Acceleration switch
AssigneeSeiko Instruments Inc.
InventorSadashi Shimoda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An acceleration switch has a mass body having a space inside, and a counter electrode provided in the space of the mass body. An arc-shaped beam surrounds and supports the mass body. The acceleration sensitivity threshold of the acceleration switch is determined by a cut portion in the mass body or by the area of the top surface of the mass body. In this manner, a plurality of acceleration switches each having a single acceleration sensitivity threshold, for example, in steps of 0.2 G, can be prepared.
Claims12
An acceleration switch having a single acceleration sensitivity, comprising:
- a mass body having a space inside;
- a beam supporting the mass body and disposed so as to surround the mass body;
- and
- a counter electrode provided in the space of the mass body;
- wherein the mass body has an inner cut portion on an inside portion thereof, and the inner cut portion faces the counter electrode;
- and
- wherein the inner cut portion determines the single acceleration sensitivity.
An acceleration switch having a single acceleration sensitivity, comprising:
- a mass body having a lateral top surface with a predetermined area and a uniform thickness, and having a space inside;
- a beam supporting the mass body and disposed so as to surround the mass body;
- and
- a counter electrode provided in the space of the mass body;
- wherein the mass body has a volume equal to the product of the area of the lateral top surface and the uniform thickness;
- and
- wherein the area of the lateral top surface determines the single acceleration sensitivity.
An acceleration switch having a predetermined acceleration sensitivity threshold, comprising:
- a mass body having a space inside;
- an electrode extending into the space of the mass body;
- and
- a beam substantially surrounding the mass body and supporting the mass body for movement into contact with the electrode in response to acceleration of the acceleration switch,
- wherein a recess is provided in the mass body to set the acceleration sensitivity of the acceleration switch to a predetermined acceleration sensitivity threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.