Optical shock sensor

• US 6,043,734 A
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Code Systems Incorporated (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Code-Alarm Incorporated (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Stouffer, Peter J., Gillespie, Jon Richard, Santavicca, Joseph A., Mueller, Rand W., McAmmond, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/172,446
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 340/428.5, 340/426, 340/429, 340/545.2, 340/545.3, 340/566, 340/555, 250/221
• US Class Current: 340/429
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1481 with optical detection

Abstract

An optical shock sensor 22 which includes a light generator 40 adapted to generate light 46 and a light detector 44 which are an optical communication by means of a moveable hemispheric dome 48. Specifically, an intrusion, tampering, motion, and/or shock, applied to vehicle 11, causes the moveable dome 48 to move, and to interrupt or change the amount tyoe, focus and/or intensity of the light 46 which is reflected or communicated to light detector 44, thereby causing a tampering output signal to be selectively produced.

Claims

1. An optical shock sensor for use in vehicle and adapted to detect tampering with said vehicle, said optical shock sensor comprising:

a light generator which is adapted to generate light,

a light detector; and

a moveable dome, optically disposed between said light generator and said light detector, adapted to receive said generated light and to allow certain portion of said generated light to be received by said light detector when said tampering with said vehicle occurs, thereby causing said light detector to emit a tampering output signal.

2. The optical shock sensor of claim 1 wherein said moveable dome is positioned above said light detector and said light emitter.

3. The optical shock sensor of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier connected to said light detector and adapted to receive said tampering output signal, to selectively amplify said tampering output signal, and to provide an amplified output signal.

4. A tamper detection sensor for use in vehicle and adapted to detect tampering with said vehicle, said tamper detection sensor comprising:

a light generator mounted upon a circuit board and adapted to generate light;

a light detector mounted upon said circuit board and in optical communication with said light generator and said light detector adapted to generate a tamper detection signal upon receipt of a certain portion of said light generator light;

a dome positioned over said light generator and said light detector and upon a movable serpentine spring, integrally formed within said circuit board, said serpentine spring being adapted to move said dome in response to vehicle tampering, thereby causing said detector to receive certain portion of said generated light and to produce said tamper detection signal.

5. The tamper detection sensor of claim 4 said dome is a parabolic dome.

6. A shock sensor comprising:

a moveable dome adapted to reflect light;

and to move in response to a shock;

a light generator adapted to generate light and to direct at least a portion of said generated light to said dome;

a light detector adapted to receive at least a portion of said reflected light from said dome, thereby sensing said movement of said dome and producing an output signal in response to said sensed movement of said dome.