MEMS shock sensors
First Claim
1. A shock sensor comprising:
- a substrate;
at least one flexure coupled to the substrate and configured to deflect upon an application of sufficient force to the shock sensor, wherein deflection of the at least one flexure produces a detectable change in an electrical property of the shock sensor, wherein the deflection of the at least one flexure persists upon termination of the application of the sufficient force, and wherein the detectable change in the electrical property of the shock sensor comprises an open circuit condition; and
a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder configured to transmit data identifying a number of flexures producing the detectable change in the electrical property from the RFID transponder to a remote device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shock sensor comprises a substrate and at least one flexure coupled to the substrate and configured to deflect upon an application of force to the shock sensor sufficient to deflect the flexure. Deflection of the at least one flexure produces a detectable change in an electrical property of the shock sensor. Examples of detectable changes in an electrical property of the shock sensor include an open circuit condition, a closed circuit condition, and a variation in voltage of a piezo-electric detector. In some embodiments, the change in the electrical property of the shock sensor may be remotely read by interrogation of a radio frequency identification transponder positioned on the substrate using a remote radio frequency identification transceiver. The disclosure also relates to a shock sensing system and method of shock detection.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A shock sensor comprising:
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a substrate; at least one flexure coupled to the substrate and configured to deflect upon an application of sufficient force to the shock sensor, wherein deflection of the at least one flexure produces a detectable change in an electrical property of the shock sensor, wherein the deflection of the at least one flexure persists upon termination of the application of the sufficient force, and wherein the detectable change in the electrical property of the shock sensor comprises an open circuit condition; and a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder configured to transmit data identifying a number of flexures producing the detectable change in the electrical property from the RFID transponder to a remote device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A shock sensor comprising:
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an electrically conductive member; at least two electrically conductive flexures configured to electrically connect to the electrically conductive member; a detector; and a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder coupled to the detector, wherein each flexure is configured to produce an open circuit condition upon an application of sufficient force to the shock sensor, the force being sufficient to deflect at least one of the flexures and the force sufficient to deflect each one of the at least two flexures being different, wherein the deflection persists for at least one of the at least two flexures upon termination of the application of the sufficient force, and wherein the detector is configured to detect the open circuit condition and communicate the open circuit condition to the RFID transponder.
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16. A method comprising:
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exposing a shock sensor to a force, the shock sensor comprising at least one flexure configured to deflect upon an application of a sufficient force to the shock sensor, wherein the deflection of the at least one flexure produces a detectable change in an electrical property of the shock sensor, wherein the deflection persists upon termination of the application of the sufficient force, and wherein the detectable change in the electrical property of the shock sensor comprises an open circuit condition; and detecting the electrical property of the shock sensor to determine a magnitude of the force, wherein detecting the electrical property of the shock sensor comprises interrogating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A shock sensor comprising:
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a substrate; a plurality of flexures coupled to the substrate and configured to break upon an application of sufficient force to the shock sensor, wherein the force sufficient to break is different for at least two flexures of the plurality of flexures, and wherein breakage of at least one flexure of the plurality of flexures produces a detectable change in an electrical property of the shock sensor; and a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder configured to transmit data identifying a number of flexures producing the detectable change in the electrical property to a remote device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A shock sensor comprising:
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a substrate; at least one flexure coupled to the substrate and configured to deflect upon an application of sufficient force to the shock sensor, wherein deflection of the at least one flexure produces a detectable change in an electrical property of the shock sensor, wherein the deflection of the at least one flexure persists upon termination of the application of the sufficient force, and wherein the detectable change in the electrical property of the shock sensor comprises an open circuit condition; and a resonant circuit configured to be activated remotely by a radio frequency transceiver to provide electrical power to the shock sensor.
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24. A method comprising:
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remotely providing electrical power to a shock sensor with a radio frequency transceiver; exposing the shock sensor to a force, the shock sensor comprising at least one flexure configured to deflect upon an application of a sufficient force to the shock sensor, wherein the deflection of the at least one flexure produces a detectable change in an electrical property of the shock sensor, wherein the deflection persists upon termination of the application of the sufficient force, and wherein the detectable change in the electrical property of the shock sensor comprises an open circuit condition; and detecting the electrical property of the shock sensor to determine a magnitude of the force.
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Specification