-7, 33/366, 33/365, 338/32 H, 338/32 R, 324/207.13, 324/207.2, 324/207.21, 73/517 R, 73/519, 434/168, 446/397, 446/484, 901/46
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2413 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2476 Speech or voice synthesisers, e.g. using a speech chip
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2494 Battery, e.g. dry cell
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/0457 for actuating a switch by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/28 using gravity , i.e. apparatus for rolling off the ball, e.g. a slope, ramp or slant
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/40 Balls or other moving playing bodies, e.g. pinballs or discs used instead of balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/022 the switch being of the reed switch type

Abstract

A magnetic apparatus (10) is provided having a bottom plate (12), a top plate (14), a first magnet guide (16), a second magnet guide (18) and a magnet member (20) which is slidable upon a slide axis (22) through apertures (40) and (54) of first magnet guide (16) and second magnet guide (18) respectively. The magnetic apparatus (10) is shown in a closed position in FIG. 1 for use in conjunction with a reed switch (86) (see FIG. 3) mounted on bottom plate (12). In the closed position magnet member (20) is close enough to the reed switch (86) to magnetically toggle reed switch (86) and thus electrically toggle electrical circuit (100). When the magnetic apparatus (10) is moved in three-dimensional space so that reference plane (24) is changed with respect to gravity line (26) to a sufficient degree, then magnet member (20) will shift along slide axis (22) toward second magnet guide (18). Thus, magnet member (20) shifts from the closed position, as shown, to an open position where the magnet member (20) is shifted to the right (see FIG. 2). Magnet member (20) is weighted so as to provide more efficacious shifting yet with a smaller scale of elements for magnetic apparatus (10). Apertures (40), (54) provide open shifting of magnet member (20) as opposed to an enclosed compartment for shifting of magnet member (20), thereby averting problems of contamination and accumulated moisture content. In the preferred embodiment, five magnetic apparatuses (10) are combined in an array (84) (see FIG. 3) to provide a combination of thirty-two possible gravitational orientations, thus allowing an extremely gravitationally sensitive array which can be used in a system (110) (see FIG. 10) requiring a gravitation-detection component.

Claims

1. A magnetic apparatus for activating a switch, the magnetic apparatus comprising:

a bottom plate presenting a gravity reference plane;

a first magnet guide supported by the bottom plate in an upright position with respect to the gravity reference plane, the first magnet guide having a first aperture presenting a first aperture plane defining an oblique angle with respect to the gravity reference plane;

a second magnet guide supported by the bottom plate in an upright position with respect to the gravity reference plane, the second magnet guide having a second aperture presenting a second aperture plane defining an oblique angle with respect to the gravity reference plane; and

a magnet member including a magnet, the magnet member supported by the first magnet guide and the second magnet guide, the magnet member presenting a slide axis running through the first aperture and the second aperture, the magnet member including a first end and a second end, the first end received in the first aperture, the second end received in the second aperture.

2. The magnetic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first aperture presents a first aperture diameter, the second aperture presents a second aperture diameter, and the magnet member includes a stopping member disposed between the first end and the second end, the stopping member having a first stopping surface and a second stopping surface, the first stopping surface disposed closer to the first aperture and the second stopping surface disposed closer to the second aperture, the first stopping surface presenting a first stopping surface diameter which is greater than the first aperture diameter, and the second stopping surface presenting a second stopping surface diameter which is greater than the second aperture diameter, such that when the magnet is shifted to the closed position, the first stopping surface abuts the first magnet guide, and when the magnet is shifted to the open position the second stopping surface abuts the second magnet guide.

3. The magnetic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the magnet member includes a case partially enveloping the magnet, and the stopping member is formed on the case.

4. The magnetic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnet member includes a weight secured to the magnet.

5. The magnetic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom plate comprises a printed circuit board.

6. The magnetic apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first bottom slot and a second bottom slot are formed in the bottom plate, the first magnet guide has a bottom tab formed thereon, the second magnet guide has a bottom tab formed thereon, the bottom tab of the first magnet guide matingly received in the first bottom slot, and the bottom tab of the second magnet guide matingly received in the second bottom slot.

7. The magnetic apparatus of claim 1, further including a top plate secured to the first and second magnet guides.

8. The magnetic apparatus of claim 7, wherein a first top slot and a second top slot are formed in the top plate, and the first magnet guide has a top tab formed thereon, the second magnet guide has a top tab formed thereon, the top tab of the first magnet guide matingly received in the first top slot, and the top tab of the second magnet guide matingly received in the second top slot.

9. A magnetic assembly for toggling an electrical circuit having a first terminal and a second terminal, the magnetic assembly comprising:

a bottom plate presenting a gravity reference plane;

a first magnet guide supported by the bottom plate in an upright position with respect to the gravity reference plane, the first magnet guide having a first aperture presenting a first aperture plane defining an oblique angle with respect to the gravity reference plane;

a second magnet guide supported by the bottom plate in an upright position with respect to the gravity reference plane, the second magnet guide having a second aperture presenting a second aperture plane defining an oblique angle with respect to the gravity reference plane;

a magnet member including a magnet, the magnet member supported by the first magnet guide and the second magnet guide above the gravity reference plane, the magnet member presenting a slide axis running through the first aperture and the second aperture, the magnet member including a first end and a second end, the first end received in the first aperture, the second end received in the second aperture; and

a magnetic field-activated reed switch mounted adjacent the bottom plate and proximal the first magnet guide, the reed switch including an insulating body containing a first lead having a contact end and a second lead having a contact end, the respective contact ends of the first and second leads normally forming a gap therebetween, the first lead further having a terminal end in electrical contact with the first terminal of the electrical circuit and the second lead further having a terminal end in electrical contact with the second terminal of the electrical circuit whereby when the magnet is placed in the closed position, the respective contact ends of the first lead and second lead make electrical contact and toggle the electrical circuit.

