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Non-metallic liquid tilt switch and circuitry

  • US 5,751,074 A
  • Filed: 09/08/1995
  • Issued: 05/12/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An electrical switching circuit, sensitive to an externally applied inertial and gravitational force, comprising:

  • a liquid switch having an enclosed space, a non-metallic conductive fluid filling a first portion of said space and anon-conductive medium filing a second portion of said space, said conductive fluid and said non-conductive medium having differing densities; and

    at least two electrical contacts in communication with said space;

    an electrical circuit coupled to at least one of said contacts and having a pair of electrical connections for connection with a power source and a load in series, having a semiconductor switching device, said semiconductor switching device being responsive to a current through said at least one contact, a current through said contacts causing said semiconductor switching device to change conductivity, wherein an externally applied force causes said conductive fluid to move within said liquid switch with respect to said at least one contact, altering a current through said contact, thereby changing a conducting state of said semiconductor switching device to selectively control a current flowing through said load, said current flowing through said load being substantially greater than a current through said electrical contacts, said current flowing through said electrical contacts being derived from said current flowing through said load; and

    a common housing, containing said liquid switch and said electrical circuit.

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