Tilt detecting device

This is a division of application Ser. No. 09/103,743 filed Jun. 24. 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,929.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tilt detecting device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, an electronic watch which has a tilt detecting device incorporated in a case, wherein the tilt detecting device detects an inclination of the case, only when a person moves the one's arm to the front of the one and inclines the arm to the one's side, to display a display portion, e.g., a liquid crystal display device or the like for displaying the time and the like by lighting it according to a detection signal, has been known.

In such a tilt detecting device, when the case is held horizontally, a conductive ball incorporated therein is not electrically in contact with a pair of conductive members incorporated in the case so as not to output a corresponding detection signal, while when the case complete is inclined, the conductive ball is electrically in contact with both of the pair of conductive members so that the pair of conductive members are electrically connected to each other through the conductive ball to output the corresponding detection signal.

However, according to the conventional tilt detecting device, there are problems that the tilt detecting device requires a large number of members and a complicated structure. Further, there are problems that a work for assembling the tilt detecting device is also complicated, so that a high production cost is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in view of these conventional problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tilt detecting device which has a small number of members, a simple structure, an easy work for assembling, and a low price.

In order to solve the above objects, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, a tilt detecting device comprises: an insulation case having a projection in a part of a ball containing portion formed in an interior thereof; two conductive pins which are disposed in parallel with each other with a predetermined space in the insulation case, and have a large diameter portion, a small diameter portion and a step between them; and a conductive ball which is contained in the ball containing portion of the insulation case and is movable along in a longitudinal direction of the two conductive pins in the ball containing portion when the insulation case is inclined; wherein the projection is formed to have a height so that when the insulation case is inclined and the conductive ball is at a position on the large diameter portions of the two conductive pins, the two conductive pins are electrically in contact with the conductive ball, while when the insulation case is inclined and the conductive ball is at a position on the small diameter portion of the two conductive pins, the conductive ball is in contact with the projection, and not electrically in contact with at least one of the two conductive pins.

According to the invention, when the insulation case is inclined to incline the two conductive pins in the longitudinal direction suitably, it is possible to position the conductive ball either on the large diameter portions or the small diameter portion, of the conductive pins, corresponding to the inclination. Therefore, it is possible to put the two conductive pins in an electrically connected state through the conductive ball, and it is also possible to put the one in a cut-off state, so that it is possible to detect the inclination. Further, because the two conductive pins are disposed in parallel in the insulation case, it is possible to form the two conductive pins in the same shape as each other, so that the members of the tilt detecting device can be made in common. Thus, the structure of the device can be simple and the work efficiency for assembling the device can be improved, so that the price of the device can be low.

When the projection in the interior of the insulation case is formed between the two conductive pins and the insulation case is divided into two halves in a lateral direction, i.e., in perpendicular to the two conductive pins which are held horizontal, the divided cases can be formed in the same shape as each other so that the members further can be made in common.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a tilt detecting device comprises: an insulation case having a recess portion formed in an inner surface of a ball containing portion formed in an interior of the insulation case; two conductive pins disposed in the insulation case; and a conductive ball which is movable to the recess portion in the ball containing portion or from the recess portion to an outside thereof, when the insulation case is inclined; wherein when the conductive ball is moved to the recess portion, the conductive ball is not electrically in contact with the two conductive pins not to output a corresponding detection signal, while when the conductive ball is moved from the recess portion to the outside thereof, the conductive ball is electrically in contact with the two conductive pins to output a corresponding detection signal.

According to the device, when the conductive ball is moved out of the recess portion in the insulation case with inclining the insulation case, it is possible to put the conductive ball in contact with both of the two conductive pins. Therefore, it is possible to electrically connect the two conductive pins with each other through the conductive ball, so that it is possible to detect the inclination. Further, because it is possible to form the two conductive pins in the same shape as each other, the members of the tilt detecting device can be made in common, the structure of the device can be simple, the work efficiency for assembling the device can be improved, and the price of the device can be low, like the tilt detecting device described preceding.

Preferably, the recess portion is formed in each of the inner surfaces, which faces each other, of the insulation case, and the two conductive pins are positioned at a vicinity of the recess portion and disposed approximately perpendicular to the recess portion. When the insulation case is divided into two halves in a vertical direction, i.e., in perpendicular to the two conductive pins which are held vertical, the divided cases can be formed in the same shape as each other so that the members further can be made in common. Even when the insulation case is turned over upside down, because this tilt detecting device has the same detecting function as the one above-described, it is possible to dispose this device in both up and down sides.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a tilt detecting device comprises: an insulation case which has two terminal portions which are provided with a metal plating on an interior of a ball containing portion and has a recess portion formed in a vicinity of an end of the two terminal portions; and a conductive ball which is movable to the recess portion in the ball containing portion or from the recess portion to an outside thereof, when the insulation case is inclined; wherein when the conductive ball is moved to the recess portion, the conductive ball is not electrically in contact with the two terminal portions not to output a corresponding detection signal, while when the conductive ball is moved from the recess portion to the outside thereof, the conductive ball is electrically in contact with the two terminal portions to output a corresponding detection signal.

According to the device, when the conductive ball is moved out of the recess portion in the insulation case with inclining of the insulation case, it is possible to electrically connect the two terminal portions having a metal plating with each other through the conductive ball, so that it is possible to detect the inclination, like the above-described device. Further, because the two terminal portions are formed with the insulation case as a body in the interior of the insulation case, the number of members of the tilt detecting device can be decreased so that the work for assembling the device can be simplified remarkably.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the invention;

FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line A—A of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B—B of

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 5A

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C—C of

FIG. 4

;

FIG. 5B

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D—D of

FIG. 4

;

FIGS. 6A

to

6

C show the states of the tilt detecting device in use, shown in

FIG. 1

, wherein

FIG. 6A

is a cross-sectional view of a circuit board held in a horizontal state, to which the tilt detecting device is attached;

FIG. 6B

is a cross-sectional view of the circuit board which is inclined to the right side so that the position of a small diameter portion side is lower than that of a large diameter portion side; and

FIG. 6C

is a cross-sectional view of the circuit board which is inclined to the left side so that the position of the small diameter portion side is higher than that of the large diameter portion side;

FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the first embodiment wherein the tilt detecting device is attached to the circuit board;

FIG. 8

is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the invention;

FIG. 9

is an exploded perspective view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 8

;

FIGS. 10A and 10B

show states of the tilt detecting device in use, shown in

FIG. 8

when the device is attached to the upper surface of a circuit board; wherein

FIG. 10A

is a vertical sectional view of the tilt detecting device wherein the circuit board is held approximately horizontal; and

FIG. 10B

is a transverse sectional view thereof;

FIG. 1A

is a vertical sectional view of the circuit board shown in

FIG. 10

, which is inclined so that the right side is slightly lower than the left side;

FIG. 11B

is a transverse sectional view thereof;

FIG. 12A

is a vertical sectional view of the circuit board shown in

FIG. 10

, which is inclined to the right side further;

FIG. 12B

is a transverse sectional view thereof;

FIGS. 13A and 13B

show states of the tilt detecting device in use, shown in

FIG. 8

when the devise is attached to the lower surface of the circuit board; wherein

FIG. 13A

is a vertical sectional view of the tilt detecting device wherein the circuit board is held approximately horizontal; and

FIG. 13B

is a transverse sectional view thereof;

FIG. 14A

is a vertical sectional view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 13

, wherein the circuit board is inclined so that the right side is slightly lower than the left side;

FIG. 14B

is a transverse sectional view thereof;

FIG. 15A

is a vertical sectional view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 13

, wherein the circuit board is inclined to the right side further;

FIG. 15B

is a transverse sectional view thereof;

FIG. 16

is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the invention;

FIG. 17

is an exploded perspective view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 16

;

FIG. 18

is a perspective view of the tilt detecting device which is turned over upside down shown in

FIG. 16

;

FIG. 19

is a side view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 18

, which is attached to a circuit board;

FIG. 20

is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the invention;

FIG. 21

is an exploded perspective view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 20

;

FIG. 22

is a plan view of a body case shown in

FIG. 21

;

FIG. 23

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E—E of the insulation case shown in

FIG. 20

;

FIG. 24A

is a perspective view of a terminal member of the body case;

FIG. 24B

is a perspective view of a body case with which the terminal member is formed as a body;

FIG. 25

is a perspective view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 20

, which is attached to a circuit board;

FIG. 26

is an exploded perspective view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 25

;

FIG. 27

is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the invention;

FIG. 28

is an exploded perspective view of the tilt detecting device shown in

FIG. 27

;

FIGS. 29A and 29B

show a production process of a body case shown in

FIG. 28

; wherein

FIG. 29A

is a perspective view of a formed body case; and

FIG. 29B

is a perspective view of the body case partially provided with metal plating.

PREFFERED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

First Embodiment

The first embodiment of the tilt detecting device in accordance with the present invention will be explained with reference to

FIGS. 1

to

6

.

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the tilt detecting device, and

FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view thereof.

The tilt detecting device comprises an insulation case

10

, two conductive pins

11

and

12

disposed in the insulation case

10

, and a conductive ball

13

which is movable in the insulation case

10

along in a longitudinal direction of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

when the insulation case

10

is inclined.

Each of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

is made of a conductive material such as a metal or the like and has a large diameter portion

11

a

and

12

a

and a small diameter portion

11

b

and

12

b

, respectively. In each of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, a tapered portion

11

c

and

12

c

is formed between the large diameter portion

11

a

and

12

a

and the small diameter portion

11

b

and

12

b

, a large diameter side attachment portion

11

d

and

12

d

is formed in the other side of the large diameter portion

11

a

and

12

a

, and a small diameter side attachment portion

11

f

and

12

f

is formed in the other side of the small diameter portion

11

b

and

12

b

through an intermediate portion

11

e

and

12

e

, respectively. In this case, each diameter of the large diameter side attachment portion

11

d

and

12

d

and the small diameter side attachment portion

11

f

and

12

f

is formed in the same as one another, and each diameter of the large diameter portion

11

a

and

12

a

and the intermediate portion

11

e

and

12

e

is approximately the same as one another.

The insulation case

10

comprises a first case

14

and a second case

15

which are the right and left portion of the insulation case

10

when the insulation case

10

is divided. The first and second cases

14

and

15

are made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin or the like and the both cases are formed in absolutely the same shape as each other.

A containing portion

16

is formed in an interior of the first case

14

which is the left side of the insulation case

10

. A right surface side of the containing portion

16

, which faces to the second case

15

, is opened. In a lower portion of a back wall, i.e., a left side wall in

FIG. 3

, of the first case

14

, attachment holes

17

and

18

are formed in a horizontal direction side by side, for inserting each large diameter side attachment portion

11

d

and

12

d

or each small diameter side attachment portion

11

f

and

12

f

, of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

thereinto. In an interior of the containing portion

16

, a projection

19

described later is formed between the two conductive pins

11

and

12

. In one corner of an upper portion of a right surface of the first case

14

, a boss

20

is formed in projecting, while in the other corner thereof, a fitting recess

21

is formed.

Because the first case

14

and the second case

15

are formed in the same shape as each other, as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

, when the opening side surfaces of the containing portions

16

, of the first and second cases

14

and

15

face to each other in the lateral direction and the attachment holes

17

and

18

face each other laterally, the bosses

20

of them face to the fitting recesses

21

. For example, when each large diameter side attachment portion lid and

12

d

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

is inserted from a side of the containing portion

16

of the first case

14

into each attachment hole

17

and

18

of the first case

14

, the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are attached to the first case

14

approximately horizontal. Then, when the conductive ball

13

is contained in the interior of the containing portion

16

of the first case

14

and each small diameter side attachment portion

11

f

and

12

f

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

is inserted from a side of the containing portion

16

of the second case

15

into each attachment hole

17

and

18

of the second case

15

, the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are attached to the first and second cases

14

and

15

and each boss

20

is fitted in each fitting recess

21

. Therefore, the first and second cases

14

and

15

are combined with each other with containing the two conductive pins

11

and

12

and the conductive ball

13

in each containing portion

16

. As the result, the insulation case

10

shown in

FIG. 1

is produced and each end portion of the large diameter side attachment portions lid and

12

d

and the small diameter side attachment portions

11

f

and

12

f

, of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

projects to an outside of the insulation case

10

.

In both ends of the projection

19

formed between the two conductive pins

11

and

12

in the interior of the each containing portion

16

of the first and second cases

14

and

15

, a slope portion

19

a

is formed respectively, which projects to an upper side of the conductive pins

11

and

12

, as shown in

FIG. 3

, and an intermediate projecting portion

19

b

is formed between the slope portions

19

a

in approximately horizontal.

When the insulation case

10

is inclined and the conductive ball

13

is at a position on an end side of the projection

19

in the interior of the containing portions

16

, the conductive ball

13

is in contact with the slope portion

19

a.

The intermediate projecting portion

19

b

is formed approximately horizontal over from the position of the large diameter portions

11

a

and

12

a

to that of the small diameter portions

11

b

and

12

b

, of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

. The top surface of the intermediate projecting portion

19

b

is slightly lower than upper ends of the small diameter portions

11

b

and

12

b.

As the result, when the conductive ball

13

is at a position on the both large diameter portions

11

a

and

12

a

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, the conductive ball

13

is in contact with both of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, with being apart from the intermediate projecting portion

19

b

in upward, as shown in

FIG. 5A

, while when the conductive ball

13

is at a position above the both small diameter portions

11

b

and

12

b

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, the conductive ball

13

is in contact with an upper end of the intermediate projecting portion

19

b

, and not in contact with at least one of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, as shown in FIG.

5

B.

Then, an example using the tilt detecting device will be explained in reference to

FIGS. 6A

to

6

C.

The tilt detecting device is attached to a circuit board

22

in an electronic watch in electrically connected state, for example, by inserting a lower portion of the insulation case

10

into an opening portion

22

a

formed on the circuit board

22

from an upper side, and by soldering each attachment portion

11

d

,

12

d

,

11

f

, and

12

f

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, which projects to the outside of the insulation case

10

, to a connecting electrode which is not shown, formed on an upper surface of the circuit board

22

, as shown in FIG.

6

A.

In the tilt detecting device, the insulation case

10

is usually inclined so that the side of the small diameter portions

11

b

and

12

b

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

is lower than that of the large diameter portions

11

a

and

12

a

, as shown in FIG.

6

B. Then, because the conductive ball

13

is in contact with the upper end of the intermediate projecting portion

19

b

of the projection

19

, and not in contact with at least one of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, as shown in

FIG. 5B

, the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are not electrically connected with each other to be in “off” state.

When the insulation case

10

is inclined so that the side of the large diameter portions

11

a

and

12

a

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

is lower than that of the small diameter portions

11

b

and

12

b

, as shown in

FIG. 6C

, the conductive ball

13

is rolled on the two conductive pins

11

and

12

to be moved to the large diameter portions

11

a

and

12

a

from the small diameter portions

11

b

and

12

b

by crossing the tapered portions

11

c

and

12

c

. As the result, the conductive ball

13

is in contact with both of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, and apart from the intermediate projecting portion

19

b

, as shown in FIG.

5

A. Therefore, the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are electrically connected with each other through the conductive ball

13

to change the state to “on” to output a detection signal.

When the insulation case

10

is held in an approximately horizontal state, as shown in

FIG. 6A

, and the conductive ball

13

is moved to the tapered portions

11

c

and

12

c

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, the conductive ball

13

is in contact with both of the tapered portions

11

c

and

12

c

, and apart from the intermediate projecting portion

19

b

. Therefore, the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are electrically connected with each other through the conductive ball

13

to change the state to “on” to output the detection signal.

As described above, according to the tilt detecting device, by inclining the insulation case

10

to incline the two conductive pins

11

and

12

in the longitudinal direction suitably, it is possible to position the conductive ball

13

either on the large diameter portions

11

a

and

12

a

or on the small diameter portion

11

b

and

12

b

, of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

. Therefore, it is possible to put the two conductive pins

11

and

12

in an electrically connected state through the conductive ball

13

, and it is also possible to put the one in a cut-off state, so that it is possible to detect the inclination.

