JP2009036519A - Vibration sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vibration sensor capable of appropriately detecting vibrations in all directions. <P>SOLUTION: The vibration sensor A1 is provided with accommodating spaces 10, and spheres 3A, 3B accommodated in the accommodation spaces 10, and the accommodation spaces 10 include columnar spaces 10A, 10B. Moreover, the vibration sensor is provided with a light-emitting module 4 for emitting the light which passes through the columnar spaces 10A, 10B, and a light-receiving module 5 for receiving light from the light-emitting module 4. Inside the columnar spaces 10A, 10B, the positions of the spheres 3A, 3B assume positions that shield the light and positions that do not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vibration sensor for detecting vibration.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional vibration sensor. The vibration sensor X shown in the figure has a configuration in which a sphere 95 is accommodated in an accommodation space 94. The accommodation space 94 is sandwiched between the metal plates 92 and 93. A metal plate 91 is provided at the center of the accommodation space 94. The sphere 95 is made of a conductor such as iron. The metal plates 91, 92, 93 are connected to individual electrodes (not shown). The spherical body 95 takes a position in which the metal plates 91 and 92 are conducted and a position in which the metal plates 91 and 93 are conducted in the accommodation space 94. When vibration is applied to the vibration sensor X, the sphere 95 moves back and forth between these positions. Thus, in the vibration sensor X, the presence or absence of vibration can be detected by monitoring the conduction state between the metal plate 91 and the metal plates 92 and 93.

  However, the vibration sensor X is relatively sensitive to vibration in the left-right direction in FIG. 4, but is not sensitive to vibration in the depth direction of FIG. In addition, with respect to vibration in the vertical direction, it is difficult to detect vibration unless the strength of vibration is large to some extent. As described above, the vibration sensor X has a variation in detection accuracy depending on the direction of vibration.

JP 2003-227747 A

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and an object thereof is to provide a vibration sensor capable of appropriately detecting vibrations in all directions.

  The vibration sensor provided by the present invention is a vibration sensor including an accommodation space and one or more spheres accommodated in the accommodation space, and the accommodation space includes one or more cylindrical spaces, A light-emitting unit that emits light passing through the cylindrical space; and a light-receiving unit that receives light from the light-emitting unit. The sphere has a position that shields the light in the cylindrical space and the light-receiving unit. It is characterized by taking a position that does not block light.

  According to such a configuration, when the vibration sensor vibrates, the sphere moves in the cylindrical space. Thereby, the state where the light from the light emitting means is shielded by the sphere and the state where the light is not shielded are repeated in a short time. Therefore, the vibration can be detected by monitoring the light reception state by the light receiving means.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the accommodation space includes two cylindrical spaces, and the two cylindrical spaces extend in different directions. According to such a configuration, vibrations in all directions applied to the vibration sensor can be appropriately detected.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light from the light emitting means passes through the two cylindrical spaces. Such a configuration is advantageous for downsizing and cost reduction of the vibration sensor.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a vibration sensor according to the present invention. The vibration sensor A1 of this embodiment includes a case 1, two sealing plates 2, two spheres 3A, 3B, a light emitting module 4, and a light receiving module 5. The vibration sensor A1 is for detecting vibration applied to the mobile phone by being attached to the mobile phone, for example. In particular, if the number of times vibration is applied is integrated, the function of a pedometer can be added to the mobile phone.

  The case 1 is made of, for example, resin and is a rectangular parallelepiped having sides extending in the directions x, y, and z. The case 1 is formed with an accommodation space 10, a detection hole 11, and two recesses 12. The accommodation space 10 is constituted by two cylindrical spaces 10A and 10B. The cylindrical spaces 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B penetrate from the upper surface of the case 1 to the lower surface. The cylindrical space 10A is inclined with respect to any of the directions x, y, and z. The cylindrical space 10B is inclined with respect to any of the directions x, y, and z, and extends in a direction different from the cylindrical space 10A. In the present embodiment, the cylindrical spaces 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B are inclined 45 ° with respect to the sealing plate 2, respectively.

  The detection hole 11 is a hole having a rectangular cross section extending in the direction x. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the detection hole 11 is provided substantially at the center in the height direction of the case 1, and penetrates the two cylindrical spaces 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B. The two recesses 12 are provided near both ends in the direction x of the case 1. The light emitting module 4 is accommodated in one of the two recesses 12, and the light receiving module 5 is accommodated in the other. Case 1 preferably has electrical conductivity. By connecting the case 1 to a ground line (not shown), it is possible to appropriately release static electricity that may be generated by the operation. The size of the case 1 is, for example, 10 mm square or less, preferably about 2 to 3 mm square.

  The two sealing plates 2 are made of glass epoxy, for example, and sandwich the case 1 from above and below. That is, the cylindrical spaces 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B are dressed by two sealing plates 2.

  The spherical bodies 3A and 3B are made of, for example, iron and are accommodated in the cylindrical spaces 10A and 10B. The spheres 3A and 3B can move smoothly in the cylindrical spaces 10A and 10B. The size of the spheres 3A and 3B is, for example, about 0.8 mm.

