Dual axis capacitive inclination sensor
First Claim
1. A capacitor device comprising:
- (a) first capacitor plate means;
(b) a second capacitor plate positioned in spaced relation to said first capacitor plate means and including;
(1) an elongated, planar conductive web portion having opposite edges therealong and opposite ends; and
(2) a pair of substantially symmetrical, planar conductive end portions extending away from one edge of said web portion at opposite ends thereof; and
(c) dielectric means positioned between said first capacitor plate means and said second capacitor plate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual axis capacitive inclination sensor includes a flat cylindrical vial defined by a lower conductive half and an upper dielectric half with a chamber therebetween containing a dielectric liquid with a bubble therein. A top surface of the upper half has two pairs of axis capacitor plates positioned thereon in spaced relation to two mutually perpendicular horizontal inclination axes, and each of the axis plates forms a capacitor in cooperation with the lower half which functions as a common capacitor plate. Inclination of the vial about one or both of the inclination axes causes a change in the position of the bubble with respect to the capacitive system, thereby changing the capacitance between the plates. Each of the axis capacitor plates has a shape defined by a circumferentially extending web portion having inwardly directed radial portions connected at the opposite ends of the web. The radial portions are tapered in the direction toward the center of the vial in order to maximize the linearity of response of the sensor.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A capacitor device comprising:
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(a) first capacitor plate means; (b) a second capacitor plate positioned in spaced relation to said first capacitor plate means and including; (1) an elongated, planar conductive web portion having opposite edges therealong and opposite ends; and (2) a pair of substantially symmetrical, planar conductive end portions extending away from one edge of said web portion at opposite ends thereof; and (c) dielectric means positioned between said first capacitor plate means and said second capacitor plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A capacitive inclination sensing vial for varying capacitance in proportion to the inclination thereof and comprising:
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(a) a vessel for containing a fluid, said vessel having associated therewith a horizontal axis about which inclination of said vial is to be sensed and a vial axis intersecting said inclination axis and perpendicular thereto, said vial axis being vertical when said vial is placed on a horizontal surface; (b) a dielectric fluid contained and movable within said vessel; (c) a common capacitor plate positioned on said vessel on one side of said fluid; (d) an axis capacitor plate positioned on said vessel on an opposite side of said fluid from said common plate and defining a capacitor in cooperation with said common plate, the position of said fluid in relation to said axis plate and said common plate changing in response to the inclination of said vial about said inclination axis thereby changing the capacitance of said capacitor in proportion to the angle of said inclination; and (e) said axis plate having a shape defined by; (1) a web portion spaced from said vial axis and extending in a direction which is generally parallel to said inclination axis; and (2) a pair of end portions connected at opposite ends of said web portion and extending generally toward said vial axis. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dual axis capacitive inclination sensing bubble vial for use with circuit means to provide a pair of electrical signals proportional in level respectively to the inclination of said vial with respect to two mutually perpendicular horizontal inclination axes comprising:
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(a) a vessel containing a liquid with a bubble therein, said liquid and said bubble having substantially different dielectric constants, said vessel having a vial axis which is vertical when said vessel is placed on a horizontal surface; (b) a common capacitor plate positioned on one side of said vessel perpendicular to said vial axis; (c) two pairs of axis capacitor plates positioned in parallel spaced relation to said common plate on an opposite side of said vessel with said liquid and bubble between said common plate and said axis plates, each of said pairs of axis plates being associated with a respective one of said horizontal axes; (d) the axis plates of each pair being positioned in symmetrical relation on opposite sides of said vial axis and on opposite sides of the horizontal axis associated with said pair whereby inclination of said vial about the associated horizontal axis causes a portion of said bubble to intervene between said common plate and one of said pair of axis plates, thereby changing the capacitance therebetween; and (e) each axis capacitor plate having a shape defined by; (1) an outward circumferential web portion extending over an arc of less than 90 degrees about said vial axis and positioned at a first radius therefrom; and (2) a pair of radial portions connected at opposite ends of said web portion and extending generally toward said vial axis to a second radius therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification