Sensor with fall-off detection

• US 6,049,286 A
• Filed: 04/24/1998
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Statistical Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Statistical Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Forr, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/065,859
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 340/687, 340/686.1, 340/691.1, 340/568.1, 348/1, 348/2, 348/3, 348/4
• US Class Current: 340/687
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations

Abstract

A system having an attachable sensor for collecting television program data is provided. A first plate is attached to a surface, such as the side of a television set. A second plate, attached to the first plate, is part of the sensor and is attached to an actuator which activates a switch upon detachment of the plates from one another.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the detachment of a sensor, comprising:

a first plate with a first surface having, an aperture and a second surface having material for attachment to a surface of electronic equipment;

a detachably second plate with a first surface for attachment to said first surface of said first plate;

an actuator attached to said second plate and fitted to be received by said aperture, wherein said actuator has at least two positions, wherein said actuator is in a depressed position when said first surface of said second plate is attached to said first surface of said first plate and wherein said actuator is in a distended position when said first surface of said second plate is detached from said first surface of said first plate;

a switch, wherein said switch is activated by one of said at least two positions of said actuator; and

an electromagnetic sensing device connected to a second surface of said second plate, said electromagnetic sensing device having a coil for detecting a proximate, activated said electronic equipment.

2. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 1, wherein said material of said second surface of said first plate is an adhesive.

3. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 1, wherein said switch is mechanically activated and has an open position and a closed position.

4. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 1, wherein said aperture extends from said first surface of said first plate to said second surface of said first plate.

5. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 1, wherein said electronic equipment is a television set.

6. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 1, wherein said coil and said switch are in a series configuration.

7. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 1, wherein said coil and said switch are in a parallel configuration.

8. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 1, wherein:

said second surface of said first plate is normally attached to a surface of said proximate, activated electronic equipment;

said aperture of said first surface of said first plate extends through said first plate to create a hole extending from said first surface of said first plate to said second surface of said first plate; and

said actuator is also in a distended position when said second surface of said first plate is detached from said surface of said proximate, activated electronic equipment.

9. A system for collecting data, comprising:

holder means for holding a detachably sensor means proximate to electronic equipment, said holder means being generally plate shaped and having a first surface with an aperture and a second surface;

first attachment means for attaching said second surface of said holder means to a surface of said electronic equipment; and

second attachment means for attaching said sensor means to said first surface of said holder means;

wherein said detachably sensor means comprises;

electromagnetic sensing means for sensing actuation of said electronic equipment,

actuator means interacting with said aperture for detecting proximity of said sensor means to said holder means, and

detector means for creating a signal responsive to said actuator means.

10. The system for collecting data of claim 9, wherein said first attachment means comprises adhesive means.

11. The system for collecting data of claim 9, wherein said detector means comprises a mechanically activated switch having an open position and a closed position.

12. The system for collecting data of claim 9, wherein said aperture extends from said first surface of said first plate to said second surface of said first plate.

13. The system for collecting data of claim 9, wherein said electronic equipment is a television set.

14. The system for collecting data of claim 9, wherein:

said aperture of said first surface of said holder means extends to said second surface of said holder means to create a hole extending from said first surface of said holder means to said second surface of said holder means; and

said actuator means interacts with said surface of said electronic equipment.

15. A system for detecting the detachment of a sensor, comprising:

a first plate with a first surface and a second surface having material for attachment to a surface of an electronic equipment;

a detachably second plate with a first surface for attaching to said first surface of said first plate;

a switch, wherein said switch is responsive to said second plate being detached from said first plate; and

an electromagnetic sensing device connected, to a second surface of said second plate, said electromagnetic sensing device having a coil for detecting a proximate, activated said electronic equipment.

16. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 15, further comprising a detector for detecting said second plate being detached from said first plate.

17. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 15, wherein said material of said second surface of said first plate is an adhesive.

18. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 15, wherein said electronic equipment is a television set.

19. The system for detecting the detachment of a sensor of claim 15, wherein:

said second surface of said first plate is normally attached to a surface of said activated electronic equipment;

said aperture of said first surface of said first plate extends through said first plate to create a hole extending from said first surface of said first plate to said second surface of said first plate; and

said switch is also responsive to said first plate being detached from said surface of said activated electronic equipment.

20. A system for collecting data, comprising:

holder means for holding a detachably sensor means proximate to electronic equipment, said holder means being generally plate shaped and having a first surface and a second surface;

first attachment means for attaching said second surface of said holder means to a surface of said electronic equipment; and

second attachment means for attaching said sensor means to said first surface of said holder means;

wherein said detachably sensor means comprises;

electromagnetic sensing means for sensing actuation of said electronic equipment and

detector means for creating a signal responsive to said sensor means being detached from said holder means.

21. The system for collecting data of claim 20, wherein said first attachment means comprises adhesive means.

22. The system for collecting data of claim 20, wherein said detector means comprises detachment detection means.

23. The system for collecting data of claim 20, wherein said electronic equipment is a television set.

24. The system for collecting data of claim 20, wherein:

said aperture of said first surface of said holder means extends to said second surface of said holder means to create a hole extending from said first surface of said holder means to said second surface of said holder means; and

said detector means for creating a signal is also responsive to said holder means being detached from said surface of said electronic equipment.