Tilt switch and system

• US 7,115,824 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kam Chun Lo
• Original Assignee: Kam Chun Lo
• Inventors: Lo, Kam Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMZA, LISA NHUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/196,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20060027447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.49, 200 6145 R- 6153, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.83, 200/DIG.29, 200277-2772
• US Class Current: 200/61.52
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/02 Switches operated by change of position, inclination or orientation of the switch itself in relation to gravitational field tilting mercury container H01H29/20; change of position due to change of liquid level H01H35/18

Abstract

A tilt switch has an electrical terminal on its top end and an electrical terminal on its bottom end. It comprises a conductive can with an opening on the top end side serving as the electrical terminal on the bottom end and a conductive cap covering the opening of the conductive can serving as the electrical terminal on the top end. An insulator member attached to the conductive can surrounding the side of the conductive cap insulating the conductive cap from said conductive can. Inside the conductive can is at least one rollable conductive member. The rollable conductive member is not in electrical contact with the conductive cap when resting on the bottom inside said conductive can. A system, which includes electrical circuits that employ the tilt switch, is responsive to the orientation of the tilt switch.

Claims

1. A tilt switch having a top end, a bottom end, and sides between said top end and said bottom end, and at least one electrical terminal on said top end and one electrical terminal on said bottom end, comprising:

a can assembly having a cavity and an opening into said cavity on said top end;

a cap assembly covering said opening of said can assembly; and

a rollable conductive member in said cavity;

wherein;

said cap assembly comprises a conductive cap having substantially uniform thickness at least in the center section being said electrical terminal on said top end;

said can assembly, comprising;

a conductive can being said electrical terminal on said bottom end; and

an insulator member insulating said conductive cap from said conductive can;

said can assembly surrounds said conductive cap so that said conductive cap is not exposed on the sides of said tilt switch;

said rollable conductive member when resting on the bottom inside said conductive can is not in electrical contact with said conductive cap; and

said rollable conductive member rests on the inside wall of said can assembly and said conductive cap allowing electricity to flow between said conductive can and said conductive cap when said tilt switch is in a predetermined range of tilt positions.

2. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the thickness of the bottom of said conductive can is substantially uniform.

3. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the bottom of said conductive can is substantially flat.

4. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said conductive can assembly further comprises a conductive ring inside said conductive can; and

said insulator member rests said conductive ring.

5. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein, center section of said conductive cap is substantially flat.

6. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein, said conductive cap comprises a raised section in the center section.

7. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said rollable conductive member comprises a conductive ball.

8. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the geometry of said tilt switch is substantially identical to the geometry of a battery so that said tilt switch can fit into a space designed for said battery; and

the geometries and locations of said terminals on said tilt switch are substantially identical to the geometries and locations of the battery terminals on said battery.

9. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein, said battery comprises a button cell.

10. A tilt switch having a top end, a bottom end, and sides between said top end and said bottom end, and at least one electrical terminal on said top end and one electrical terminal on said bottom end, comprising:

a can assembly having a cavity and an opening into said cavity on said top end;

a cap assembly covering said opening of said can assembly; and

at least one rollable conductive member in said cavity;

wherein;

said cap assembly comprises a conductive cap having substantially uniform thickness at least in the center section being said electrical terminal on said top end;

said can assembly, comprising;

a conductive can being said electrical terminal on said bottom end; and

an insulator member insulating said conductive cap from said conductive can;

said rollable conductive member when resting on the bottom inside said conductive can is not in electrical contact with said conductive cap;

said rollable conductive member rests on the inside wall of said can assembly and said conductive cap allowing electricity to flow between said conductive can and said conductive cap when said tilt switch is in a predetermined range of tilt positions;

the geometry of said tilt switch is substantially identical to the geometry of a button cell battery so that said tilt switch can fit into a space designed for said button cell battery; and

the geometries and locations of said terminals on said tilt switch are substantially identical to the geometries and locations of the button cell battery terminals on said button cell battery.

11. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 10, wherein, said can assembly surrounds said conductive cap so that said conductive cap is not exposed on the sides of said tilt switch.

12. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 10, wherein, the thickness the center section of said conductive cap is substantially uniform.

13. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 12, wherein, the thickness of the bottom of said conductive can is substantially uniform.

14. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said conductive can assembly further comprises a conductive ring inside said conductive can; and

said insulator member rests said conductive ring.

15. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein, the bottom of said conductive can is substantially flat.

16. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 15, wherein, the center section of said conductive cap is substantially flat.

17. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 16, wherein, said conductive cap comprises a raised section in the center section.

18. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 10, wherein, said rollable conductive member comprises a conductive ball.

19. A system, comprising:

an electrical circuit; and

a tilt switch connected to said electrical circuit having a top end, a bottom end, and sides between said top end and said bottom end, and at least one electrical terminal on said top end and one electrical terminal on said bottom end;

wherein;

said system being responsive to the tilt position of said tilt switch; and

said tilt switch, comprising;

a can assembly having a cavity and an opening into said cavity on said top end;

a cap assembly covering said opening of said can assembly; and

at least one rollable conductive member in said cavity;

wherein;

said cap assembly comprises a conductive cap having substantially uniform thickness at least in the center section being said electrical terminal on said top end;

said can assembly, comprising;

a conductive can being said electrical terminal on said bottom end; and

an insulator member insulating said conductive cap from said conductive can;

said rollable conductive member when resting on the bottom inside said conductive can is not in electrical contact with said conductive cap;

said rollable conductive member rests on the inside wall of said can assembly and said conductive cap allowing electricity to flow between said conductive can and said conductive cap when said tilt switch is in a predetermined range of tilt positions;

the geometry of said tilt switch is substantially identical to the geometry of a button cell battery so that said tilt switch can fit into a space designed for said button cell battery; and

the geometries and locations of said terminals on said tilt switch are substantially identical to the geometries and locations of the button cell battery terminals on said button cell battery.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein, said can assembly surrounds said conductive cap so that said conductive cap is not exposed on the sides of said tilt switch.

21. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein, the thickness the center section of said conductive cap is substantially uniform.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein, the thickness of the bottom of said conductive can is substantially uniform.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

said conductive can assembly further comprises a conductive ring inside said conductive can; and

said insulator member rests said conductive ring.

24. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein, the bottom of said conductive can is substantially flat.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein, the center section of said conductive cap is substantially flat.

26. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 25, wherein, said conductive cap comprises a raised section in the center section.

27. A tilt switch as claimed in claim 19, wherein, said rollable conductive member comprises a conductive ball.

28. A system, comprising:

an electrical circuit; and

a tilt switch connected to said electrical circuit having a top end, a bottom end, and sides between said top end and said bottom end, and at least one electrical terminal on said top end and one electrical terminal on said bottom end;

wherein;

said system being responsive to the tilt position of said tilt switch; and

said tilt switch, comprising;

a can assembly having a cavity and an opening into said cavity on said top end;

a cap assembly covering said opening of said can assembly; and

a rollable conductive member in said cavity;

wherein;

said cap assembly comprises a conductive cap having substantially uniform thickness at least in the center section being said electrical terminal on said top end;

said can assembly, comprising;

a conductive can being said electrical terminal on said bottom end; and

an insulator member insulating said conductive cap from said conductive can;

said can assembly surrounds said conductive cap so that said conductive cap is not exposed on the sides of said tilt switch;

said rollable conductive member when resting on the bottom inside said conductive can is not in electrical contact with said conductive cap; and

said rollable conductive member rests on the inside wall of said can assembly and said conductive cap allowing electricity to flow between said conductive can and said conductive cap when said tilt switch is in a predetermined range of tilt positions.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein, the thickness of the bottom of said conductive can is substantially uniform.

30. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein, the bottom of said conductive can is substantially flat.

31. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said conductive can assembly further comprises a conductive ring inside said conductive can; and

said insulator member rests said conductive ring.

32. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein, center section of said conductive cap is substantially flat.

33. A system as claimed in claim 32, wherein, said conductive cap comprises a raised section in the center section.

34. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein, said rollable conductive member comprises a conductive ball.

35. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein:

the geometry of said tilt switch is substantially identical to the geometry of a battery so that said tilt switch can fit into a space designed for said battery; and

the geometries and locations of said terminals on said tilt switch are substantially identical to the geometries and locations of the battery terminals on said battery.

36. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein, said battery comprises a button cell.