Method and apparatus for detecting free fall
First Claim
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1. An acceleration sensor, comprising:
- a non-electrically conductive support material;
an electrically conductive tubular casing coupled to said support material; and
a beam having a first end and a second end, said first end supported by said support material, wherein said support material is flexible.
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Abstract
A data processing system including a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium. Within said data processing system, a system electronics is operatively coupled to a sensor and to said data storage device. When the sensor senses a change in gravitational or inertial acceleration of said data processing system, it alerts system electronics to temporarily park a read/write head in a safe position.
155 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An acceleration sensor, comprising:
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a non-electrically conductive support material;
an electrically conductive tubular casing coupled to said support material; and
a beam having a first end and a second end, said first end supported by said support material, wherein said support material is flexible. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
a mass attached to said second end of said beam.
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6. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 5 wherein said mass contacts said casing when said sensor is at rest.
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7. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 6 wherein said mass, said casing, and said beam are each electrically conductive.
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8. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 5 wherein said mass does not contact said casing when said sensor is at rest.
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9. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 2, further comprising:
means to couple said sensor to a substrate.
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10. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 9 wherein said means is one of at least one lead or one conductive pin.
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11. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 1 wherein said tubular casing is closed at both ends and filled with an inert gas or non-electrically conductive liquid.
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12. An acceleration detector, comprising:
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an electrically insulating support material, said support material being flexible;
an electrically conductive cylindrical casing attached to said support material, said casing having an interior; and
a beam located within said casing'"'"'s interior and protruding through said support material. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
a ring of insulating material separating said beam from said oblique interior walls, and a mass located with said interior of said casing.
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15. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 14 wherein said mass, casing, and beam are electrically conductive.
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16. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 15 wherein said mass is spherical and wherein said mass contacts said beam and said oblique surface when said sensor is at rest.
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17. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 15 wherein said mass is spherical and wherein said mass does not contact said beam and said oblique surface during free fall.
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18. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 12 wherein said cylindrical casing is closed at both ends and filled with an inert gas or non-electrically conductive liquid.
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19. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 18, further comprising:
means to couple said sensor to a substrate.
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20. An acceleration sensor as recited in claim 19 wherein said means is one of at least one lead or one conductive pin.
Specification