JPH11162306A - Inclination sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inclination sensor capable of detecting not only an inclination in one direction but also inclinations in multiple directions. SOLUTION: This inclination sensor is provided with: at least three or more fixed contacts 16-19 having contact parts 16a-19a are disposed at regular intervals in a 11 casing. A movable contact 20 can move between adjoining fixed contacts (e.g. 16, 17) according to an inclination of the casing. The movable contact 20 is brought into contact with the two adjoining fixed contacts (e.g. 16, 17) when the casing 11 is inclined. Accordingly the two fixed contacts (16, 17) are continued and thereby detection of multidirectional inclinations can be detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tilt sensor, for example, to a tilt sensor capable of detecting a plurality of tilt directions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional tilt sensor will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in an exploded perspective view of FIG. 12, a pair of wiring patterns 2 having a central portion separated from each other is attached to an external device, for example, a module 1 such as a wristwatch (not shown).
2 is formed, and a pair of fixed contacts 3 and 4 form a predetermined gap in a portion where the wiring patterns 2 and 2 are separated,
They are opposed to each other and are attached by soldering or the like. The pair of fixed contacts 3, 4 are formed of a molded block member made of a conductive metal material, and include contact terminal portions 3a, 4a and mounting fixing portions 3b, 4b, respectively. In addition, the contact terminal portions 3a, 4a shown in FIG. 12 are formed with inclined surfaces 3c, 4c in which the right ends 3f, 4f on the right side in the drawing are lower and the other ends 3g, 4g on the left side in the drawing are higher. Opposing surfaces 3d, 4d are formed on the contact terminal portions 3a, 4a, and the corners where the opposing surfaces 3d, 4d are in contact with the inclined surfaces 3c, 4c are obtained by chamfering the corners. A pair of rail-shaped contact portions 3e and 4e are formed by polishing or the like, and the rail-shaped contact portions 3e and 4e are formed in a substantially V shape so as to face each other with a predetermined gap. I have. A good conductive film is formed on the rail-shaped contact portions 3e and 4e by gold plating or the like. Also, the rail-shaped contact portion 3
An insulating coating is formed on the surfaces of the contact terminal portions 3a and 4a other than e and 4e.

On the module 1, there is provided a housing 5 made of a resin material or the like having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, side plates 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d formed around the module 1 and having an inner portion which is vertically opened and opened. It is arranged. Then, the pair of fixed contacts 3 and 4 are housed inside the opened housing 5,
The lower surface of the housing 5 is attached to the module 1 with an adhesive or the like. As shown in FIG. 14, one end 3 of the pair of fixed contacts 3 and 4 is provided on one side inside the housing 5.
f, 4f and a space 6 sandwiched between one side plate 5a. In this space 6, a spherical movable contact 7 made of a conductive steel ball or the like is movably disposed. When the housing 5 is in a horizontal state, the movable contact 7 is provided on the bottom surface of the space 6 as shown in FIG. As shown, it is housed movably in the left-right direction. Further, a cover 8 made of a resin material or the like for closing the upper portion of the housing 5 is attached to the upper portion of the housing 5 by an adhesive or ultrasonic welding.

[0004] The operation of the conventional tilt sensor having the above-described structure is such that when the housing 5 is in a horizontal state as shown in FIG. 14, the movable contact 7 is located on the bottom surface of the space 6 on one side inside the housing 5. It is housed movably. When the other side plate 5c side of the housing 5 shown in FIG. 14 is inclined downward in the direction of arrow A, the movable contact 7 rides on the pair of rail-shaped contact portions 3e, 4e, and the pair of fixed contact 3 , 4 are electrically connected via a movable contact 6. While the movable contact 6 is on the contact portions 3e, 4e, the pair of fixed contacts 3, 4 are electrically connected.

[0005]

The conventional inclination sensor as described above can detect only one direction of inclination in the direction of arrow A, and cannot detect inclinations in multiple directions. There was a problem that the use was limited. Further, when the conventional tilt sensor is turned upside down during use and the upper cover 8 of the housing 5 is on the lower side, the movable contact 6 cannot be located on the pair of contact portions 3e, 4e. In addition, there has been a problem that the tilt sensor cannot be used.

[0006]

As a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a tilt sensor according to the present invention comprises a housing having a cavity therein, and a housing movably housed in the cavity of the housing. A movable contact having a spherical outer shape adapted to be positioned substantially at the center of the cavity when the housing is in a horizontal state, and at least three or more fixed contacts having contact portions arranged at equal intervals in the housing; A contact is provided, the movable contact is movable between adjacent fixed contacts by the inclination of the housing, and the movable contact contacts two adjacent fixed contacts when the housing is inclined. .

[0007] A second aspect for solving the above-mentioned problems is as follows.
As means for (1), the housing is constituted by a bottom plate, an upper plate, and an intermediate member, and the housing is formed by sandwiching the intermediate member between the bottom plate and the upper plate.

[0008] A third aspect for solving the above-mentioned problems is as follows.
As means for (1), the intermediate member is provided with the cavity for accommodating the movable contact, and three or more fixed contacts are fixed to the intermediate member.

[0009] A fourth aspect for solving the above-mentioned problems is as follows.
The means for forming the housing is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and the contact portions of the four fixed contacts are arranged at equal intervals inside the housing to detect inclinations of the housing in four directions. The configuration was adopted.

[0010] A fifth aspect for solving the above-mentioned problems.
As means of the above, the intermediate member forming the housing is formed with mounting legs formed on the upper and lower sides, and mounting holes formed in the bottom plate and the upper plate are fitted to the mounting legs and mounted, and the internal cavity is formed. The configuration was such that the part was sealed.

Further, a sixth aspect for solving the above-mentioned problem is provided.
As means for, the bottom plate and the upper plate are formed with a recess for accommodating at least the movable contact, and when the housing is in a horizontal state, the movable contact is located at a substantially central portion of the recess, or The configuration is such that a part is fitted into the recess.

A seventh aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems.
As means for (1), the concave portions are respectively formed in both the bottom plate and the upper plate, and the concave portions are formed in the same shape.

An eighth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems.
As a means of (1), the shape of the concave portions formed in the bottom plate and the upper plate is different from each other.

Further, a ninth aspect for solving the above-mentioned problem is provided.
As a means for the above, the bottom plate and / or the upper plate are formed of a conductive metal.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An inclination sensor according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.
1 will be described. First, an inclination sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. As shown in an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, an intermediate member is provided between a bottom plate 12 and an upper plate 13. The housing 11 is configured to hold the housing 15. Inside the housing 11, a cavity 14 having a predetermined size is provided.
Are formed. The bottom plate 12 constituting the housing 11
Is made of a resin material or the like, and has side walls 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d having a predetermined height and width and a flat inner surface 12
e is formed. Also, a pair of side walls 1 in opposition
Two guide grooves 12 are provided on the surfaces of 2c and 12d, respectively.
f, 12f are formed with predetermined width and depth dimensions, and four fixed contacts 16 to 1 attached to an intermediate member 15 described later.
9, the respective terminal portions 16b to 19b are positioned. At a substantially central portion of the inner surface 12e, a concave portion 12g having a predetermined angle and a predetermined depth is formed in a mortar shape. On the side walls 12a to 12d at the four corners of the bottom plate 12, mounting legs 12h are formed to project upward at predetermined heights.

An upper plate 13 made of a resin material or the like and having the same outer shape as the bottom plate 12 is arranged above the bottom plate 12 opposite to the drawing, and stepped portions 13a are formed at four corners of the upper plate 13, respectively. A mounting hole 13b is formed in the step 13a. 2, a side wall and an inner surface 13c are formed on the upper plate 13 similarly to the bottom plate 12, and a mortar-shaped recess 13d having the same shape as the bottom plate 12 is formed at a substantially central portion of the inner surface 13c. Is formed. Between the bottom plate 12 and the upper plate 13, an intermediate member 15 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIGS.

