Inclination sensor
First Claim
1. An inclination sensor comprising a receptacle containing an electrically conductive liquid, a first electrode arranged to have first and second voltages applied to spaced points thereof, the liquid being arranged to contact the first electrode between said points at a position which varies in dependence upon inclination of the sensor about a reference axis, a second electrode arranged in contact with the liquid and measuring circuitry associated with the first and second electrodes for deriving the inclination of the sensor about the reference axis, wherein said first and second electrodes each comprise resistive tracks disposed about the reference axis, each track having substantially uniform resistivity per unit length.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inclination sensor is disclosed which includes a capsule 15 containing a conductive liquid 17 which forms a liquid pendulum and having first and second resistive tracks 11, 13. In a first measuring configuration, the terminals A, B of track 11 are connected to positive and negative voltages respectively and the terminals C, D of resistive track 13 are connected together, to form a sensing electrode. The voltage at terminal B is then adjusted so that the voltage at common electrode C, D, sensed through the conductive liquid 17 is adjusted to be zero. The ratio of voltages at terminals A and B is then related to the position of the conductive liquid 17 relative to the resistive track 11 and thus of the inclination of the capsule relative to horizontal. In an alternative measuring configuration, the roles of the resistive tracks 11, 13 are reversed, to allow the sensor to measure angles in a different angular range.
27 Citations
11 Claims
- 1. An inclination sensor comprising a receptacle containing an electrically conductive liquid, a first electrode arranged to have first and second voltages applied to spaced points thereof, the liquid being arranged to contact the first electrode between said points at a position which varies in dependence upon inclination of the sensor about a reference axis, a second electrode arranged in contact with the liquid and measuring circuitry associated with the first and second electrodes for deriving the inclination of the sensor about the reference axis, wherein said first and second electrodes each comprise resistive tracks disposed about the reference axis, each track having substantially uniform resistivity per unit length.
Specification