Non-contact shock sensor

• US 7,673,513 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Weller, Gerhard, Kagermeier, Robert, Ludwig, Klaus, Kuth, Rainer, Gortler, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwok; Helen C.
• Application Number:
  US11/899,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20080307884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 735/140.1, 735/141.6, 735/142.9, 735/10, 735/11
• US Class Current: 73/514.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/06 using members subjected to a permanent deformation
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/066 for locking a switch in a test or an "installation" position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/146 operated by plastic deformation or rupture of structurally associated elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/167 Circuits for remote indication

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor device for monitoring accelerations to which an object is subjected. In order to detect whether a value has exceeded or is below a threshold for the acceleration to which objects have been subjected in the past, i.e. without having visual contact with the sensor, the inventive sensor device includes an acceleration sensor, which is permanently linked to the object to be monitored, so that a relative movement between the acceleration sensor and the object is prevented, and an RFID transceiver for non-contact coupling of electrical energy into the acceleration sensor and for sending out radio signals as a function of the physical state of the acceleration sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor device for monitoring an acceleration of an object during a transportation, comprising:

an acceleration sensor that is permanently connected to the object; and

an RFID transceiver device connected to the acceleration sensor that non-contact couples electrical energy into the acceleration sensor and emits a radio signal based on a physical state of the acceleration sensor;

wherein the acceleration sensor includes;

a movable mass that deflects from a rest position as a function of the acceleration,

a support frame that holds the movable mass, and

an electrical conductor linked to the REID transceiver device that is irreversibly interrupted if the deflection of the movable mass exceeds a predetermined threshold value;

and wherein the support frame comprises a sensor wall that is permanently connected to the electrical conductor and the movable mass is pressed against the sensor wall as a function of the acceleration to interrupt the electrical conductor if the pressure on the sensor wall exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

2. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable mass is mechanically held over the electrical conductor and fractures the electrical conductor if the deflection of the movable mass exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

3. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor wall comprises a glass disk or a flexible membrane.

4. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable mass comprises a narrow edge for pressing against the sensor wall.

5. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable mass is movable in a plurality of directions and the support frame comprises a plurality of sensor walls arranged in the directions.

6. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable mass is locked in a transport locking device before the acceleration sensor is activated.

7. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of electrical conductors are each connected in series with one of a plurality of bias resistors to one of a plurality of direction detectors respectively.

8. The sensor device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bias resistors comprise different values and the direction detectors are switched in parallel for recording directions of the acceleration.

9. A method for monitoring an acceleration of an object during a transportation, comprising:

permanently connecting an acceleration sensor to the object;

connecting an RFID transceiver device to the acceleration sensor;

non-contact coupling electrical energy into the acceleration sensor by the RFID transceiver device;

emitting a radio signal based on a physical state of the acceleration sensor by the RFID transceiver device;

wherein the acceleration sensor comprises;

a movable mass that deflects from a rest position as a function of the acceleration,

a support frame that holds the movable mass, and

an electrical conductor linked to the RFID transceiver device that is irreversibly interrupted if the deflection of the movable mass exceeds a predetermined threshold value;

and wherein the support frame comprises a sensor wall that is permanently connected to the electrical conductor and the movable mass is pressed against the sensor wall as a function of the acceleration to interrupt the electrical conductor if the pressure on the sensor wall exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the movable mass is mechanically held over the electrical conductor and fractures the electrical conductor if the deflection of the movable mass exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor wall comprises a glass disk or a flexible membrane.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the movable mass comprises a narrow edge for pressing against the sensor wall.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the movable mass is movable in a plurality of directions and the support frame comprises a plurality of sensor walls arranged in the directions.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the movable mass is locked in a transport locking device before the acceleration sensor is activated.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a plurality of electrical conductors are each connected in series with one of a plurality of bias resistors to one of a plurality of direction detectors respectively.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bias resistors comprise different values and the direction detectors are switched in parallel for recording directions of the acceleration.