The intermediate member 15 is made of a resin material or the like, and each of the four outer corners is chamfered in a round shape, and a substantially square hollow portion 14 is formed inside in an open state. The intermediate member 15 is formed by insert molding or the like.
Four fixed contacts 16 to 19 made of a conductive metal plate or the like and arranged at regular intervals at a predetermined angle are embedded and attached. As shown in FIG. 3, the contact portions 1 of the four fixed contacts 16 to 19 are formed from the four corners inside the hollow portion 14.
6a to 19b are formed at equal intervals to protrude, and two adjacent contact portions 16a-17a, 17a-1 are formed.
8a, 18a-19a, and 19a-16a, gaps each having a dimension A are formed.
19 are separated from each other and insulated. Such 4
The terminal portions 16b to 19b of the fixed contacts 16 to 19 are led outward from the left and right side walls of the intermediate member 15 in the drawing, and the terminal portions 16b to 19b are guided by guide grooves 12f of the bottom plate 12, respectively. Terminal portions 16b to 19b are led out of the housing 11.

A spherical movable contact 20 made of a conductive steel ball or the like is movably housed in the hollow portion 14 of the intermediate member 15 forming the housing 11 in the recess 12g. When 11 is in the horizontal state, it is located at the approximate center of the concave portion 12g of the bottom plate 12. When the housing 11 is inclined in the direction B shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the movable contacts 20 are adjacent to each other, for example, the fixed contacts 16 and 1.
7 can be moved between the contact portions 16a and 17a.
The movable contact 20 comes into contact with two adjacent contact points 16a and 17a of the fixed contacts 16 and 17 when the inclination is 1. In addition, the gap having the dimension A between the contact portions 16a to 19a of the fixed contacts 16 to 19 is arranged to be smaller than the diameter of the movable contact 20.
For this purpose, for example, when the housing 11 is tilted in the direction B shown in FIG.
The fixed contacts 16, 17 are electrically connected via the movable contact 20 by contacting the contact portions 16 a, 17 a of 6, 17.

The assembling of the tilt sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention having the above-described structure is performed by assembling the side walls 12a to 12a of the bottom plate 12.
The intermediate member 15 is inserted and placed on the inner surface 12e surrounded by 2d. At this time, the terminal portions 16b to 19b of the fixed contacts 16 to 19 led out from the intermediate member 15 are guided by the guide grooves 12f of the bottom plate 12, and the respective terminal portions 16b to 19b are led out of the housing 11. can do. Next, when the movable contact 20 is inserted and stored in the hollow portion 14 of the intermediate member 15, when the housing 11 is in a horizontal state, the movable contact 20 rolls on the inclined surface of the filet-shaped concave portion 12g, and becomes the lowest. It is located at the approximate center of the recess 12g.

Next, the four mounting legs 12h of the bottom plate 12
The four mounting holes 13b of the upper plate 13 are aligned and inserted. At this time, the tips of the four mounting legs 12h are
Is slightly projected upward from the step 13a. The top plate 13 is attached to the bottom plate 12 by heat caulking or the like that heats and presses the slightly protruding mounting legs 12h to a high temperature, and the bottom plate 12, the intermediate member 15, and the top plate 13 are integrated, and The assembly of the tilt sensor of the invention is completed. Then, the terminal sensors 16b to 1 are connected to the circuit pattern of the switch device (not shown) by attaching the tilt sensor thus assembled.
When the solder 9b is soldered, it becomes possible to detect the tilt in four directions of the tilt sensor of the present invention.

The operation of the tilt sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention is as follows. When the housing 11 is in a horizontal state as shown in FIG. 2, the movable contact 20 moves to a substantially central portion of the recess 12g. positioned. When such a tilt sensor in a horizontal state is tilted in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 1, the movable contact 20 rolls on the slope of the concave portion 12g and moves to two adjacent fixed contacts 16 and 17. Two adjacent fixed contacts 1
When the movable contact 20 comes into contact with the contact portions 16a, 17a of 6, 6, two adjacent fixed contacts 16, 17 are conducted through the movable contact 20. When the tilt sensor is tilted in the direction of arrow C, the fixed contacts 17 and 18 are conductive, when tilted in the direction of arrow D, the fixed contacts 18 and 19 are conductive, and when tilted in the direction of arrow E, the fixed contacts 19 and 16 are conductive. Conduct. Then, two fixed contacts 1 adjacent to each other
When 6-17, 17-18, 18-19, and 19-16 conduct, the detection switch (not shown) on the device side equipped with the tilt sensor of the present invention is turned on, and the tilt sensor of the present invention in four directions is turned on. Can be detected.

The tilt sensor according to the present invention can be used, for example, in a general household where the tilt sensor is mounted on a gas range or the like. It can be used as a vibration sensor in which the sensor operates to close the main valve of gas. Further, for example, it can be used as an anti-theft sensor that can be attached to a product sold at a department store or the like, and when the product is tilted due to theft or the like, the tilt sensor of the present invention operates to notify the surroundings. . Further, as an example of using a camera capable of imprinting the date at the same time as shooting, a conventional camera shoots when the camera is shot horizontally and when the camera is turned by 90 ° to shoot. The position of the date in the photo changed, making it hard to see. By attaching the tilt sensor of the present invention to such a camera, it is possible to control so that the date is always at the same position regardless of the tilt of the camera at the time of shooting.

In the tilt sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the concave portion 1 having the same shape as the bottom plate 12 is also provided on the upper plate 13 side.
2d, if the tilt sensor of the present invention is
It is also possible to use the apparatus with the bottom plate 12 turned upside down from the state shown in FIG. For example, it is also possible to use the tilt sensor of the present invention by mounting it upside down on the ceiling surface of a product (not shown) using the tilt sensor. In this case, the movable contact 20 comes to be located in the recess 13d of the upper plate 13.
In addition, the tilt sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention has been described with the four fixed contacts attached thereto. However, as a modified example, as shown in FIG. The three fixed contacts 31, 32, and 33 may be attached. In this case, the inclination sensor can detect inclinations in three directions.

As a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, a casing 11 is formed in a circular shape, and is arranged at a predetermined angle in the casing 11, for example, 8
And eight fixed contacts 34 are provided.
May be arranged at regular intervals at predetermined angles. In this case, the tilt sensor can detect tilts in eight directions. The present invention can provide a tilt sensor that can detect tilt in more directions by increasing the number of fixed contacts.

In the description of the tilt sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the concave portions 12g and 13d formed on the bottom plate 12 and the upper plate 13 have been described with the same shape, but as shown in FIG. The bottom plate 12 may be formed with a mortar-shaped recess 12g, and the upper plate 13 may be formed with a step-shaped recess 13f. Further, for example, as shown in FIG.
Are formed stepwise, and the stepped concave portions 12j, 1j
3f may have different dimensions. That is, the bottom plate 1
By forming the shapes of the recesses 12g and 13d formed on the second plate 2 and the upper plate 13 to be different from each other, when the movable contact 20 is on the bottom plate 12 side and when the movable contact 20 is on the upper plate 13 side upside down, The time required for the movable contact 20 to move to each fixed contact can be made different. Also, the bottom plate 13
When the movable contact 20 starts to move to the fixed contact side between the side and the upper plate 13 side, the inclination angle of the housing 11 can be made different. Obtainable.

A tilt sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG.
The bottom plate 22, the upper plate 23, and the intermediate member 25 are formed, and the intermediate member 25 is sandwiched between the bottom plate 22 and the upper plate 23. The bottom plate 22 is made of a resin material or the like, and has a narrow, band-shaped first convex ridge 22a formed at a predetermined height on the outer peripheral portion. A flat intermediate member mounting portion 22b is formed inside the first convex ridge portion 22a, and a triangular second convex ridge portion 22c having a substantially rectangular outer periphery is formed inside the intermediate member mounting portion 22b. Are formed to protrude. The second ridge 22
On the inner peripheral side of FIG. 10C, a flat movable contact moving portion 22d to which a movable contact 30 to be described later can move is formed, and a concave portion 22e having a predetermined diameter is formed at a substantially central portion of the movable contact moving portion 22d in FIG. It is formed in a step shape as shown in FIG. At four corners of the bottom plate 12, mounting holes 22f having a predetermined hole diameter are respectively formed.

