Claims
- 1. An accelerometer comprising
- a housing having a passage formed therein;
- a magnetically permeable element secured to said housing proximate with said passage;
- a magnetic sensing mass within said passage, said sensing mass being magnetically biased towards said element so as to remain in an initial position within said passage proximate with said element until said magnetic bias is overcome by acceleration of said housing, whereupon said sensing mass is displaced in response to such acceleration towards a second position within said passage, said magnetic bias being sufficient to return said sensing mass to said initial position from any other position short of said second position;
- switchable means for increasing the magnetic bias on said sensing mass; and
- switch means on said housing operable by said sensing mass when said sensing mass is displaced to said second position within said passage.
- 2. The accelerometer of claim 1 wherein said switchable means for increasing the magnetic bias on said sensing mass comprises an electrical coil proximate with said passage and switchable means for delivering a direct current through said coil.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 248,143 filed on Sept. 23, 1988 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,091.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
248143 |
Sep 1988 |
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