Multiple sensor inclination measuring system

• US 4,549,277 A
• Filed: 09/06/1983
• Issued: 10/22/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brunson Instrument Company
• Original Assignee: Brunson Instrument Company
• Inventors: Brunson, Amber N., Brunson, Deighton E., Ray, Walter W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wise, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US06/529,336
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 364/559, 364/550, 364/556, 364/570, 364/575, 33/366, 73/1 E
• US Class Current: 702/154
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means

Abstract

A multiple sensor inclination measuring system includes a plurality of single and dual axis inclination sensors, each sensor including a bridge circuit for generating a signal or pair of signals, each signal having a voltage which is proportional to the degree of inclination of the sensor, and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the signal to a digital word having a binary value representative of the tilt of the sensor. Each sensor is connected to a support unit which includes a microprocessor, memory, and data communication capabilities. Each support unit may include a look-up table which calibrates the unit specifically to the sensor used. The support units all communicate with a main processing unit which synchronizes the digital conversions of the electrical signals and which has the capability of averaging the angle readings of selected sensors over various lengths of time, determining the difference between angle readings of selected sensors, comparing the rates of inclination of selected sensors, and displaying angle readings, average readings, difference readings, and rates of inclination. The main unit may be connected to a printer for printing hard copies of the angle readings as a function of time.

Claims

1. A method of determining the inclinations of a plurality of surfaces comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a plurality of inclination sensors on a plurality of respective surfaces, each sensor varying an electrical parameter in proportion to the degree of inclination of said sensor;

(b) generating a respective electrical signal in cooperation with each sensor, each signal having a signal property which varies in proportion to the variation in said electrical parameter, whereby said signal property varies in proportion to the inclination of the associated sensor from a reference inclination;

(c) simultaneously converting each electrical signal to a digital word representative of the variation of said signal property from a reference value thereof, the binary value of said digital word being representative of the inclination of the sensor associated with said signal;

(d) storing each digital word in a support memory of a respective support unit;

(e) selectively transmitting each word to a main processor including a main memory and a display means;

(f) translating each digital word transmitted to said main processor to an angle reading substantially equal to the inclination of the associated sensor; and

(g) selectively displaying the angle readings on said display means.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 including the steps of:

(a) selectively initiating the conversion of one of said electrical signals to an associated digital word at the support unit associated with said signal;

(b) at said support unit, translating said associated digital word to an associated angle reading substantially equal to the inclination of the sensor associated with said one signal; and

(c) on a support display means of said associated support unit, displaying said associated angle reading.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 including the steps of:

(a) in said support memory of one of said support units, storing over a selected period of time successive digital words corresponding to angles of inclination of the inclination sensor associated with said one support unit;

(b) in said one support unit, calculating an average digital word substantially equal to the average of the binary values of said successive digital words;

(c) transmitting said average digital word to said main processor;

(d) translating said average digital word to an average angle reading; and

(e) selectively displaying said average angle reading on said display means.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) a displayed angle reading for an associated sensor is periodically updated at a rate which is too fast for visual perception by an average human; and

including the steps of;

(b) selectively effecting the storage in said main memory of an angle representation of an angle reading of said associated sensor which is current at a selected instant; and

(c) displaying an angle reading corresponding to said angle representation.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 including the steps of:

(a) selectively effecting the storage in said main memory of a plurality of representations of the angle readings associated respectively with a plurality of said sensors which are current at a selected instant; and

(b) displaying the angle readings corresponding respectively to said representations for comparison of the inclinations of the sensors associated with said angle readings at said selected instant.

6. The method set forth in claim 1 including the steps of:

(a) in said main processor, subtracting a first angle reading associated with a first surface from a second angle reading associated with a second surface resulting in a difference angle reading substantially equal to the difference in inclination of the first and second surfaces; and

(b) displaying said difference angle reading on said display means.

7. The method set forth in claim 1 including the steps of:

(a) storing in said main memory early angle readings respectively for a first inclination sensor and a second inclination sensor;

(b) storing in said main memory late angle readings respectively for said first and second sensors obtained at a selected time period after obtaining said early angle readings;

(c) in said main processor determining the subtractive difference respectively between said early angle readings and said late angle readings resulting in a first difference angle reading and a second difference angle reading;

(d) in said main processor, dividing each difference angle reading by a number representing said selected time period resulting in a first sensor inclination rate and a second sensor inclination rate; and

(e) displaying an indication of said first and second inclination rates on said display means.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein said displaying step includes:

(a) displaying a numeric representation of said first and second inclination rates.

9. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:

(a) calibrating each support unit for variation in the binary value of the digital word associated with said support unit in substantially linear proportion to the variation in the inclination of the associated sensor within a selected range of inclination thereof.

10. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) at least one of said inclination sensors is a dual axis inclination sensor operative to vary an electrical parameter in proportion to the degree of inclination of said dual axis sensor about each of a pair of mutually perpendicular horizontal axes;

(b) generating a pair of said electrical signals for said dual axis sensor, each signal being associated with a respective one of said axes;

(c) in the support unit associated with said dual axis sensor, converting each of said pair of signals to an associated one of said digital words;

(d) transmitting the pair of digital words to said main processor;

(e) translating each of said pair of digital words to an angle reading substantially equal to the inclination of said dual axis sensor about the associated one of said horizontal axes; and

(f) displaying each of the pair of angle readings on said display means.