The intermediate member mounting portion 22 of the bottom plate 22
An intermediate member 25 made of a resin material is placed on b. The intermediate member 25 has an outer shape formed in a substantially rectangular shape having the same shape as the bottom plate 22, a thickness larger than the bottom plate 22, and a substantially square hollow portion inside. 24 is formed with the top and bottom open. Also,
Four fixed contacts 26 to 29 made of a metal plate or the like are embedded and attached to the intermediate member 25 by insert molding or the like. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the fixed contacts 26 to 29 each have a contact portion 26a to 29a having an equally spaced gap F in the hollow portion 24 of the intermediate member 25. Separated and insulated. In such fixed contacts 26 to 29, the terminal portions 26b to 29b are led out from the left and right side walls of the intermediate member 25 in the drawing. That is, the fixed contacts 26 to 29 are arranged at equal intervals in the housing 21.

The terminal portions 26b to 29b are connected to the intermediate member 2
5 is bent downward in the figure along the side wall 5 and is bent outward in the parallel direction of the back surface of the bottom plate 22 with the tip end projecting slightly downward from the back surface of the bottom plate 22. A step 25c is formed on the outer periphery of the lower surface 25a and the upper surface 25b of the intermediate member 25, and a triangular groove 25d is engraved around the inner cavity 24. At four corners of the lower surface 25a and the upper surface 25b of the intermediate member 25, mounting legs 25e having a predetermined height are formed to protrude, respectively.

An upper plate 23 made of a resin material is disposed above the intermediate member 25, and the upper plate 23 is
2 is formed in the same shape. That is, the upper plate 23 is arranged as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0, a first ridge 23a is formed on the outer peripheral portion, and the intermediate member mounting portion 2 is provided inside the first ridge 23a.
3b are formed, and inside the intermediate member mounting portion 23b,
A triangular second convex ridge 23c is formed to protrude. A flat movable contact moving portion 23d is formed on the inner peripheral side of the second protruding ridge portion 23c, and a concave portion 23e is formed in a substantially central portion of the movable contact moving portion 23d in a stepped manner. In addition, chamfered mounting holes 23f are formed at four corners of the upper plate 23, respectively.

As described above, the housing 21 is composed of the bottom plate 22, the upper plate 23, and the intermediate member 25, and the mounting legs 25e of the intermediate member 25 have the mounting holes 22f of the bottom plate 22 and the upper plate 23, respectively. 23f, and the mounting holes 22
The mounting legs 25e protruding from the f and 23f are caulked, and the intermediate member 25 is sandwiched between the bottom plate 22 and the upper plate 22 to form the housing 21.
Are formed integrally. A spherical movable contact 30 made of a conductive steel ball or the like is movably housed in the hollow portion 24 of the housing 21. When the housing 21 is in a horizontal state, a part of the movable contact 30 is fitted into the concave portion 22e substantially at the center of the cavity 24 as shown in FIG. 10 so that the movement of the movable contact 30 is restricted. It has become. When the housing 21 is tilted in, for example, the direction B shown in FIG. 11, the movable contact 30 comes out of the recess 22e due to the tilt of the housing 21 and is not movable between the adjacent fixed contacts 26 and 27. When the movable contact 30 is tilted in the direction of arrow B, the two fixed contacts 26 and 27 adjacent to each other
It comes in contact with. The movable contact 30 comes into contact with the contact portions 26a and 27a of the fixed contacts 26 and 27, and the fixed contacts 26 and 27 are electrically connected via the movable contact 30.

The assembling of the tilt sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention having the above-described structure is performed by first attaching the mounting legs 25 on the lower surface 25a side of the intermediate member 25 to the mounting holes 22f at the four corners of the bottom plate 22.
e is fitted. Then, the step 25c and the recess 25b of the intermediate member 25 are aligned with the first and second ridges 22a and 22c of the bottom plate 22, and the intermediate member 25 is
Placed on top. Next, when the movable contact 30 is put into the hollow portion 24 of the intermediate member 25 and stored, the movable contact 30
Rolls over the flat movable contact moving portion 22d and
The movement is regulated by partially fitting in 2e.

