Inclination and acceleration sensor utilizing electrostatic capacitive effects
First Claim
1. A sensor comprising:
- a spherically shaped common electrode;
insulating member means, including a spherical portion facing said common electrode at regular intervals, for forming an enclosed spherical space by said spherical portion and said common electrode, said spherical space being a circular arc shape in its vertical shape and having a regular space width between an upper and lower spherical surface of said spherical space, said spherical portion having a uniform thickness;
dielectric viscous fluid, having a large surface tension, being contained in said spherical space and filling a part of said spherical space, said dielectric viscous fluid being able to move in a body in said spherical space in close contact with the upper and lower spherical surfaces of said spherical space;
a plurality of detecting electrodes which are electrically independent from each other, being arranged on the outer surface of said spherical portion along said insulating member means, said detecting electrodes having a spherical shape fitting the outer surface of said spherical portion; and
detecting means for detecting each variation of electrostatic capacity between the common electrode and each detecting electrode according to the movement of the dielectric viscous fluid.
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Abstract
A sensor includes a common electrode, and a plurality of detecting electrodes which are electrically independent from each other. The common electrode has a spherical shape. The detecting electrodes are arranged oppositely to the common electrode so as to form a spherical space between the common electrode and them. In the spherical space, a viscous fluid is housed so as to permit it to move freely therein. The viscous fluid moves according to the direction and angle of inclination or the direction and size of acceleration. By means of the movement of the viscous fluid, electrostatic capacity between the common electrode and each detecting electrode varies. The electrostatic capacity of each detecting electrode is detected by a detecting apparatus.
29 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising:
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a spherically shaped common electrode; insulating member means, including a spherical portion facing said common electrode at regular intervals, for forming an enclosed spherical space by said spherical portion and said common electrode, said spherical space being a circular arc shape in its vertical shape and having a regular space width between an upper and lower spherical surface of said spherical space, said spherical portion having a uniform thickness; dielectric viscous fluid, having a large surface tension, being contained in said spherical space and filling a part of said spherical space, said dielectric viscous fluid being able to move in a body in said spherical space in close contact with the upper and lower spherical surfaces of said spherical space; a plurality of detecting electrodes which are electrically independent from each other, being arranged on the outer surface of said spherical portion along said insulating member means, said detecting electrodes having a spherical shape fitting the outer surface of said spherical portion; and detecting means for detecting each variation of electrostatic capacity between the common electrode and each detecting electrode according to the movement of the dielectric viscous fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sensor comprising:
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a spherically shaped common electrode; insulating member means for forming an enclosed spherical space with said spherically shaped common electrode and having a spherical portion with a uniform thickness; dielectric fluid disposed in said spherical space and filling said spherical space so as to be in close contact wtih a portion of an interior wall of said insulating member means and said spherically shaped common electrode; a plurality of detecting electrodes being disposed at an exterior surface of said insulating member means, said plurality of detecting electrodes having a spherical shape that corresponds to a spherical shape of said insulating member means; and means for detecting a variation of electrostatic capacity between said spherically shaped common electrode and each of said plurality of detecting electrodes wherein the electrostatic capacity varies in accordance with movement of the dielectric fluid. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification