EP0105928B1 - Commutateur pour equipement electronique de sport - Google Patents

Commutateur pour equipement electronique de sport Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0105928B1
EP0105928B1 EP19830901966 EP83901966A EP0105928B1 EP 0105928 B1 EP0105928 B1 EP 0105928B1 EP 19830901966 EP19830901966 EP 19830901966 EP 83901966 A EP83901966 A EP 83901966A EP 0105928 B1 EP0105928 B1 EP 0105928B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
switch
electronic
binding
electronic switch
oscillator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19830901966
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0105928A1 (fr
EP0105928A4 (fr
Inventor
Nicholas F. D'antonio
Ehrenfreid Andra
Lorenz Stempfhuber
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Marker International Co
Kinetronic Industries Inc
Original Assignee
Marker International Co
Kinetronic Industries Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=23447757&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0105928(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Marker International Co, Kinetronic Industries Inc filed Critical Marker International Co
Priority to AT83901966T priority Critical patent/ATE65704T1/de
Publication of EP0105928A1 publication Critical patent/EP0105928A1/fr
Publication of EP0105928A4 publication Critical patent/EP0105928A4/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0105928B1 publication Critical patent/EP0105928B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
    • A63C9/08—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings
    • A63C9/088—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings with electronically controlled locking devices

Definitions

  • microcircuits are being employed in an increasing variety of applications.
  • Electronic circuitry is being added to consumer goods to perform functions not previously available and to complement or improve existing functions.
  • An example is the use of microcircuits in sporting goods.
  • a particular example is the use of electronic signal evaluation, decision-making and release command circuitry in a safety ski binding.
  • Such an electronic safety ski binding is described in U.S. Patent 4,291,894.
  • the electronic safety ski binding described there includes a mechanical portion which, in its locked condition, grasps a skier's boot and, in its released condition, permits the ski boot to be separated from the binding.
  • the released condition is ideally achieved during skiing when skiing forces threaten the safety or well-being of the skier.
  • the function of the mechanical portion of the safety ski binding is complemented, as described in the cited patent, by electronic circuitry which senses the skiing forces, continuously evaluates them to determine if the skier is endangered and commands the mechanical portion of the binding to release, i.e. to switch from its locked to released condition, when a situation dangerous to the skier is encountered.
  • the circuitry Before sporting goods incorporating electronic circuitry may be used, the circuitry must be actuated or turned "on". Electrical switches for electronic sporting goods are described in U.S.-A-. 4,140,331 or DE-A-2 705 174.
  • the switches described there include at least one mechanical, moveable part controlling the connection of the circuitry and power supply.
  • mechanical and moveable parts In the harsh environment experienced by ski bindings, it is desirable to avoid mechanical and moveable parts. Such parts imply the presence of sliding surfaces which are the source of difficulty in avoiding adverse effects of mechanical shock and in protecting circuitry against the intrusion of foreign matter.
  • US-A-3,892,980 discloses a releasable ski binding device in which the release mechanism is electrically actuated by signals generated by a plurality of pressure sensors mounted in proximity to a ski boot. Attention is also drawn to US-A-4,310,807.
  • the present invention relates to an electronic ski binding as set forth in the preamble of claim 1, and is characterized by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.
  • Prefered embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
  • the electronic switch is actuated by electronic switch control means which is responsive to an external influence.
  • the control means is oscillator-based so that an external influence, such as pressure, will change the tuning of the oscillator or of a filter receiving the output signal of the oscillator.
  • the resultant frequency shift appears as a changed signal level at the filter output which activates or deactivates the electronic switch.
  • the influence mentioned above should be additionally defined as an effect of the skiboots and of ordinary skiing conditions. In this context, it shall be noticed that extraordinary skiing conditions would give rise to a releasing reaction of the ordinary circuitry of the ski binding.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic, block diagram of a switch according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic, block diagram of an embodiment of a switch according to the invention.
  • Figure 3 shows response curves as a function of frequency for high and low pass filters.
  • Figure 4 depicts in cross section a capacitor, both free of and under the influence of pressure, which forms a part of a control means according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic cross sectional view of a ski boot gripped by a ski binding including embodiments of the inventive switch.
  • Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a switch according to the invention.
  • the switch is actuated by various external influences which may involve relative movements of objects.
  • the inventive switch itself does not incorporate any moveable parts, i.e., parts which pivot or otherwise cause the mechanical closing of electrical contacts.
  • the term "stationary parts” as used here includes deformable parts, i.e., parts which may change in dimension in response to the application of pressure to them, but which do not mechanically close or open electrical contacts as a result of the deformation. With the definition of the term “stationary parts” thus understood, the switch according to the present invention includes only stationary parts and is free of the difficulties experienced in using, in harsh sports equipment environment, switches which incorporate moveable parts.
  • FIG. 1 a schematic block diagram of the functioning of the switch according to the invention is depicted.
  • a power supply 1 supplies power to operate electronic circuitry 3 found in sports equipment.
  • an electrical switch 5 shown within the broken lines, comprised of an electronic switch 7 connected directly between supply 1 and circuitry 3.
  • Electronic switch 7 is controlled, in response to an environmental influence, in its opening and closing by an electronic switch control means 9.
  • Electronic switch 7 is a conventional electronic switch, such as a transistor, which functions as a closed or open switch between its two switched terminals depending upon the state of a signal presented at its control terminal.
  • FIG. 2 an embodiment of the switch of Fig. 1 is shown in which the control means incorporates an oscillator 17 and a filter 19.
  • a power supply 11 is connected through an electronic switch 13 to power electronic circuitry 15.
  • Power supply 11 is also connected to oscillator 17, the output signal of which is supplied to filter 19.
  • the output signal of filter 19 is in turn applied through an optional latch means 21 to the control terminal of electronic switch 13 to control the state, i.e., closed or open, of electronic switch 13.
  • An environmentally variable impedance means 23 is incorporated into either oscillator 17 or filter 19 for changing the value of an impedance in response to an external influence.
  • the impedance change causes the frequency of oscillator 17 to shift or the frequency response characteristic of filter 19 to shift.
  • Ignoring latch means 21 for the moment, this shifting, if of sufficient magnitude, causes the state of the signal at the control terminal of electronic switch 13 to change, opening or closing electronic switch 13.
  • Fig. 3 The change in the magnitude of the output signal of filter 19 is illustrated in Fig. 3 for the situations in which filter 19 is a low pass and high pass filter.
  • Fig. 3A the familiar linearized response characteristic of a low pass filter is shown.
  • f c For a fixed amplitude input signal of variable frequency applied to the filter, an output signal appears which, above a certain frequency, especially above cut-off frequency, f c , has a much lower amplitude than does the input signal.
  • Input signals with frequencies below f c are not attenuated appreciably by the filters 19.
  • a threshold output signal amplitude is indicated in Fig. 3A, the threshold referring to the control signal amplitude which, when applied to the control terminal of electronic switch 13, determines the state of electronic switch 13.
  • Figs. 3A and 3B have been described as if a shift in oscillator frequency provided electronic switch control. The same response can be achieved through shifting the cut-off frequency of the filters by including the variable impedance means 23 in filter 19 rather than in oscillator 17. In that event, the cut-off frequency, f c , would shift between f1 and f2 in Fig. 3A, and between f3 and f4 in Fig. 3B, to change the state of electronic switch 13.
