Integrating impact switch

• US 9,076,612 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HT Microanalytical, Inc. (Rosenberger Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: HT Microanalytical, Inc. (Rosenberger Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Christenson, Todd Richard, Sniegowski, Jeffry Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R.
• Application Number:
  US14/460,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20150162152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45 R, 200/61.04, 200/61.05, 200/81.R, 200/81.4, 200/81.6, 200/81.9 R, 200/82.R, 200/83.R, 200/83.Y, 200/82.A, 200/83.A, 200/83.J, 200/33.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/05 Electric circuits for blasting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 29/002 Inertia switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 29/10 by constricting the flow of the contact liquid
• 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 35/142 Damping means to avoid unwanted response
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

An integrating impact switch that can discriminate between accelerations due to different stimuli is provided. Embodiments of the present invention actuate only in response to an acceleration whose magnitude is equal to or greater than an acceleration threshold for a predetermined continuous period of time. Embodiments of the present invention comprise an impact switch having a throw that is operatively coupled with a viscous damper that dampens motion of the throw. As a result, a stimulus that imparts an acceleration that meets or exceeds an acceleration threshold for a time period less than a predetermined time-period threshold does not actuate the switch. A stimulus that imparts an acceleration whose magnitude is equal to or greater than the acceleration threshold for a time period equal to the time-period threshold, however, does actuate the switch.

Claims

1. A switch comprising:

a substrate having a first electrical contact, a first terminal, and a second terminal, the first terminal being electrically connected with the first electrical contact;

a spacer layer having a first thickness, the spacer layer including a first bonding region;

an anchor, the anchor being bonded with the substrate at the first bonding region; and

a throw that is movable with a first motion relative to the first electrical contact, the throw comprising a proof mass and a second electrical contact that is electrically connected with the second terminal, the throw being mechanically coupled with the anchor such that the first electrical contact and second electrical contact are separated by a quiescent separation that is based on the first thickness;

wherein the throw and substrate are arranged such that a first acceleration imparted on the throw induces physical contact between the first electrical contact and second electrical contact thereby establishing electrical communication between the first terminal and second terminal.

2. The switch of claim 1 further comprising a tether having a first end and a second end, the first end being mechanically connected with the anchor and the second end being mechanically connected with the throw.

3. The switch of claim 2 further comprising a first barrier and a second barrier, the tether being between the first barrier and second barrier.

4. The switch of claim 3, wherein the first barrier and second barrier collectively define at least a portion of a first channel that fluidically couples a first reservoir and a second reservoir, and wherein a first flow of a first fluid through the first channel is based on a first dimension of the tether and a first separation between the first barrier and the second barrier.

5. The switch of claim 3 further comprising a housing that surrounds the throw, wherein the first barrier and the housing collectively define at least a portion of a first channel that fluidically couples a first reservoir and a second reservoir, and wherein a first flow of a first fluid through the first channel is based on a first dimension of the throw and a first separation between the first barrier and the housing.

6. The switch of claim 5 further comprising the first reservoir and second reservoir, wherein the first reservoir contains the first fluid, wherein the volume of the first reservoir is based on a position of the throw.

7. The switch of claim 1 further comprising a viscous damper, the viscous damper being operatively coupled with the throw such that the viscous damper retards the first motion.

8. The switch of claim 7 wherein the viscous damper comprises:

a piston that is mechanically coupled with the throw, the piston residing in a first channel that fluidically couples a first reservoir and a second reservoir, the first reservoir containing a first fluid; and

a plate that is mechanically coupled with the piston, wherein the volume of the first reservoir is based on a position of the plate;

wherein the rate of flow of the first fluid between the first reservoir and second reservoir is based on a first dimension of the piston relative to a second dimension of the first channel.

9. A switch comprising:

a substrate having a first electrical contact;

a first layer including a throw and a first channel, the throw being movable with a first motion in response to a first acceleration, and the throw including a proof mass and a second electrical contact; and

a bond that joins the substrate and the first layer, the bond comprising a spacer layer that is electrically conductive, wherein the quiescent separation between the first electrical contact and second electrical contact is based on the thickness of the spacer layer;

wherein a first flow of a first fluid through the first channel is based on a first dimension of the throw and a second dimension of the first channel.

10. The switch of claim 9, wherein the first layer further comprises a tether and a pair of barriers, the tether and the pair of barriers collectively defining a second channel for a second flow of the first fluid.

11. The switch of claim 9 further comprising:

a first reservoir containing the first fluid, wherein the volume of the first reservoir is based on the position of the proof mass; and

a second reservoir, the second reservoir and first reservoir being fluidically coupled via the first channel;

wherein the first motion is based on the flow of the first fluid through the first channel.

12. The switch of claim 11, wherein the first layer further comprises a tether and a pair of barriers, the tether and the pair of barriers collectively defining a second channel that fluidically couples the first reservoir and the second reservoir, and wherein the first motion is further based on the flow of the first fluid through the second channel.

13. The switch of claim 12, wherein the first layer further comprises an anchor, the throw being supported above the substrate by the anchor and tether, and wherein the bond includes a first bond region and a second bond region, the first bond region joining the anchor and the first substrate, and the second bond region joining the pair of barriers and the substrate.

14. The switch of claim 9 further comprising:

a third reservoir that is fluidically coupled with the second reservoir;

a plate residing in the third reservoir; and

a piston that mechanically couples the throw and the plate such that the first motion of the throw induces motion of the plate.

15. A method of forming a switch, the method comprising:

providing a first substrate that includes a first electrical contact, a first terminal that is electrically connected with the first electrical contact, and a second terminal;

providing a spacer layer;

providing a second substrate, the second substrate comprising a handle substrate and a module including;

an anchor;

a throw comprising a proof mass and a second electrical contact; and

a tether having a first end that is mechanically and electrically connected with the anchor, and a second end that is mechanically and electrically connected with the throw;

forming a bond that joins the first substrate and the anchor, the bond comprising a first portion of the spacer layer, wherein the second electrical contact is electrically connected with the second terminal via the bond; and

removing the handle substrate;

wherein the substrate and the anchor are joined such that the first electrical contact and second electrical contact are separated by a quiescent separation; and

wherein, after removal of the handle substrate, the throw is movable with a first motion relative to the first electrical contact in response to a first acceleration imparted on the throw, the first motion inducing physical contact between the first electrical contact and second electrical contact thereby establishing electrical communication between the first terminal and second terminal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the module is provided such that it further includes a first barrier and a second barrier, the tether being between the first barrier and second barrier.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first barrier and second barrier collectively define at least a portion of a first channel that fluidically couples a first reservoir and a second reservoir, and wherein a first flow of a first fluid through the first channel is based on a first dimension of the tether and a first separation between the first barrier and the second barrier.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the module is provided such that it further comprises a housing that surrounds the throw, wherein the first barrier and the housing collectively define at least a portion of a first channel that fluidically couples a first reservoir and a second reservoir, and wherein a first flow of a first fluid through the first channel is based on a first dimension of the throw and a first separation between the first barrier and the housing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first reservoir contains the first fluid, and wherein the volume of the first reservoir is based on a position of the throw.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing a piston that is mechanically connected with the throw, wherein the piston is located in a second channel that fluidically couples the second reservoir and a third reservoir; and

providing a plate that is mechanically connected with the piston, wherein the plate is located in the third reservoir;

wherein the piston, plate, and third reservoir collectively define a viscous damper that retards the first motion such that physical contact between the first electrical contact and second electrical contact occurs only when the first acceleration is equal to or greater than a first threshold for a predetermined period of time.