Mechanical acceleration sensor

• US 6,610,940 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Flaig, Thomas, Skofljanec, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fishman, Marina
• Application Number:
  US10/023,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45 R, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.48, 200/61-9-
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2011/0081 using double shot moulding, e.g. for forming elastomeric sealing elements on form stable casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/147 the switch being of the reed switch type

Abstract

A switch includes a deflectable inertial mass that responds to acceleration. The inertial mass is for activating a switching system. The inertial mass is suspended on two parallel, elastically deflectable support arms having a first, firmly anchored end and a second, movable end to which the inertial mass is attached.

Claims

1. A switch comprising a deflectable inertial mass that responds to acceleration and a switching system adapted to be actuated by said mass, said mass being suspended on two parallel, elastically deflectable support arms each having a first, firmly anchored end and a second, movable end to which said mass is attached, said inertial mass being deflectable between a resting position and at least one deflected position, and said inertial mass being secured between said support arms with a gap on each of two opposed sides of said mass in said resting position of said mass.

2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein said inertial mass, starting from said resting position, can be deflected in two opposite directions.

3. The switch according to claim 1, wherein said inertial mass has a magnetic actuation element.

4. The switch according to claim 1, wherein said inertial mass has an optical actuation element.

5. The switch according to claim 1, wherein said switching system has a plurality of switching units that are each associated with different positions of said inertial mass.

6. The switch according to claim 5, wherein one of said switching units is associated with said non-deflected resting position of said inertial mass.

7. The switch according to claim 5, wherein each of two opposite deflection positions of said inertial mass is associated with one switching unit.

8. The switch according to claim 1, wherein said support arms form a continuous bracket that surrounds said inertial mass.

9. The switch according to claim 8, wherein first ends of said support arms are anchored in a base plate.

10. The switch according to claim 9, wherein said inertial mass and said switching system are enclosed by a hood that is attached to the periphery of said base plate.

11. The switch according to claim 10, wherein a resilient stop element is arranged between said inertial mass and said inner surface of said hood.

12. The switch according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said base plate, said inertial mass and said support arms are made by means of a two-component injection-molding technique, one of said components being a plastic material that can be metallized, and at least portions of said plastic materials that can be metallized having a metal layer deposited thereon.

13. A switch comprising a deflectable inertial mass that responds to acceleration and a switching system adapted to be actuated by said mass, said mass being suspended on two parallel, elastically deflectable support arms each having a first, firmly anchored end and a second, movable end to which said mass is attached, said inertial mass having an actuation arm for said switching system, said actuation arm engaging an electromechanical contact pair, said contact pair being a normally closed contact pair, that is spring-loaded into a closed position and that is held in an open position by engagement with said actuation arm of said non-deflected inertial mass.

14. The switch according to claim 13, wherein said contact pair has a first, fixed contact member attached to a contact pin and a second, movable contact spring element.

15. The switch according to claim 14, wherein said contact pin is anchored in a carrier base.