Mounted shock sensor

• US 7,541,939 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Zadesky, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/725,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/426.24, 340/540, 340/541, 340/653, 257/415, 200/61.49, 200/61.51, 735/140.1, 735/141.6
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/06 using members subjected to a permanent deformation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 29/002 Inertia switches
• 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

Abstract

This application is directed to a shock sensor mounted in an electronic device. The shock sensor includes both active and passive shock detection methods that allow a technician to determine whether the electronic device was subjected to a shock event that exceeded an impact threshold level. The shock sensor may include shock detection contacts that form an electrical circuit that remains open in the absence of a shock event that exceeds an impact threshold level. In response to a significant shock event, a movable component or substance of the shock sensor may move from a first position to a second position, thereby closing the electrical circuit formed by the shock detection contacts. The change in circuit may be detected and used to provide active indication of whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event. In addition, the shock sensor may be observed to passively determine whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event.

Claims

1. A shock sensor that actively and passively indicates the occurrence of a shock event, comprising:

at least one shock detection contact coupled to shock detection circuitry to form an open electrical circuit; and

a movable component or substance operative to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the movable component or substance comprises conductive fluid enclosed within a reservoir when the movable component or substance is in the first position, the reservoir communicating with a chamber;

in response to a shock event, the movable component or substance moves to the second position, wherein;

the conductive fluid is released from the reservoir into the chamber when the movable component or substance is in the second position,

an electrical signal indicative of shorting the electrical circuit to actively indicate the occurrence of the shock event, and

a presence of the conductive fluid is observed in the second position to passively indicate the occurrence of the shock event.

2. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the shock detection circuitry provides an electrical signal in response to shorting the electrical circuit.

3. The shock sensor of claim 2, wherein the electrical signal changes the state of the shock sensor.

4. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the movable component or substance remains in the second position in response to the shock event.

5. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the shock event exceeds an impact threshold level for the shock sensor.

6. The shock sensor of claim 1, further comprising an RFID tag that is rendered operable to emit a signal when the movable component or substance moves to the second position.

7. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the movable component or substance comprises a cantilever spring and a magnet mounted to a first end of the cantilever spring.

8. The shock sensor of claim 7 further comprising a chamber, wherein:

the magnet is not in contact with the chamber when the movable component or substance is in the first position; and

the magnet is in contact with the wall when the movable component or substance is in the second position.

9. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein shock sensor is configured to be reset after the shock event.

10. The shock sensor of claim 9, wherein the movable component or substance is placed in the first position to reset the shock sensor.

11. The shock sensor of claim 1, wherein the shock sensor is configured to be soldered to the circuit board of an electronic device.

12. A method for actively and passively indicating the occurrence of a shock event using a single shock sensor, comprising:

moving a movable component or substance from a first position to a second position, wherein the movable component or substance is retained within at least one of a chamber and a reservoir enclosed within the chamber;

retaining conductive fluid within the reservoir when the movable component or substance is in the first position;

releasing the conductive fluid from the reservoir in response to the shock event;

providing active indication of whether the shock sensor endured a shock event, wherein providing active indication further comprises further comprises providing an electrical signal indicative of the occurrence of the shock event in response to the movable component or substance being in the second position; and

providing passive indication of whether the shock sensor endured the shock event, wherein providing passive indication further comprises observing the movable component or substance in the second position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the movable component or substance comprises a cantilever spring and a magnet mounted to a first end of the cantilever spring.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

maintaining the magnet away from the walls of a chamber enclosing the magnet when the movable component or substance is in the first position; and

placing the magnet in contact with the chamber in response to the shock event.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising modifying the state of an electronic device in response to providing the electrical signal.

16. A system for actively and passively indicating the occurrence of a shock event, comprising:

an electronic device; and

a shock sensor implemented in the electronic device, wherein the shock sensor further comprises;

at least one shock detection contact coupled to shock detection circuitry to form an open electrical circuit; and

a movable component or substance configured to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the movable component or substance comprises conductive fluid enclosed within a reservoir when the movable component or substance is in the first position, the reservoir communicating with a chamber;

in response to a shock event, the movable component or substance moves to the second position, wherein;

the conductive fluid is released from the reservoir into the chamber when the movable component or substance is in the second chamber,

an electrical signal indicative of shorting the electrical circuit to actively indicate the occurrence of the shock event; and

a presence of the conductive fluid is observed in the second position to passively indicate the occurrence of the shock event.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the shock detection circuitry is configured to provide an electrical signal in response to the shorting of the electrical circuit.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a diagnostic device configured to detect the electrical signal.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the electronic device further comprises a processor configured to change the state of the electronic device in response to detecting the electronic signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic device further comprises a storage device configured to store the change of state of the electronic signal.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a RFID tag that is rendered operative to emit a signal when the electrical signal is detected.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the movable component or substance is returned to the first position to reset the shock sensor.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the shock sensor is configured to be soldered to a component of the electronic device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the component of the electronic device is a circuit board.