11. The method set forth in claim 10 including the step of:

(a) selectively converting said pair of angle readings into a second pair of angle readings in a spherical coordinate system.

12. A multiple sensor inclination measuring system comprising:

(a) a plurality of inclination sensors for placement on respective surfaces to determine the inclination thereof, each sensor being operative to vary an electrical parameter in proportion to the degree of inclination of said sensor;

(b) a plurality of circuit means connected respectively to said sensors, each circuit means providing an electrical signal having a signal property which varies in proportion to the variation of said electrical parameter of the sensor connected thereto upon the inclination of said sensor;

(c) a plurality of analog-to-digital (A/D) converters operatively connected respectively to said circuit means, each A/D converter converting the signal from the associated circuit means to a digital word having a binary value representative of the variation of said signal property of said signal from a reference value thereof;

(d) a plurality of support units connected respectively to said A/D converters and controlling the operation thereof, each support unit including support memory means for storing a digital word representing the inclination of the associated inclination sensor and support unit data communication means for transmitting said digital word and for receiving commands;

(e) a main processor including a main data communication means connected to said support unit data communication means of said support units and including a main memory, a main display, and operation switches; and

(f) said main processor being operative to transmit commands to said support units to cause the simultaneous conversion of said electrical signals to respective digital words, to cause the transmission of said words to said main processor, to cause the translation of said words to respective angle readings, and to cause the display of said readings on said main display.

13. The system set forth in claim 12 wherein:

(a) said main processor includes digital computer means programmed to perform the functions thereof.

14. The system set forth in claim 12 wherein:

(a) each support unit includes a support unit digital computer means programmed to perform the functions thereof.

15. The system set forth in claim 12 wherein at least one of said support units includes:

(a) a support display means;

(b) a support unit A/D conversion switch;

(c) support unit computer means operative to cause the conversion of the signal associated with said support unit to one of said digital words, to translate said one digital word to an angle reading, and to display said angle reading in response to the operation of said A/D conversion switch; and

(d) said support unit being operable independent of said main processor.

16. The system set forth in claim 12 wherein:

(a) at least one of said inclination sensors is a dual axis sensor operative to vary said electrical parameter in proportion to the inclination of said dual axis sensor about each of a pair of mutually perpendicular horizontal axes;

(b) the circuit means associated with said dual axis sensor is a dual axis circuit means and provides a pair of said electrical signals, each signal being associated with a respective one of said horizontal axes;

(c) the A/D converter associated with said dual axis circuit means converts each of said pair of signals to one of said digital words;

(d) the support unit associated with said dual axis sensor is operative to transmit a pair of said digital words associated respectively with said pair of horizonal axes to said main processor;

(e) said main processor is operative to translate said pair of digital words to a pair of angle readings substantially equal respectively to the inclination of said dual axis sensor about said pair of horizontal axes; and

(f) said main processor is operative to display said pair of angle readings on said main display.

17. The system set forth in claim 12 wherein:

(a) each support unit includes means calibrating same to the associated sensor for variation of the binary value of the associated digital word in substantially linear proportion to the variation in the inclination of the associated sensor within a selected range of inclination thereof.

18. The system set forth in claim 12 including:

(a) at least some of said support units being positioned remotely from said main processor; and

(b) vocal communication means associated with said main processor and at least the remotely positioned support units and providing for vocal communication between an operator at said main processor and operators at said remotely positioned support units to facilitate use of said system.

19. The system set forth in claim 12 including:

(a) difference switch means on said main processor which is operable to cause the subtraction of an angle reading associated with one of said inclination sensors from the angle reading associated with another of said sensors resulting in a difference angle reading and to cause the display of said difference angle reading on said main display.

20. The system set forth in claim 12 including average switch means on said main processor operable to cause:

(a) the storage in said main memory over a selected period of time of a plurality of representations of successive angle readings associated with one of said inclination sensors;

(b) the calculation of an average angle reading associated with said one sensor; and

(c) the display of said average angle reading on said main display.

21. The system set forth in claim 12 wherein:

(a) the displayed angle readings are updated at a rate which is too fast for visual perception of said displayed angle readings by an average human; and

(b) said main processor includes a freeze display switch means operable to cause;

(1) the storage in said main memory of a plurality of angle readings which are current upon the operation of said freeze display switch means; and

(2) the display of the stored plurality of angle

23. The system set forth in claim 12 including:

(a) rate comparison switch means on said main processor operable to cause the calculation of the rates of inclination of a first and second of said inclination sensors; and

(b) rate comparison display means on said main processor operative to indicate a difference in the rates of inclination of said first and second sensors.

24. The system set forth in claim 12 including:

(a) a printer connected to said main processor and selectively operable to print said angle readings for permanent recording thereof.

25. The system set forth in claim 12 including:

(a) clock means associated with said main processor and operative to generate a representation of current clock time; and

(b) a printer connected to said main processor and selectively operable to print said angle readings and the current clock time at which said angle readings are recorded.

22. readings on said main display.