Patent ID: 6392527
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B60R,G01P

Abstract:
An acceleration change detector comprising:a support; a deflection sensor suspended from said support and extending away therefrom, said deflection sensor being formed to have a first portion and a second portion each being positioned to extend away from said support and to extend at least in part along an axis in an at rest position, and said deflection sensor being formed to have said second portion deflectable relative to said first portion from said at rest position to a displaced position in which said second portion is deflected away from said axis upon application of an acceleration force to said support of a magnitude to displace said second portion from said at rest position to said displaced position, said second portion being deflectable about a deflection point between said first portion and said second portion, said first portion and said second portion each being formed of a flexible substrate with an electrically conductive material deposited to extend from said first portion onto said second portion, said electrically conductive material having an electrical resistance that undergoes an ascertainable change in electrical resistance upon deflection of the second portion about said deflection point from said at rest position to said displaced position; movement inhibitor means positioned proximate said deflection sensor to inhibit said second portion from deflecting from said at rest position to said displaced position until said acceleration force exceeds a threshold acceleration force; and a deflection structure against which said second portion of said deflection sensor deflects when urged to said displaced position upon application of said acceleration force above said threshold acceleration force to said support.