Sealed control device with magnetically adjustable control parameter

• US 7,767,919 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PCB Piezotronics, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PCB Piezotronics, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Zusman, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US11/703,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 200 6145 R- 6145 M, 2003021-3023, 200/52.R, 200/81.R, 200/329
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• 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 36/00 Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding

Abstract

A switch including a sealed housing; a magnetic sensor; and a control element configured to modify a control parameter for the switch in response to a signal from the sensor. In some aspects, the magnetic sensor is arranged to produce the signal in response to a magnetic field generated outside of the housing. In some aspects, the switch is a vibration switch, or is selected from the group consisting of a flow switch, a level switch, a temperature switch, a pressure switch, a proximity switch, and a velocity switch. In some aspects, the switch includes a two-wire configuration and first and second output pins arranged to provide an output signal for the switch and to receive a signal for programming the switch. In some aspects, the switch includes a two-wire configuration and a current-control element arranged to reduce current output for the switch.

Claims

1. A vibration switch, comprising:

a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;

a sealed housing containing;

a switch element arranged in series between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact, said switch element having a first state with a first impedance and a second state with a second impedance which is different from said first impedance;

a vibration sensor with a vibration sensor output;

a memory element for holding a threshold parameter;

a magnetic sensor; and

,

a control element arranged to control the state of said switch element as a function of said vibration sensor output and said threshold parameter, wherein said threshold parameter is updated in response to a magnetic field selectively applied to said magnetic sensor.

2. The vibration switch of claim 1 wherein said control element is configured to receive a signal through said first electrical contract for updating said threshold parameter.

3. The vibration switch device of claim 2, wherein said signal further comprises a latching mode parameter, a default open-closed parameter, and an operating delay parameter.

4. The vibration switch device of claim 1, wherein said switch element first impedance is approximately an open circuit and said switch element second impedance is approximately zero.

5. The vibration switch device of claim 1, wherein said vibration sensor is an accelerometer, a piezoelectric accelerometer, a pressure sensor or a velocity sensor.

6. The vibration switch device of claim 1, wherein said control element further comprises conditioning electronics.

7. The vibration switch device of claim 6, wherein said conditioning electronics comprises an amplifier, a filter, and an integrator.

8. The vibration switch device of claim 1, further comprising a power interface configured to draw power from a source external to said sealed housing through said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact.

9. The vibration switch device of claim 8, wherein said source is the power source for a load placed in series with said vibration switch device.

10. The vibration switch device of claim 1, wherein an average of said vibration sensor output over a time duration is calculated and said threshold parameter is updated with a value about two times said average.

11. The vibration switch device of claim 1, further comprising a light source, wherein said light source is cycled on and off in an observable pattern when said threshold parameter is updated.

12. A vibration switch device comprising:

a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;

a sealed housing containing;

a switch element arranged in series between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact, said switch element having a first state with a first impedance and a second state with a second impedance which is different from said first impedance;

a vibration sensor with a vibration sensor output;

a power interface configured to draw power from a source external to said sealed housing through said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact;

a memory element for holding a threshold parameter;

a control element arranged to control the state of said switch element as a function of said vibration sensor output and said threshold parameter;

wherein said control element is configured to update said threshold parameter in response to a signal received through said first electrical contact.

13. The vibration switch device of claim 12, wherein said signal further comprises a latching mode parameter, a default open-closed parameter, and an operating delay parameter.

14. A vibration switch comprising:

a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;

a sealed housing containing;

a switch element arranged in series between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact;

a vibration sensor with a vibration sensor output;

a memory element for holding a threshold parameter;

a control element having an under-threshold state wherein said control element causes said switch element to allow a first current to flow between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact, an over-threshold state wherein said control element causes said switch element to have a low impedance, and a dropout state wherein said control element causes said switch element to allow a second current less than said first current to flow between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact;

said control element configured to enter said over-threshold state when said vibration sensor output exceeds said threshold parameter;

said control element configured to change from said over-threshold state to said dropout state when said vibration sensor output is less than said threshold parameter; and

said control element configured to change from said drop-out state to said under-threshold state when said vibration sensor output is continuously less than said threshold parameter for a desired time duration.

15. The vibration switch of claim 14, wherein said first electrical contact, said second electrical contact, and said control element are configured to receive a signal for updating said threshold parameter.

16. The vibration switch of claim 14 further comprising a magnetic sensor.

17. The vibration switch device of claim 14, wherein said vibration sensor output is an average calculated over a second desired time duration.

18. The vibration switch device of claim 14, wherein said first current is approximately 1 mA, said low impedance is approximately zero, and said second current is approximately zero.

19. The vibration switch device of claim 14, wherein said vibration sensor is an accelerometer, a piezoelectric accelerometer, a pressure sensor, or a velocity sensor.

20. The vibration switch device of claim 14, wherein said control element further comprises conditioning electronics.

21. The vibration switch device of claim 20, wherein said conditioning electronics comprises an amplifier, a filter, and an integrator.

22. The vibration switch device of claim 14, further comprising a power interface configured to draw power from a source to said sealed housing through said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact.

23. The vibration switch device of claim 22, wherein said source is a power source for a load placed in series with said vibration switch device.

24. The vibration switch device of claim 14, further comprising a magnetic sensor.

25. The vibration switch device of claim 24, further comprising a magnet, wherein said control element is configured to update said threshold parameter in response to a magnetic field applied to said magnetic sensor.

26. The vibration switch device of claim 25, wherein said threshold parameter is updated as a function of an average of said vibration sensor output over a third desired time duration, while said magnet is placed near said magnetic sensor.

27. The vibration switch device of claim 14, further comprising a light source, wherein said light source is cycled on and off in an observable pattern when said threshold pattern is updated.

28. The vibration switch device of claim 14, wherein said first electrical contact, said second electrical contact, and said control element are configured to receive a signal for updating said threshold parameter.

29. The vibration switch device of claim 28, wherein said signal further comprises a latching mode parameter, a default open-closed parameter, and an operating delay parameter.