Next, the mounting holes 23f of the upper plate 23 are aligned and fitted to the four mounting legs 25e on the upper surface 25b of the intermediate member 25. At this time, the tips of the mounting legs 25e fitted to the bottom plate 22 and the upper plate 23 are slightly protruded from the bottom plate 22 or the upper plate 23, respectively. The bottom plate 22 and the upper plate 23 are integrally attached to the intermediate member 25 by heat caulking or the like which heats and pressurizes the slightly protruding mounting legs 25e to a high temperature, and the bottom plate 22 and the upper plate 23
In between, the intermediate member 25 is sandwiched, and the moving contact 30 is housed so as to be movable in the hollow portion 24, and the assembly of the tilt sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention is completed. When the terminal units 26b to 29b are soldered to the circuit pattern of the switch device (not shown), the tilt sensor thus assembled can detect the tilt in four directions of the tilt sensor of the present invention. Become.

The operation of the tilt sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention is as follows. When the housing 21 is in a horizontal state as shown in FIG. I have. When such a tilt sensor is tilted in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 11, the movable contact 30 comes out of the concave portion 22e and rolls on the flat movable contact moving portion 22d to form two adjacent fixed contacts 26. , 27, and the movable contact 20 comes into contact with the two adjacent fixed contacts 26, 27, so that the two adjacent fixed contacts 26, 27 conduct through the movable contact 20.

As described above, when the tilt sensor is tilted in four arbitrary directions, two fixed contacts 26-27, 27-28, 28-2 adjacent to each other via the movable contact 30.
9, 29-26 conduct. The conduction of the two fixed contacts adjacent to each other turns on a detection switch (not shown) on the device side to which the tilt sensor of the present invention is attached, thereby turning the tilt sensor of the present invention in four directions. It can be detected.

Further, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the material of the bottom plate 22 and the top plate 23 has been described as an insulating resin material, but both the bottom plate 22 and the top plate 23 are made of conductive metal. It may be a formed one. Alternatively, one of the bottom plate 22 and the upper plate 23 formed of metal may be used. That is, the bottom plate 2
2 and / or by forming the upper plate 23 with a conductive metal, conduction between the bottom plate 22 and any one of the fixed contacts 27 can be detected via the movable contact 30. By detecting conduction between the bottom plate 22 and, for example, the fixed contact 27, it is possible to detect that the movable contact 30 is located on the bottom plate 22 and detect that the housing 21 is in a normal state. . When the upside down of the tilt sensor is upside down and the movable contact 30 is located on the upper plate 23 side,
The upper plate 23 and, for example, the fixed contact 27 via the movable contact 30
By detecting the conduction between them, it can be detected that the movable contact 30 is located on the upper plate 23 and that the housing 21 is upside down. Further, in the second embodiment of the present invention, for example, FIGS.
It is also possible to implement a modification as shown in FIG.

[0036]

According to the tilt sensor of the present invention, at least three or more fixed contacts having contact portions arranged at equal intervals on the housing are provided, and the movable contact is moved between the adjacent iron contacts by the inclination of the housing. The movable contact contacts two adjacent fixed contacts when the housing is tilted, so that the tilt can detect not only one direction but also tilts in at least three directions or more. A sensor can be provided. By being able to detect such tilts in multiple directions, it can be applied to a multipurpose field, and can provide a wide-use tilt sensor that can be used in, for example, a wristwatch, a gas range, a camera, or the like.

Further, the housing is composed of a bottom plate, an upper plate and an intermediate member, and the intermediate member is sandwiched between the bottom plate and the upper plate to form the housing. The housing can be assembled by stacking an intermediate member on the intermediate member and an upper plate on the intermediate member, thereby providing a tilt sensor with high assembling efficiency.

Further, since the hollow portion for accommodating the movable contact is provided in the intermediate member and three or more fixed contacts are fixed to the intermediate member, the fixed contact is embedded in the intermediate member by insert molding or the like. Can be integrated
The handleability of the intermediate member integrated with the fixed contact is improved, and the assembly and retail can be improved.

Further, the outer shape of the housing is formed in a substantially rectangular shape,
Since four fixed contacts are arranged at equal intervals inside the housing to detect the inclination of the housing in four directions, it is possible to provide an inclination sensor capable of detecting any inclination in four directions.

