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An electronic tilt switch for controlling an electrical circuit such as a vehicle hood lamp circuit according to the angle of inclination of the tilt switch. The tilt switch includes a housing, a sliding element, and a solid state electronic sensor, which can comprises a Hall effect sensor or a phot

An electronic tilt switch for controlling an electrical circuit such as a vehicle hood lamp circuit according to the angle of inclination of the tilt switch. The tilt switch includes a housing, a sliding element, and a solid state electronic sensor, which can comprises a Hall effect sensor or a photo-optical interrupter. The sliding element moves within an axial bore of the housing according to the angle of inclination of the tilt switch. The solid state electronic sensor is mounted to one axial end of the housing and is capable of determining when the sliding element slides past a predetermined position within the bore. This allows the tilt switch to determine whether the vehicle hood has been opened or shut, and is used to turn the lamp on or off accordingly. The housing, sliding element, sensor, and associated electronics can all be environmentally sealed within a single package, which can additionally include one or more molded in connectors. Also disclosed is an integrated tilt switch/lighting module in which one or more light sources are integrated into the sealed package.

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1. An electronic tilt switch capable of controlling the state of an electrical circuit according to the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:a housing having an elongated bore that extends internally within said housing from a first end to a second end, said bore being at least partially

1. An electronic tilt switch capable of controlling the state of an electrical circuit according to the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:a housing having an elongated bore that extends internally within said housing from a first end to a second end, said bore being at least partially closed at said second end; a sliding element located within said bore and being capable of sliding into and out of a predetermined position located near said second end of said bore; and a solid state electronic sensor supported by said housing adjacent said second end and remotely of said first end, wherein said sensor is capable of sensing the presence of said sliding element at said predetermined position when said sliding element is stationary relative to said housing, and wherein said sensor provides a first output state when said sliding element is located at said first end and a second output state when said sliding element is located at said predetermined position within said bore. 2. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 1, wherein said solid state electronic sensor is a Hall effect sensor capable of detecting a magnetic field and wherein said sliding element is a magnetic sliding element that produces a magnetic field.3. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector and an electrical circuit interconnecting said sensor and said connector.4. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 3, further comprising an environmentally sealed package, wherein said housing, sliding element, sensor, and electrical circuit are environmentally sealed within said package and wherein said connector is located at an exterior surface of said package.5. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 4, wherein said housing and electrical circuit are both mounted on a printed circuit board that is environmentally sealed within said package.6. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module, comprising at least one LED and the electronic tilt switch defined in claim 1.7. An electronic tilt switch capable of controlling the state of an electrical circuit according to the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:a housing having an elongated bore that extends internally within said housing between first and second axial ends, said bore being at least partially closed at said second axial end: a sliding element confined within said bore and being capable of sliding into and out or a predetermined position located near said second axial end of said bore; a solid state electronic sensor mounted to said housing near said second axial end of said bore, wherein said sensor is capable of sensing when the angle of inclination of said switch exceeds a predetermined amount by determining when said sliding element is located at said predetermined position within said bore; and wherein said solid state electronic sensor is a photo-optical interrupter capable of establishing a light path extending across at least a portion of said elongated bore at said predetermined position, and wherein said sliding element comprises an opaque material such that said sliding element is capable of obstructing said light path when said sliding element is located at said predetermined position. 8. An electronic tilt switch capable of controlling the state of an electrical circuit according to the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:a housing having an elongated bore that extends internally within said housing, said bore being obstructed at both a first and a second axial end; a magnetic sliding element located within said bore and being capable of sliding along the length of said bore only between said first and second axial ends according to the angle of inclination of said switch; and a solid state electronic Hall effect sensor mounted near said second axial end of said bore, wherein said sliding element is located at said first axial end of said bore when said switch is at a first angle of inclination and thereafter slides to said second axial end of said bore when said switch is moved to a second angle of inclination, and wherein said Hall effect sensor is capable of sensing when said switch is at said second angle of inclination by sensing the magnetic field created by said magnetic sliding element when it moves to said second axial end of said bore. 9. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 8, wherein said tilt switch further includes a voltage source input, a ground connection, and an output.10. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 9, wherein said output is coupled to said ground connection when said tilt switch is in an “off” state and said output is coupled to said voltage source input when said tilt switch is in an “on” state.11. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 10, wherein said output is connected to a transistor which controls the state of the electrical circuit.12. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 8, wherein said tilt switch is mounted to the underside of a vehicle hood.13. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module, comprising at least one LED and the electronic tilt switch defined in claim 8.14. An electronic tilt switch capable of controlling the state of an electrical circuit according to the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:a housing having an elongated bore that extends internally within said housing, said bore having a first cross-sectional shape; an opaque sliding element located within said bore and being capable of sliding along the length of said bore according to the angle of inclination of said switch, said sliding element having a second cross-sectional shape that is similar to said first cross-sectional shape; and a solid state photo-optical interrupter located at one axial end of said housing and capable of establishing a light path that extends across at least a portion of said elongated bore, wherein said photo-optical interrupter is capable of sensing when the angle of inclination of said switch exceeds a predetermined amount by determining when said opaque sliding element obstructs said light path. 15. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 14, wherein said tilt switch is mounted to the underside of a vehicle hood.16. An electronic tilt switch as defined in claim 14, wherein said opaque sliding element is a generally rectangular block, and wherein said first and second cross-sectional shapes are generally rectangular.17. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module, comprising:a housing having an elongated bore that extends internally within said housing; a movable element confined within said bore and being capable of moving into and out of a predetermined position within said bore; a solid state electronic sensor located adjacent said bore such that said sensor can detect when said movable element is located at said predetermined position; a light source comprising at least one LED; an electrical circuit connected to both said sensor and said light source, said circuit being responsive to said sensor to selectively energize or de-energize said light source based on the angle of inclination of said housing; and an environmentally sealed package having at least one opening, wherein, said housing, movable element, sensor, and electrical circuit are environmentally sealed internally within said package, and said LED protrudes through said opening. 18. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module as defined in claim 17, wherein said solid state electronic sensor is a Hall effect sensor capable of detecting a magnetic field.19. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module as defined in claim 18, wherein said movable element is a permanent magnet sliding element.20. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module as defined in claim 17, wherein said solid state electronic sensor is a photo-optical interrupter capable of establishing a light path extending across at least a portion of said elongated bore at said predetermined position.21. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module as defined in claim 20, wherein said movable element is an opaque sliding element.22. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module as defined in claim 20, wherein said movable element is an opaque disk that rolls along said bore.23. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module as defined in claim 17, wherein said light source comprises a vehicle compartment light.24. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module as defined in claim 17, further comprising an integral connector located on an exterior surface of said sealed package and being electrically connected to said circuit within said package.25. An integrated electronic tilt switch and lighting module, comprising:a tilt switch comprising: a housing; a movable element confined within said housing and being responsive to changes in an angle of inclination of said housing to move into and out of a predetermined position within said housing; and a solid state electronic sensor located at or near said housing such that said sensor can detect when said movable element is located at said predetermined position; at least one LED having electrical terminals and a light emitting portion; an electrical circuit connected to both said sensor and said LED, said circuit being responsive to said sensor to selectively energize or de-energize said LED based on the angle of inclination of said housing; and a sealed package, wherein said tilt switch and electrical circuit are sealed internally within said package, and wherein said package has at least one opening with said LED protruding through said opening, said package being sealed at said opening about said LED such that said light emitting portion of said LED is exposed externally of said package and said electrical terminals of said LED are sealed within said package.