  • a capacitor 31 has an elastic dielectric material 33 disposed between its plates 35 and 37. Plate 37 is firmly supported, but plate 35 is deformable or supported only by dielectric 33. As illustrated in Fig. 4B, pressure applied transversely to the two plates reduces their separation over at least part of their area, thereby raising the capacitance of the capacitor. If capacitor 31 is part of oscillator 17, the change in its capacitance changes the output frequency of the oscillator. If capacitor 31 is part of filter 19, the change in its capacitance changes the cut-off frequency of the filter. In either event, the state of electronic switch 13 may be changed by selecting the cut-off frequencies and frequency shifts in a manner obvious to one skilled in the art.
  • the pressure on capacitor 31 may be provided by the weight of the skier.
  • Capacitor 31 may be mounted on a binding where a ski boot will be in contact with it.
  • Fig. 5 shows, in cross section, a ski boot 41, clamped by a toe clamp 43 and a heel clamp 45 in a ski binding.
  • the binding includes a sole plate 47 in which an element 49, which may be capacitor 31, is embedded.
  • the weight of the skier through the heel of the boot compresses the capacitor plates, triggering the electronic switch.
  • latch means 21 of Fig. 2 may be included in the circuit. As explained elsewhere in this description, latch means 21 maintains a fixed output signal once the proper input signal is received, regardless of subsequent changes in the input signal. Latch means 21 may only be reset by applying a signal to the release terminal of the latch.
  • an environmentally variable impedance means 23 can be constructed from a resistor having a resistance which depends upon the mechanical pressure exerted on it.
  • a resistor having a resistance which depends upon the mechanical pressure exerted on it.
  • Such a variable conductance elastomer is sold under the trademark "Pressex", which, in the absence of pressure, acts as an open switch. Application of sufficient pressure compressing Pressex causes it to act as a closed switch.
  • a pressure-sensitive switch having only stationary parts may be formed to switch an impedance.
  • resistors R1 and R3 are connected in series with pressure-sensitive resistor R5 shunting resistor R3. Resistor R5 is formed from Pressex and may be incorporated in a ski binding as element 49 of Fig. 5.
  • resistor R7 formed of Pressex shunts a capacitor C3 which is connected in series with a capacitor C1.
  • oscillator 17 and electronic switch 13 must be perpetually active or, at least, active when it is intended that electronic circuitry 15 may be turned on and off. It is preferable that oscillator 17 and electronic switch 13 be perpetually energized so that there is no possibility that another switch or preparatory step, which could be forgotten, is necessary to activate electronic circuitry 15.
  • the power perpetually consumed can be miniscule. For example, an oscillator built from a CD 40106 model Schmidt trigger would consume a current of only about 0.02 microamperes at 5 volts at 25 o C or 1 microampere at 5 volts at -40 o C, i.e.
  • a schematic circuit diagram of an embodiment of a switch according to the present invention is shown.
  • the power supply is in the form of a battery V B which is connected to electronic switch 51 and, through it, to electronic circuitry 53.
  • a conventional CMOS inverter 55 has a feedback resistor R11 and, connected from its input terminal to ground, a capacitor C11.
  • inverter 55 with resistor R11 and capacitor C11 form a well-known oscillator circuit.
  • the output of the oscillator is connected to a simple low pass filter comprising a series resistor R12, the opposite terminal of which is grounded through a capacitor C12.
  • the junction of R12 and C12 is connected to the anode of a diode D11, the cathode of which is grounded through a capacitor C13.
  • Diode D11 and capacitor C13 form a peak detector which detects and stores on C13 a voltage approximately equal to the amplitude peak of the voltage that appears on C12.
  • Diode D1 prevents discharge of C13 into C12, thereby more precisely transmitting changes in magnitude of the filter output signal to electronic switch 51.
  • the voltage on capacitor C13 is applied directly to the control terminal of electronic switch 51.
  • Either one of capacitor C11 or C12 or one of resistors R11 or R12 shall comprise an environmentally variable impedance means as previously described.
  • the variation of the value of the variable impedance tunes the oscillator or the cut-off frequency of the filter, so that the external influences, e.g., the application or removal of the skier's weight, causes electronic switch 51 to switch electronic circuitry 53 on and off.