Further, the intermediate member constituting the housing has upper and lower mounting legs, and mounting holes formed in the bottom plate and the upper plate are fitted to the mounting legs so as to be attached to the inner member. Since the cavity is hermetically sealed, the assembling of the housing is facilitated, and a tilt sensor with high assembling efficiency can be provided.

The bottom plate and the upper plate have at least a concave portion for restricting the movement of the movable contact. When the housing is in a horizontal state, the movable contact is located substantially at the center of the concave portion. Alternatively, since the part is fitted into the recess, the movable contact does not move to the fixed contact unless the housing is tilted to a predetermined angle. Therefore, since the movable contact does not move due to minute vibration or the like, a high-precision tilt sensor with less malfunction can be provided.

Further, since the concave portions are formed in both the bottom plate and the upper plate, and the concave portions are formed in the same shape, the tilt sensor of the present invention can be used even if it is turned upside down. In addition, the same detection characteristics can be obtained on the bottom plate side and the top plate side. Therefore, a more versatile tilt sensor can be provided.

Further, since the shapes of the concave portions formed in the bottom plate and the upper plate are formed to be different from each other, two different types of detection characteristics can be obtained when used upside down. The use of the tilt sensor of the present invention can be expanded.

Further, since the bottom plate and / or the upper plate is formed of a conductive metal, conduction between the fixed contact and the bottom plate or the upper plate can be detected via the movable member. In addition to the four directions, two directions can be detected. That is, it is possible to detect whether the tilt sensor is in the normal state or the inverted state, and the use of the tilt sensor of the present invention can be further expanded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an intermediate member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a modified example of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a modified example of the fixed contact according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an essential part cross-sectional view for explaining a modification of the concave portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an essential part cross-sectional view for explaining a modification of the concave portion of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a housing with an upper plate removed according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an essential part cross sectional view for explaining the operation of the second embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional inclination sensor.

FIG. 13 is a top view of a conventional inclination sensor.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional inclination sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Housing 12 Bottom plate 12a-12d Side wall 12e Inner surface 12f Guide groove 12g Depression 12h Mounting leg 13 Upper plate 13a Step 13b Mounting hole 13c Inner surface 13d Depression 14 Intermediate member mounting part 15 Intermediate member 16-19 Fixed contact 16a-19a Contact 16b-19b Terminal part 20 Movable contact

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a hollow portion therein, and movably housed in the hollow portion of the housing so that when the housing is in a horizontal state, it is located substantially at the center of the hollow portion. An external shape is provided with a movable contact having a spherical shape, and at least three or more fixed contacts in which contact portions are arranged at equal intervals in the housing, and the movable contact can be moved between adjacent fixed contacts due to the inclination of the housing. A tilt sensor, wherein the movable contact contacts two adjacent fixed contacts when the housing is tilted. 2. The housing is composed of a bottom plate, an upper plate, and an intermediate member, and the housing is formed between the bottom plate and the upper plate by holding the intermediate member. The tilt sensor according to claim 1. 3. The tilt sensor according to claim 2, wherein the hollow portion for accommodating the movable contact is provided in the intermediate member, and three or more fixed contacts are fixed to the intermediate member. 4. An outer shape of the housing is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and contact portions of the four fixed contacts are arranged at equal intervals inside the housing to detect inclinations of the housing in four directions. The inclination sensor according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein 5. The intermediate member constituting the housing has upper and lower mounting legs, and mounting holes formed in the bottom plate and the upper plate are fitted to the mounting legs so as to be attached to the inner member. 4. The tilt sensor according to claim 2, wherein the cavity is sealed. 6. A recess formed in the bottom plate and the upper plate for regulating at least the movement of the movable contact. When the housing is in a horizontal state, the movable contact is located at a substantially central portion of the recess. 6. The inclination sensor according to claim 2, wherein a part of the inclination sensor is fitted into the recess. 7. The tilt sensor according to claim 6, wherein the concave portions are respectively formed in both the bottom plate and the upper plate, and the concave portions are formed in the same shape. 8. The tilt sensor according to claim 7, wherein the concave portions formed in the bottom plate and the upper plate have different shapes. 9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the bottom plate and / or the upper plate are formed of a conductive metal.
6. The tilt sensor according to 6, 7, or 8.