Particularly, because the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are disposed in parallel in the insulation case

10

, it is possible to form the two conductive pins

11

and

12

in absolutely the same shape as each other, so that the members of the tilt detecting device can be made in common. Thus, the structure of the device can be simple and the work efficiency for assembling the device can be improved, so that the price of the device can be low. In this case, because the projection

19

in the interior of the insulation case

10

is formed between the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, when the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are horizontal and the insulation case

10

is divided into the first and second cases

14

and

15

in the laterally direction, the two cases can be formed in absolutely the same shape as each other, so that the members of the tilt detecting device can be also made in common, the structure of the device can be much simpler, the work efficiency for assembling the device can be much improved, and the price of the device can be much lower.

According to the first embodiment, by inserting the insulation case

10

into the opening portion

22

a

of the circuit board

22

from the upper side, each of the attachment portions

11

d

,

12

d

,

11

f

, and

12

f

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, which projects to the outside of the insulation case

10

is soldered to the connecting electrode formed on the upper surface of the circuit board

22

. However, the invention is not limited to this. The tilt detecting device can be attached to the circuit board

22

in electrically connected state, for example, by inserting the insulation case

10

into the opening portion

22

a

of the circuit board

22

from a lower side, and by soldering each of the attachment portions

11

d

,

12

d

,

11

f

, and

12

f

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, which projects to the outside of the insulation case

10

, to the connecting electrode which is not shown, formed on a lower surface of the circuit board

22

, as shown in FIG.

7

.

In the first embodiment described above, when the insulation case

10

is held approximately horizontal and the conductive ball

13

is moved to the tapered portions

11

c

and

12

c

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, the conductive ball

13

is in contact with both of the tapered portions

11

c

and

12

c

, so that the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are electrically connected with each other through the conductive ball

13

to change the state to “on”. However, the invention is not limited to this. For example, by coating an insulating film to the surfaces of the both tapered portions

11

c

and

12

c

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, even if the conductive ball

13

is in contact with both of the tapered portions

11

c

and

12

c

of the two conductive pins

11

and

12

, the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are not electrically connected with each other through the conductive ball

13

. As the result, when the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are slightly inclined and the conductive ball

13

is moved to the tapered portions

11

c

and

12

c

, the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are not electrically connected with each other, while only when the two conductive pins

11

and

12

are further inclined and the conductive ball

13

is moved to the large diameter portions

11

a

and

12

a

, with crossing the tapered portions

11

c

and

12

c

, the two conductive pins

11

and

12

can be electrically connected with each other through the conductive ball

13

to output the detection signal.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the tilt detecting device in the invention will be explained with reference to

FIGS. 8

to

15

. To structural members or the like corresponding to those of the first embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1

to

6

, the same reference numerals are attached, and the detailed explanation for them is omitted.

The tilt detecting device comprises the insulation case

10

, two conductive pins

25

and

26

disposed in the insulation case

10

, and the conductive ball

13

which is movable in the insulation case

10

to be in contact with or separated from the two conductive pins

25

and

26

when the insulation case

10

is inclined, as shown in

FIGS. 8 and 9

.

Each of the two conductive pins

25

and

26

is made of the conductive material such as a metal or the like and which has large diameter portions

25

c

and

26

c

, a small diameter portion

25

a

and

26

a

in each intermediate portion, a head portion

25

b

and

26

b

in each upper end portion, and a tapered lower end portion.

The insulation case

10

comprises a first case

27

and a second case

28

which are the top and bottom portions of the insulation case

10

when the insulation case

10

is divided in the vertical direction. The first and second cases

27

and

28

are made of the insulating material such as a synthetic resin or the like and formed in absolutely the same shape as each other, like the first embodiment.

As shown in

FIG. 10A

, the cases

27

and

28

have concavities

27

b

and

28

b

at surfaces

27

a

and

28

a

faced to each other, and the concavities

27

b

and

28

b

have bottom surfaces

27

c

and

28

c

, respectively.

The containing portion

16