Integrated fastener and motion detector

• US 7,134,334 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Kelly, Thomas W., Schirmer, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): KWOK, HELEN C
• Application Number:
  US10/849,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20050257614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 734/93, 734/31, 738/665, 736/54
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration

Abstract

A motion detector capable of sensing motion of an object includes a motion sensor secured to one of a plurality of surfaces of a fastener. The fastener is directly coupleable with the object.

Claims

1. A motion detector capable of sensing motion of an object to which the motion detector is coupled, the motion detector comprising:

a fastener having a plurality of surfaces, the fastener being directly coupleable with the object; and

a motion sensor secured to one of the plurality of surfaces of the fastener such that the motion sensor does not move in any direction with respect to the surface of the fastener to which the motion sensor is secured, wherein the motion sensor includes connect detection circuitry, the connect detection circuitry being capable of determining if the fastener is coupled with the object, the connect detection circuitry being in electrical communication with one of the plurality of surfaces of the fastener.

2. The motion detector as defined by claim 1 wherein the motion sensor comprises a package, the package being secured to one of the plurality of surfaces of the fastener.

3. The motion detector as defined by claim 1 wherein the fastener has an outer surface with at least one thread.

4. The motion detector as defined by claim 1 wherein the fastener is a bolt.

5. The motion detector as defined by claim 1 wherein the fastener has a shaft forming an interior surface, the motion sensor being secured to the interior surface.

6. The motion detector as defined by claim 5 wherein the interior surface defines a bore, the bore being filled with a fill material.

7. The motion detector as defined by claim 1 wherein the motion sensor has a sense axis and the fastener has a longitudinal axis, the sense axis being aligned to be either substantially parallel to or substantially normal to the longitudinal axis.

8. The motion detector as defined by claim 1 wherein the fastener includes an exterior surface, the motion sensor being secured to the exterior surface.

9. A motion detector capable of sensing motion of an object to which the motion detector is coupled, the motion detector comprising:

means for directly coupling with the object, the directly coupling means having a plurality of surfaces; and

means for sensing motion of the object, the sensing means being secured to one of the plurality of surfaces of the directly coupling means such that the motion sensing means does not move in any direction with respect to the surface of the directly coupling means to which the motion sensing means is secured,

wherein the means for sensing motion includes connect detection means, the connect detection means being capable of determining if the directly coupling means is coupled with the object, the connect detection means being in electrical communication with one of the plurality of surfaces of the directly coupling means.

10. The motion detector as defined by claim 9 wherein the means for directly coupling includes a fastener.

11. The motion detector as defined by claim 9 wherein the sensing means includes an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

12. The motion detector as defined by claim 9 wherein the directly coupling means includes a shaft forming an interior surface, the sensing means being secured to the interior surface.

13. The motion detector as defined by claim 9 wherein the sensing means includes a package secured to one of the plurality of surfaces of the directly coupling means.

14. A method of producing a motion detector, the method comprising:

providing a fastener having a plurality of surfaces; and

directly securing a motion sensor to one of the plurality of surfaces such that the motion sensor does not move in any direction with respect to the surface of the fastener to which the motion sensor is secured, wherein the motion sensor includes connect detection circuitry, the connect detection circuitry being capable of determining if the fastener is coupled with the object, the connect detection circuitry being in electrical communication with one of the plurality of surfaces of the fastener.

15. The method as defined by claim 14 further including forming a bore in the fastener, the motion sensor being secured within the bore.

16. The method as defined by claim 15 further comprising filling the bore with a fill material.

17. The method as defined by claim 15 wherein the motion sensor includes a sense axis and the fastener includes a longitudinal axis, directly securing including aligning the sense axis of the motion sensor to be either substantially parallel to or substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the fastener.

18. An apparatus formed in accordance with the process of claim 14.

19. A motion detector capable of sensing motion of an object to which the motion detector is coupled, the motion detector comprising:

a fastener having an interior, the fastener being directly coupleable with the object; and

a motion sensor within the interior of the fastener, wherein the motion sensor includes connect detection circuitry, the connect detection circuitry being capable of determining if the fastener is coupled with the object, the connect detection circuitry being in electrical communication with one of the plurality of surfaces of the fastener.

20. The motion detector as defined by claim 19 wherein the fastener forms a bore that contains the motion sensor, the bore being filled by a fill material.