Abstract: A switch including a mass suspended above a base by a flat horizontal spring has electric contacts that close in response to the initial shocks of major earthquakes and activates safety devices before the onset of destructive ground motions. The vertical unidirectional seismic switch can be manufactured by micromechanical photolithography and is integrated with electromechanical safety devices to latch cabinets closed, secure movable objects, shut off gas, water, and electric utilities, activate alarms, early warning networks, and related automated response systems. The device is fully self contained, consumes no power until activated, is inexpensive to produce, and impervious to nonearthquake noise in that it is designed to respond specifically to the vertical acceleration and displacement characteristic of the initial shock waves of a major earthquake.

Abstract: A sound actuated detector comprising a microphone, an elastic cylinder having a flexible bottom adapted to fit tightly around the microphone with the sensing surface of the microphone fitting tightly against the flexible bottom, a mounting base connected to the surface of the cylinder having the flexible bottom, an elastic isolating medium arranged between the base and the surrounding surface to which the detector is attached, and a weight connected to the microphone having a mass such as to eliminate movement of the microphone in response to frequencies above a selected frequency.

Abstract: A seismic actuation system incorporating a plurality of motion sensors. The motion sensors included a housing in which a weight is supported for slidable movement along a single direction within the housing. The sensors are mounted to a horizontally disposed enclosure. The sensors are arranged so that the directions of travel of the weights within the enclosures are uniformly arranged so that vibration of sufficient magnitude in the horizontal plane will cause one or more of the weights to move. By adjusting the mass of the weights, the sensitivity of the sensors can be adjusted. When a seismic event of sufficient magnitude occurs, the weight becomes displaced from a central position within its housing and moves to one or the other end of the housing to activate the contacts. Activating the contacts completes a circuit so that one or more warnings, such as bells, lights, or spoken words, are produced or one or more safety devices are actuated.

Abstract: A seismic alarm system incorporating a plurality of motion sensors. The motion sensors included a housing in which a weight is supported for slidable movement along a single direction within the housing. The sensors are mounted to a horizontally disposed enclosure. The sensors are arranged so that the directions of travel of the weights within the enclosures are uniformly arranged so that vibration of sufficient magnitude in the horizontal plane will cause one or more of the weights to move. By adjusting the mass of the weights, the sensitivity of the sensors can be adjusted. When a seismic event of sufficient magnitude occurs, the weight becomes displaced from a central position within its housing and moves to one or the other end of the housing to activate the contacts. Activating the contacts completes a circuit so that one or more warnings, such as bells, lights, or spoken words, are produced.

Abstract: 1. A vibration responsive switch comprising a mass, a pair of support strures located on opposite sides of said mass, a taut wire attached to both of said support structures and to said mass, a switch armature mounted on said mass, and a fixed contact located in physical proximity to said armature.

Abstract: An automatic switching circuit controls operation of a light. The circuit includes a voice recognizer and a manual switch. The switching circuit turns the illuminator on instantly in response to an "ON" command input via the manual switch or via the voice recognizer. The switching circuit turns the illuminator off a predetermined period of time after detecting an "OFF" command input via said manual switch or via the voice recognizer.