The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 06, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 12, 1996
Daniel R. Reneau, Madison, WI (US);
Breed Automotive Technology, Inc., Lakeland, FL (US);
Abstract
A shock sensor has a sensing mass mounted on a metallic reed or spring which, under the influence of a crash-induced acceleration, drives the spring against a contact to close an electrical circuit. The contact end of the spring is twisted to be oriented with respect to the fixed contact at an angle of 60 degrees out of the plane containing the spring. The sensor is oriented such that the acceleration force is approximately normal to the plane containing the spring. The angled contact increases reliability, reduces closure signal noise, and increases contact dwell time. Dwell time can be further enhanced for high shock loads by providing a two stage mass spring system. A second mass/spring combination is arranged so the motion of the second mass, after the first reed has made electrical contact, holds the contact closed.