  The light emitting module 4 is a light emitting means for emitting light used for detecting vibration in the vibration sensor A1. The light emitting module 4 includes a light emitting element 41 such as an infrared LED chip. A part of the lead on which the light emitting element 41 is mounted is exposed on the lower surface of the sealing plate 2. This portion is used for mounting the vibration sensor 4 on, for example, a mobile phone. Light from the light emitting module 4 travels through the detection hole 11 and passes through the two cylindrical spaces 10A and 10B.

  The light receiving module 5 is light receiving means for receiving light used for detecting vibration in the vibration sensor A1. The light receiving module 5 includes a light receiving element 51 capable of receiving infrared rays. A part of the lead on which the light receiving element 51 is mounted is exposed on the lower surface of the sealing plate 2. This portion is used for mounting the vibration sensor 4 on, for example, a mobile phone. The light receiving module 5 is capable of receiving infrared rays that have traveled through the detection holes 11.

  Next, the operation of the vibration sensor A1 will be described.

  In a state where the vibration sensor A1 is stationary, the spheres 3A and 3B are stopped at the lower portions of the cylindrical spaces 10A and 10B. For this reason, infrared light from the light emitting module 4 is received by the light receiving module 5. On the other hand, for example, when a mobile phone equipped with the vibration sensor A1 vibrates, the spheres 3A and 3B move in the cylindrical spaces 10A and 10B. When any of the spheres 3A and 3B reaches the detection hole 11, infrared rays from the light emitting module 4 are shielded. Therefore, by monitoring the light reception status by the light receiving module 5, for example, vibration of a mobile phone can be detected. For example, a pedometer can be configured by integrating the number of times the light receiving module 5 has not received light.

  The cylindrical spaces 10A and 10B extend in different directions and are inclined with respect to any of the directions x, y, and z. For this reason, any of the spheres 3 </ b> A and 3 </ b> B can shield infrared rays from the light emitting module 4 regardless of the vibration in any of the directions x, y, and z. Further, when vibration occurs in a direction in which the sphere 3A in the cylindrical space 10A is difficult to move, it can be expected that the sphere 3B in the cylindrical space 10B moves smoothly. On the other hand, when vibration occurs in a direction in which the sphere 3B is difficult to move, it can be expected that the sphere 3A moves smoothly. Therefore, vibrations in all directions can be detected appropriately.

  It is possible to detect that the two spheres 3 </ b> A and 3 </ b> B have been moved by vibration by a pair of the light emitting module 4 and the light receiving module 5. This is advantageous in reducing the size and cost of the vibration sensor A1.

  FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the vibration sensor according to the present invention. In this figure, the same or similar elements as those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those in the above embodiment.

  In the vibration sensor A2 of the present embodiment, the arrangement of the detection hole 11, the light emitting module 4, and the light receiving module 5 is different from the above-described embodiment. As clearly shown in the figure, the detection hole 11 is formed in the lower portion of the case 1 in the height direction, and penetrates near the lower ends of the cylindrical spaces 10A and 10B. The light emitting module 4 and the light receiving module 5 are arranged at a height at which infrared rays can be transmitted and received through the detection hole 11.

  Also in this embodiment, vibrations in all directions can be detected appropriately. When the vibration sensor A2 is in a stationary state, the infrared rays from the light emitting module 4 are shielded by the spheres 3A and 3B. For this reason, when the light receiving module 5 is in a state where it does not continuously detect infrared rays, it can be estimated that the vibration sensor A2 is stationary in the illustrated posture. On the other hand, when the light receiving module 5 is in a state of continuously detecting infrared rays, it can be estimated that the vibration sensor A2 is in an upside down posture, for example. Thus, according to this embodiment, it can be used as means for estimating the posture of, for example, a mobile phone to which the vibration sensor A2 is attached.

  The vibration sensor according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The specific configuration of each part of the vibration sensor according to the present invention can be modified in various ways.

It is a perspective view which shows 1st Embodiment of the vibration sensor which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment of the vibration sensor which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the conventional vibration sensor.

Explanation of symbols

A1, A2 Vibration sensor 1 Case 2 Sealing plates 3A, 3B Sphere 4 Light emitting module (light emitting means)
5 Light receiving module (light receiving means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Storage space 10A, 10B Cylindrical space 11 Detection hole 12 Recessed part 41 Light emitting element 51 Light receiving element

Claims (3)

Containment space,
One or more spheres accommodated in the accommodation space;
A vibration sensor comprising:
The accommodation space includes one or more cylindrical spaces,
A light emitting means for emitting light passing through the cylindrical space;
A light receiving means for receiving light from the light emitting means, and
The said spherical body takes the position which shields the said light in the said cylindrical space, and the position which does not shield the said light, The vibration sensor characterized by the above-mentioned. The accommodation space includes two cylindrical spaces,
The vibration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the two cylindrical spaces extend in different directions.   The vibration sensor according to claim 2, wherein light from the light emitting means passes through the two cylindrical spaces.

Images