Attitude indicator device utilizing capacitance measurement
First Claim
1. An attitude sensor device for sensing deviations from a reference orientation, said sensor device comprising:
- a capacitor having two electrodes spaced apart from one another;
a damped dielectric fluid disposed between said electrodes, said damped dielectric fluid having a bubble of a different dielectric constant and density than said fluid, disposed therein,a nonconductive sealed enclosure for containing said damped dielectric fluid, means defining an upper surface of said enclosure and having tapered sides, such that said bubble is substantially centrally disposed between said electrodes when said sensor device is in said reference orientation;
means for detecting a capacitance change when said sensor device is altered from said reference orientation; and
means for outputting a warning signal when said capacitance change is detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An attitude sensor device for sensing deviations from a reference orientation which includes a sensor cup having a capacitor and a damped dielectric fluid with a bubble disposed between the electrodes of the capacitor. When the sensor cup is tilted, the bubble is displaced within the damped dielectric fluid and a capacitance change results. A controller circuit detects this capacitance change and outputs a warning signal to an LED and/or a speaker. In an alternate embodiment, the attitude sensor device is mounted to the inner housing of a gyroscope, which is insensitive to movement in two dimensions, thereby allowing the sensing of deviations of rotational movement.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An attitude sensor device for sensing deviations from a reference orientation, said sensor device comprising:
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a capacitor having two electrodes spaced apart from one another; a damped dielectric fluid disposed between said electrodes, said damped dielectric fluid having a bubble of a different dielectric constant and density than said fluid, disposed therein, a nonconductive sealed enclosure for containing said damped dielectric fluid, means defining an upper surface of said enclosure and having tapered sides, such that said bubble is substantially centrally disposed between said electrodes when said sensor device is in said reference orientation; means for detecting a capacitance change when said sensor device is altered from said reference orientation; and means for outputting a warning signal when said capacitance change is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An attitude sensor device mountable to an object or human for sensing deviations from a reference orientation, said device comprising:
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a capacitor having two electrodes spaced apart from one another; a damped dielectric fluid disposed between said electrodes having a bubble therein of a different dielectric constant and density than said fluid, a nonconductive sealed enclosure for containing said damp dielectric fluid, a vertical cross-section of said nonconductive sealed enclosure having an upper surface with tapered sides for reducing the height of said sealed enclosure thereat, wherein the position of said bubble within said fluid is altered upon a deviation of said sensor device from said reference orientation thereby changing the capacitance of said capacitor; means for detecting a capacitance change; and means for outputting a warning signal when said capacitance change is detected. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An attitude sensor device for sensing deviations in one dimension from a reference orientation, said device comprising:
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a gyroscope having an outer housing mountable to an object or human and an inner housing spaced apart from said outer housing on a set of substantially perpendicular gimbal mounting means; a sensor device being mounted to said inner housing of said gyroscope and comprising; a capacitor having two electrodes spaced apart from one another; a damped dielectric fluid disposed between said electrodes having a bubble therein; a nonconductive sealed enclosure for containing said damp dielectric fluid, means defining an upper surface of said enclosure and having tapered sides, such that said bubble is substantially centrally disposed between said electrodes when said sensor device is in said reference orientation; means for detecting a capacitance change;
when said sensor device is altered from said reference orientation; andmeans for outputting a warning signal when said capacitance change is detected. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An attitude sensor device for sensing deviations from a reference orientation, said sensor device comprising:
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a housing having a bottom side; a pair of electrodes including an upper electrode and a lower electrode; means disposing the lower electrode in a sealed manner at the bottom side of the housing; an electrically non-conductive support member disposed in said housing above said lower electrode and for supporting said upper electrode; said support member and said lower electrode defining therebetween a sensing chamber; a damped dielectric fluid disposed within said sensing chamber, said damped dielectric fluid having a bubble of a different dielectric constant and density than said fluid disposed therein; means for detecting a change in capacitance between said pair of electrodes; and means for outputting a warning signal upon detecting a predetermined change in capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification