Inclinometer
First Claim
1. An inclinometer comprising:
- a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer;
a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal having a period and a frequency dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means;
means for determining at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal;
look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal and the orientation of the inclinometer;
means for comparing at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation;
means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and
wherein the sensor means includes;
(a) first plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting first sectors which first sectors are clustered about a conducting central first hub;
(b) a first thin dielectric layer covering said first sectors and said second hub;
(c) a second plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting second sectors which second sectors are clustered about a conducting central second hub;
(d) a second thin dielectric layer covering said second sectors and said second hub;
(e) said first plate positioned adjacent to said second plate with the first dielectric layer facing the second dielectric layer;
(f) conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second plates; and
(g) a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity such that the fluid is positioned between at least one of the first sectors and at least one of the second sectors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inclinometer 20 has a sensing unit 40 for providing a varying capacitance signal depending on the orientation of the inclinometer 20. An oscillator circuit unit 82 includes the sensor unit 40 as a capacitive element for providing a signal having a period and a frequency depending on the capacitance of the sensor unit 40. A unit 92 is provided for determining the period of the signal. A look-up table unit 96 stores a predetermined relationship between the period of the signal and the angle of orientation of the inclinometer 20. A comparison unit 94 then compares the period of the signal to the period stored in the look-up table unit 96 and selects the corresponding angle which is the angle of orientation of the inclinometer 20. The angle is then displayed on the inclinometer display 25.
111 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal having a period and a frequency dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; means for determining at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and wherein the sensor means includes; (a) first plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting first sectors which first sectors are clustered about a conducting central first hub; (b) a first thin dielectric layer covering said first sectors and said second hub; (c) a second plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting second sectors which second sectors are clustered about a conducting central second hub; (d) a second thin dielectric layer covering said second sectors and said second hub; (e) said first plate positioned adjacent to said second plate with the first dielectric layer facing the second dielectric layer; (f) conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second plates; and (g) a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity such that the fluid is positioned between at least one of the first sectors and at least one of the second sectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal having a period and a frequency dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; means for determining at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and means for recalibrating having; (a) means for storing a first representation of an orientation with the inclinometer in a first position; (b) means for storing a second representation of an orientation with the inclinometer in a second position which is rotated 180°
from the first position;(c) means for averaging the first and second representation to determine an offset correction factor; and (d) means for combining the offset correction factor with further signals representative of the orientation of the inclinometer.
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11. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal having a period and a frequency dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; means for determining at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and means for recalibrating having; (a) means for storing a first representation of orientation with the inclinometer in a first position; (b) means for storing a second representation of orientation with the inclinometer in a second position which is rotated 180°
from the first position;(c) means for setting the average of the first representation and the second representation to a zero reference signal value.
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12. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal having a period and a frequency dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; means for determining at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and wherein the sensor means includes; (a) a first plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting first sectors, which first sectors have an inner curved border defining a first center, generally circular, area; (b) a first thin dielectric layer covering said first sectors and said first center area; (c) a second plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting second sectors, which second sectors have an inner curved border defining a second central, generally circular area; (d) a second thin dielectric layer covering said second sectors and said second center area; (e) said first plate positioned substantially parallel to said second plate with the first dielectric layer facing the second dielectric layer; (f) conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second plates; and a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity such that the fluid is positioned between at least one of the first sectors and at least one of the second sectors.
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13. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal having a period and a frequency dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; means for determining at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and wherein the sensor means includes; (a) a first plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting first sectors which first sectors are clustered about an isolated, conducting central first hub; (b) a second plate having a plurality of isolate, conducting second sectors which second sectors are clustered about an isolated, conducting central second hub; (c) said first plate positioned adjacent to said second plate; (d) conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second plates; and (e) a fluid partially filling said cavity such that for all orientations of the sensors there is a fluid positioned between said first and second hubs; and wherein the circuit means includes means for providing a signal dependant on the capacitance between said edge means and at least one of said first and second sectors; and said circuit means for providing a signal dependant on the capacitance between said edge means and at least one of said first hub and said second hub to determine at least one of the roll orientation and the yaw orientation of the inclinometer, where the pitch orientation is the orientation to be determined by the look-up table. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance values depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing signals having a period and a frequency dependant on the capacitance values of the sensor means; means for determining at least one of the period and the frequency of the signals; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including at least one of the period and the frequency of the signals and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing at least one of the period and the frequency of the signals to the table values of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and wherein the sensor means includes; (a) a first plate having a plurality of isolate, conducting first sectors; (b) a second plate having a plurality of isolate, conducting second sectors; (c) said first plate positioned adjacent to said second plate; (d) conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second plates; (e) a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity; and wherein said signals represent capacitive values between each of said first sectors and the conducting peripheral edge means and capacitive values between each of said second sectors and the conducting peripheral edge means; and wherein said means for determining at least one of the period and the frequency of the signals includes means for ordering said signals from at least one of said first sectors of said first plate and said second sectors of said second plate between signals representing a highest capacitance configuration to a lowest capacitance configuration. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal having a period and a frequency dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; means for determining at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal; look-up table means for storing a relationship between table values including at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing at least one of the period and the frequency of the signal to the table values of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and wherein the sensor means includes; (a) a first plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting first sectors; (b) a second plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting second sectors; (c) said first plate positioned adjacent to said second plate with pairs of sectors provided with the first sectors paired with the second plates; (d) a conducing peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second plates; and (e) a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity such that all orientation of the sensors there is fluid positioned between at least one of said first sectors and at least one of said second sectors; and a means for compensating for a change in temperature having; (a) means for storing reference values which are minimum and maximum outputs of the determining means for each pair of sectors of the first and second plates at a preselected temperature; (b) means for combining the reference values with the current values for each pair of sectors to obtain a normalization value where; Qi=the current stored calibration value for each pair Ci, min=the minimum stored calibration value for each pair Ci, max=the maximum stored calibration value for each pair then;
##EQU1## and, the compensated value to be compared with the look-up table is KT Qi.
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23. A method for recalibrating an inclinometer, the method comprising:
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generating a first electrical signal having a first signal property which represents a first position of the inclinometer; storing said first signal property; rotating the inclinometer 180°
to a second position;generating a second electrical signal having a second signal property which represents the second position; storing said second signal property; setting the average of the first signal property and the second signal property to a reference signal value. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for temperature compensating the determining of inclinations with an inclinometer, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating an electrical signal having at least one signal property which varies with respect to the inclination of the inclinometer; identifying and storing said signal property; storing reference temperature values; determining a correction factor based on the reference temperature values, and the signal property; applying said correction factor to the signal property; converting said signal property into an inclination value; displaying said inclination value.
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30. A method for determining and indicating inclinations with an inclinometer, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating an electrical signal having a signal property which varies with respect to the inclination of the inclinometer; identifying and storing said signal property; converting said signal property into an inclination value; displaying said inclination value; and providing temperature compensation by; (a) measuring and storing a signal property at a calibration temperature, (b) measuring and storing a signal property at an actual temperature; (c) normalizing the signal property at the actual temperature based on the signal property at the calibration temperature.
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31. A method for determining and indicating inclinations with an inclinometer comprising:
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generating an electrical signal having a signal property which varies with respect to the inclination of the inclinometer; identifying and storing said signal property; converting said signal property into an inclination value, wherein said converting step includes applying at least squares formula between measured angle values and calibrated angle values; displaying said inclination value. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A capacitive sensor including:
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a first plate having a plurality of isolated conducting first sectors, which first sectors are clustered about an isolated, conducting central first hub; a first thin dielectric layer covering said first plate and said first sectors and said first hub; a second plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting second sectors, which second sectors are clustered about an isolated, conducting central second hub; a second thin dielectric layer covering said second plate and said second sections and said second hub; said first plate positioned substantially parallel to said second plate and the first dielectric layer facing said second dielectric layer; conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second dielectric layers of said first and second plates; a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity and in contact with said conducting peripheral edge means such that the fluid is positioned adjacent at least one of the first and second sectors; and connecting means for selectivety associating selected first and second sectors and hubs with the conducting peripheral edge means such that capacitive values can be determined between said conducting peripheral edge means and said first and second sectors and hubs in order to facilitate a determination of an orientation of the capacitive sectors. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A capacitive sensor including:
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a first plate having a plurality of isolated conducting first sectors, which first sectors have an inner curved border defining a first central, generally circular area; a first thin dielectric layer covering said first plate and said first sectors; a second plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting second sectors, which second sectors have an inner curved border defining a second central, generally circular, area; a second thin dielectric layer covering said second plate and said second sectors; said first plate positioned substantially parallel to said second plate with the first dielectric layer facing said second dielectric layer; conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second dielectric layers of said first and second plates; a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity and in contact with said conducting peripheral edge means such that the fluid is positioned adjacent at least one of the first and second sectors; and connecting means for selectively associating selected first and second sectors and hubs with the conducting peripheral edge means such that the capacitive values can be determined between said conducting peripheral edge means and said first and second sectors and hubs in order to facilitate a determination of an orientation of the capacitive sensor.
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41. A capacitive sensor including:
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a plate having a plurality of isolated conducting sectors; a thin dielectric layer covering said plate and said sectors; means for conducting positioned adjacent said dielectric layer; means for defining a cavity in conjunction with said dielectric layer and said conducting means; a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity such that said conducting fluid can be simultaneously in contact with the conducting means and said dielectric layer; and connecting means for selectively associating selected sections and said conducting means such that a capacitive value can be determined between said conducting means and selected sectors in order to facilitate a determination of an orientation of the capacitive sensor. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A capacitive sensor including:
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a first plate having a plurality of isolated conducting first sectors; a first thin dielectric layer covering said first plate and said first sectors; a second plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting second sectors; a second thin dielectric layer covering said second plate and said second sections; said first plate positioned substantially parallel to said second plate and the first dielectric layer facing said second dielectric layer; conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second dielectric layers of said first and second plates; a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity and in contact with said conducting peripheral edge means such that the fluid is positioned adjacent at least one of the first and second sectors; and connecting means for selectively associating selected first and second sectors with the conducting peripheral edge means such that capacitive values can be determined between said conducting peripheral edge means and said first and second sectors in order to facilitate a determination of an orientation of the capacitive sectors.
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44. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including the capacitance of the sensor means and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing the signal to the table value of the relationship sorted in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and means for recalibrating having; (a) means for storing a first representation of an orientation with the inclinometer in a first position; (b) means for storing a second representation of an orientation with the inclinometer in a second position which is rotated 180°
from the first position;(c) means for averaging the first and second representation to determine an offset correction factor; and (d) means for combining the offset correction factor with further signals representative of the orientation of the inclinometer.
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45. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including the capacitance of the sensor means and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and means for recalibrating having; (a) means for storing a first representation of orientation with the inclinometer in a first position; (b) means for storing a second representation of orientation with the inclinometer in a second position which is rotated 180°
from the first position;(c) means for setting the average of the first representation and the second representation to a zero reference signal value.
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46. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including the capacitance of the sensor means and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and wherein the sensor means includes; (a) a first plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting first sectors which first sectors are clustered about a conducting central first hub; (b) a first thin dielectric layer covering said first sectors and said second hub; (c) a second plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting second sectors which second sectors are clustered about a conducting central second hub; (d) a second thin dielectric layer covering said second sectors and said second hub; (e) said first plate positioned adjacent to said second plate with the first dielectric layer facing the second dielectric layer; (f) conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second plates; and (g) conducting fluid partially filling said cavity such that the fluid is positioned between at least one of the first sectors and at least one of the second sectors.
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47. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value including the capacitance of the sensor means and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and wherein the sensor means includes; (a) a first plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting first sectors, which first sectors have an inner curved border defining a first center, generally circular, area; (b) a first thin dielectric layer covering said first sectors and said first center area; (c) a second plate having a plurality of isolated, conducting second sectors, which second sectors have an inner curved border defining a second central, generally circular area; (d) a second thin dielectric layer covering said second sectors and said second center area; (e) said first plate positioned substantially parallel to said second plate with the first dielectric layer facing the second dielectric layer; (f) conducting peripheral edge means for defining a cavity between said first and second plates; and a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity such that the fluid is positioned between at least one of the first sectors and at least one of the second sectors.
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48. An inclinometer comprising:
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a sensor means for providing varying capacitance depending on the orientation of the inclinometer; a circuit means connected to said sensor means for providing a signal dependant on the capacitance of the sensor means; look-up table means for storing a relationship between a table value of the capacitance of the sensor means and the orientation of the inclinometer; means for comparing the signal to the table value of the relationship stored in the look-up table means and for selecting a corresponding orientation; means for displaying the results of the comparing means; and wherein the sensor means includes; (a) a plate having a plurality of isolated conducting sectors; (b) a thin dielectric layer covering said plate and said sectors; (c) means for conducting positioned adjacent said dielectric layer; (d) means for defining a cavity in conjunction with said dielectric layer and said conducting means; (e) a conducting fluid partially filling said cavity such that said conducting fluid can be simultaneously in contact with the conducting means and said dielectric layer; and (f) connecting means for selectively associating selected sections and said conducting means such that a capacitive value can be determined between said conducting means and selected sectors in order to facilitate a determination of an orientation of the inclinometer.
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Specification