10. The magnetic assembly of claim 9, wherein the magnet member includes a weight secured to the magnet.

11. A gravity-sensitive electronic system comprising:

a frame suitable for more than one gravitational orientation with respect to the surface of the earth;

an electrical circuit having a first terminal and a second terminal, the electrical circuit including structure for generating a signal;

an array operatively associated with the frame, the array having at least one magnetic assembly, including

a bottom plate presenting a gravity reference plane,

a first magnet guide supported by the bottom plate in an upright position with respect to the gravity reference plane, the first magnet guide having a first aperture presenting a first aperture plane defining an oblique angle with respect to the gravity reference plane,

a second magnet guide supported by the bottom plate in an upright position with respect to the gravity reference plane, the second magnet guide having a second aperture presenting a second aperture plane defining an oblique angle with respect to the gravity reference plane,

a magnet member including a magnet, the magnet member supported by the first magnet guide and the second magnet guide above the gravity reference plane, the magnet member presenting a slide axis running through the first aperture and the second aperture, the magnet member including a first end and a second end, the first end received in the first aperture, the second end received in the second aperture, and

a magnetic field-activated reed switch mounted adjacent the bottom plate and proximal the first magnet guide, the reed switch including an insulating body containing a first lead having a contact end and a second lead having a contact end, the respective contact ends of the first and second leads normally forming a gap therebetween, the first lead further having a terminal end in electrical contact with the first terminal of the electrical circuit and the second lead further having a terminal end in electrical contact with the second terminal of the electrical circuit such that when the magnet is oriented to place the magnet in the closed position the respective contact ends of the first lead and second lead make electrical contact and toggle the electrical circuit, so that the electrical circuit generates a signal; and

the electrical circuit further including a logic element, wherein said logic element is electrically connected to each respective magnetic assembly of the array.

12. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein each magnetic assembly commonly shares the bottom plate.

13. The electronic system of claim 12, wherein the frame is a dodecahedron.

14. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the logic element includes a microprocessor.

15. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the logic element includes an output amplifier suitable for generating audible human speech as part of the output signal.

16. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the frame is polygonal so as to present more than one side on the exterior of the system, at least one of the sides including indicia thereon.

17. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the logic element includes an output amplifier suitable for generating audible human speech or animal vocalization as part of the output signal and wherein the frame is polygonal so as to present more than one side on the exterior of the system, each one of the sides including indicia thereon, such that when the frame is situated in one particular gravitational orientation the indicia for one side are orthogonally visible from above the system, and the logic element generates the output signal including the audible human speech or animal vocalization appropriate to that gravitational orientation, whereby the audible sound intelligibly corresponds to the indicia orthogonally visible from above the system.

18. A gravity-sensitive structure comprising:

a housing having a plurality of regions at least partially defining the outer surface thereof and adapted to be placed in a plurality of gravitational orientations respectively corresponding to each of the regions being disposed on a horizontal support surface;

an electrical circuit having a first terminal and a second terminal spaced from each other to provide an interruption in the electrical circuit; and

a position-sensing mechanism disposed within said housing and including a plurality of position-sensing devices disposed in angular relationship with respect to each other;

each of said plurality of position-sensing devices comprising a magnetic assembly which includes

a bottom plate presenting a gravity reference plane,

a first magnet guide supported by the bottom plate in an upright position with respect to the gravity reference plane, the first magnet guide having a first aperture presenting a first aperture plane defining an oblique angle with respect to the gravity reference plane,

a second magnet guide supported by the bottom plate in an upright position with respect to the gravity reference plane, the second magnet guide having a second aperture presenting a second aperture plane defining an oblique angle with respect to the gravity reference plane,

a magnet member including a magnet, the magnet member supported by the first magnet guide and the second magnet guide above the gravity reference plane, the magnet member presenting a slide axis running through the first aperture and the second aperture, the magnet member including a first end and a second end, the first end received in the first aperture, the second end received in the second aperture, and

a magnetic field-activated reed switch mounted adjacent to the bottom plate and proximate to the first magnet guide, the reed switch including an insulating body containing a first lead having a contact end and a second lead having a contact end, the respective contact ends of the first and second leads normally forming a gap therebetween when said magnet is disposed in the open position, the first lead further having a terminal end in electrical contact with the first terminal of said electrical circuit and the second lead further having a terminal end in electrical contact with the second terminal of said electrical circuit such that when the magnet is oriented to place the magnet in the closed position the respective contact ends of the first lead and the second lead make electrical contact in response to the magnetic field from the magnet to complete said electrical circuit.

19. The structure of claim 18 wherein said plurality of regions at least partially defining the outer surface comprise flat regions.

20. A magnetic apparatus comprising:

a bottom plate presenting a reference plane;

first and second magnet guides abutting said bottom plate and spaced from each other; and

a magnet member movably supported by said first and second magnet guides and spaced above said bottom plate such that said magnet member is disposed along a guide plane, for movement between a first and a second position along said guide plane wherein said guide plane is at an oblique angle with respect to said reference plane.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said magnet member includes a magnet and a weight.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said bottom plate comprises a non-conductive material.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first and second magnet guides each include an aperture, said magnet member extending through each of said apertures in said first and second magnet guides.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said magnet member includes a stopping member, said stopping member having a first stopping surface with a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the aperture within said first magnet guide, said stopping member further having a second stopping surface with a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the aperture within the second magnet guide.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said stopping member contains a weight.