Patent ID: 7088258

Claim:
A tilt sensor apparatus ( 36 ) comprising: a first planar substrate ( 44 ) having a top surface ( 58 ) on which a first conductive layer ( 56 ) resides, said first conductive layer being formed into a bottom pattern ( 100 ″) having alternating conductive regions ( 104 ) and void regions ( 106 ), wherein said conductive regions of said bottom pattern are electrically coupled together; a second planar substrate ( 38 ) overlying said top surface of said first substrate, said second substrate having an opening ( 46 ) overlying said pattern and surrounded by an opening wall ( 52 ) and having a intra-substrate conductor ( 54 ) on said opening wall, said intra-substrate conductor continuously occupying an annular tangential-contact band ( 112 ) in said opening wall; a third planar substrate ( 40 ) having a bottom surface ( 62 ) on which a third conductive layer resides ( 60 ), said third substrate overlying said second substrate; and a conductive element ( 64 ) positioned within said opening and configured to move within said opening to short said first conductive layer to said intra-substrate conductor when resting on said first substrate and in contact with said annular tangential-contact band.