Landscapes

  • Electronic Switches (AREA)

Claims (5)

  1. Fixation de ski électronique comprenant un interrupteur électrique (7) connectant le circuit électronique (3) de la fixation à la source d'énergie (1) de la fixation, et un moyen électronique de commande (a) d'interrupteur conçu pour commander ledit interrupteur (7) et pour être actionné par une chaussure de ski, caractérisée en ce que l'interrupteur est un interrupteur électronique (7) constitué seulement de parties fixes et en ce que le moyen électronique (9) de commande d'interrupteur comprend un oscillateur (17) et un filtre (19) et un moyen d'impédance (23) variable en fonction de l'environnement conçu pour décaler soit la fréquence de l'oscillateur (17) soit la caractéristique de réponse en fréquence du filtre (19) en fonction d'une influence externe sur la chaussure de ski.
  2. La fixation de la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit moyen de commande (9) comprend en outre un moyen de verrouillage (21) pour maintenir une liaison entre ladite source d'énergie et ledit circuit (3) quand ladite influence externe change.
  3. La fixation de la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle ledit moyen d'impédance (23) variable avec l'environnement comprend un condensateur (31) à 2 plaques conductrices et un isolant élastique disposé entre ces plaques et dans laquelle ladite influence externe inclut une pression appliquée transversalement à ces plaques.
  4. La fixation de la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle ledit moyen d'impédance variable avec l'environnement comprend une résistance (R₅, R₇ ) dont la résistance électrique dépend de la pression qui lui est appliquée et dans laquelle ladite influence externe inclut une pression appliquée à ladite résistance.
  5. La fixation suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, comprenant en outre des moyens de détection de pic pour détecter et garder en mémoire l'amplitude de pic dudit signal de sortie du moyen électronique de commande d'interrupteur.
EP19830901966 1982-04-12 1983-04-07 Commutateur pour equipement electronique de sport Expired EP0105928B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT83901966T ATE65704T1 (de) 1982-04-12 1983-04-07 Schalter fuer elektronische sportausstattung.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US36758082A 1982-04-12 1982-04-12
US367580 1982-04-12

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0105928A1 EP0105928A1 (fr) 1984-04-25
EP0105928A4 EP0105928A4 (fr) 1984-10-05
EP0105928B1 true EP0105928B1 (fr) 1991-07-31

Family

ID=23447757

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19830901966 Expired EP0105928B1 (fr) 1982-04-12 1983-04-07 Commutateur pour equipement electronique de sport

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0105928B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3382362D1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1983003555A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3408335A1 (de) * 1984-03-07 1985-09-12 Marker Patentverwertungsgesellschaft mbH, Baar Elektronische skibindung
AT389646B (de) * 1988-02-19 1990-01-10 Tyrolia Freizeitgeraete Sicherheitsskibindung
US5857694A (en) * 1995-09-29 1999-01-12 Active Control Experts, Inc. Adaptive sports implement

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3892980A (en) * 1973-10-24 1975-07-01 Gary Anderson Releasable ski binding device
US4291894A (en) 1974-05-07 1981-09-29 Antonio Nicholas F D Electrical ski boot release
US4099074A (en) * 1975-03-06 1978-07-04 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Touch sensitive electronic switching circuitry for electronic wristwatches
CH613381A5 (fr) 1976-02-10 1979-09-28 Salomon & Fils F
US4104595A (en) * 1976-12-27 1978-08-01 Borg-Warner Corporation Signal translating circuit for variable area capacitive pressure transducer
US4309760A (en) * 1979-07-09 1982-01-05 Antonio Nicholas F D Electronic integrating system
US4310807A (en) 1979-12-19 1982-01-12 Rockwell International Corporation Digital position sensor including L/C sensing oscillator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1983003555A1 (fr) 1983-10-27
EP0105928A1 (fr) 1984-04-25
EP0105928A4 (fr) 1984-10-05
DE3382362D1 (de) 1991-09-05

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