Acceleration sensor

• US 8,367,952 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SignalQuest Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SignalQuest Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelley, Whitmore B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/398,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20090223788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 200 6145 R- 6153
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 with conversion into electric or magnetic values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/242 the contact forming a part of a coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/5888 Terminals of surface mounted devices [SMD]
• 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 35/141 Details

Abstract

An acceleration sensor is provided. The acceleration sensor contains a first electrically conductive element and a second electrically conductive element. An electrically insulative element is connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element, where at least a portion of the first electrically conductive element and at least a portion of the second electrically conductive element make contact with the electrically insulative element. At least one electrically conductive spring is located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

a first electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the first electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the first electrically conductive element, where the second diameter of the first electrically conductive element is smaller than the first diameter of the first electrically conductive element;

a second electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the second electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the second electrically conductive element, where the second diameter of the second electrically conductive element is smaller than the first diameter of the second electrically conductive element, and wherein the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element faces the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element;

an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element, where at least a portion of the first electrically conductive element and at least a portion of the second electrically conductive element make contact with the electrically insulative element;

at least one electrically conductive spring located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the conductive spring has a diameter, and wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element; and

at least one electrically conductive weight located within the cavity of the sensor and connected to a first end of the electrically conductive spring, wherein the electrically conductive weight has a diameter, wherein the diameter of the electrically conductive weight is larger than the entire diameter of the conductive spring so that the conductive spring pushes the electrically conductive weight.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is in a closed state (ON) if a conductive path exists from the first electrically conductive element, through the at least one electrically conductive spring, through the at least one electrically conductive weight, to the second electrically conductive element, and wherein the sensor is in an open state (OFF) if there is no conductive path from the first electrically conductive element, through the at least one spring, through the at least one electrically conductive weight, to the second electrically conductive element.

3. The sensor of claim 1, where a first electrically conductive weight and a second electrically conductive weight are located within the cavity of the sensor.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor contains a second electrically conductive spring, wherein the sensor is in a closed state (ON) if a conductive path exists from the first electrically conductive element, through the first electrically conductive spring, through the at least one electrically conductive weight, through the second electrically conductive spring, to the second electrically conductive element, and wherein the sensor is in an open state (OFF) if there is no conductive path from the first electrically conductive element, through the first electrically conductive spring, through the at least one electrically conductive weight, through the second electrically conductive spring, to the second electrically conductive element.

4. A sensor, comprising:

a first electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the first electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the first electrically conductive element, where the second diameter of the first electrically conductive element is smaller than the first diameter of the first electrically conductive element;

a second electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the second electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the second electrically conductive element, where the second diameter of the second electrically conductive element is smaller than the first diameter of the second electrically conductive element, and wherein the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element faces the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element;

an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element, where at least a portion of the first electrically conductive element and at least a portion of the second electrically conductive element make contact with the electrically insulative element;

at least one electrically conductive spring located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element; and

at least one electrically conductive weight located within the cavity of the sensor and connected to a first end of the electrically conductive spring,

wherein a first electrically conductive weight and a second electrically conductive weight are located within the cavity of the sensor, and

wherein the first electrically conductive weight is connected to a first end of the electrically conductive spring and wherein the second electrically conductive weight is connected to a second end of the electrically conductive spring.

5. A sensor, comprising:

a first electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the first electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the first electrically conductive element, where the second diameter of the first electrically conductive element is smaller than the first diameter of the first electrically conductive element;

a second electrically conductive element having a first diameter on a proximate portion of the second electrically conductive element and a second diameter on a distal portion of the second electrically conductive element, where the second diameter of the second electrically conductive element is smaller than the first diameter of the second electrically conductive element, and wherein the distal portion of the first electrically conductive element faces the distal portion of the second electrically conductive element;

an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element, where at least a portion of the first electrically conductive element and at least a portion of the second electrically conductive element make contact with the electrically insulative element;

at least one electrically conductive spring located within a cavity of the sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element; and

at least one electrically conductive weight located within the cavity of the sensor and connected to a first end of the electrically conductive spring,

wherein a first electrically conductive weight and a second electrically conductive weight are located within the cavity of the sensor, and

wherein the sensor is in a closed state (ON) if a conductive path exists from the first electrically conductive element, through the first electrically conductive weight, through the at least one electrically conductive spring, through the second electrically conductive weight, to the second electrically conductive element, and wherein the sensor is in an open state (OFF) if there is no conductive path from the first electrically conductive element, through the first electrically conductive weight, through the at least one spring, through the second electrically conductive weight, to the second electrically conductive element.