# US 8,772,656 B2 · Acceleration switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,772,656 B2 - Document ID: US8772656B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/479,817 - Filed: 2012-05-24 - Published: 2012-12-06 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-01 - Assignees: Seiko Instruments Inc. - Applicants: Sadashi Shimoda - Inventors: Sadashi Shimoda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772656B2 ## CPC - G01P 15/135: by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass - 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)} - H01H 2001/0078: {with parallel movement of the movable contact relative to the substrate} - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An acceleration switch according to claim 1; wherein the mass body has two opposed surfaces which define therebetween the thickness of the mass body, and the inner cut portion extends in the thickness direction of the mass body from one surface toward the other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An acceleration switch according to claim 2; wherein the beam has an arc-shaped configuration. ### Claim 4 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An acceleration switch according to claim 4; wherein the beam has an arc-shaped configuration. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An acceleration switch according to claim 6; wherein the recess extends completely around the mass body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An acceleration switch according to claim 7; wherein the recess is provided on an inside portion, an outside portion, or an intermediate portion between the outside and the inside portions of the mass body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An acceleration switch according to claim 8; wherein the recess has a uniform shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) An acceleration switch according to claim 7; wherein the recess is provided on an inside portion of the mass body and faces the electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) An acceleration switch according to claim 6; wherein the mass body has two opposed surfaces which define therebetween the thickness of the mass body, and the recess extends in the thickness direction of the mass body from one surface toward the other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) An acceleration switch according to claim 6; wherein the beam has an arc-shaped configuration.