Patent ID: 7987925

Claim:
A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation, comprising: a bit body bearing at least one cutting element and adapted for coupling to a drillstring; a chamber formed within the bit body, the chamber configured for maintaining a pressure substantially near a surface atmospheric pressure while drilling the subterranean formation; one or more sensors disposed in the chamber and configured for sensing at least one physical parameter; and a pressure-activated switch disposed in the bit body and comprising: a fixed member disposed in a recess of the bit body and configured to be held in a fixed position during a change in a pressure substantially near the bit body; a displacement member disposed in the recess and configured to be displaced within the recess in response to the change in the pressure substantially near the bit body; and a deformable member disposed between the fixed member and the displacement member and configured to deform in response to the change in the pressure substantially near the bit body such that the displacement member is displaced relative to the fixed member; wherein the pressure-activated switch is configured to generate a pressure signal responsive to the change in the pressure.