Orientation sensing apparatus
First Claim
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1. Orientation indicating apparatus for indicating angular position about an axis of interest, comprising:
- sensor means includinga housing forming a generally cylindrical chamber having a non-vertically oriented central axis coincident with the axis of interest;
a rotation responsive element located within said chamber and free to move therein around the perimeter of the chamber under the influence of gravity as the housing is rotated about the central axis, the element being capable of influencing the direction of light cast upon it as a function of its location within said chamber;
light emitting means disposed along said central axis, including at least one light emitting component disposed along said central axis and facing said chamber and operative to illuminate said element; and
light detecting means including first and second light measuring components disposed on opposite sides of said chamber and along a first detection axis passing through said chamber, said first detection axis and said central axis being mutually perpendicular, said first and second light measuring components being responsive to light influenced by said element and operative to generate corresponding first and second detection signals commensurate with a characteristic thereof; and
signal processing means responsive to said detection signals and operative to generate orientation indicating signals commensurate with the orientation of said sensor means about said axis of interest.
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Abstract
Orientation sensing apparatus including a bubble suspended in liquid contained within a transparent cylindrical container, light sources aligned along the cylindrical axis of the container that transmit light via light pathways for illuminating the bubble, light sensors disposed along the circumference of the container that receive light via light pathways for measuring the amount of light reflected from the bubble, and signal processing circuitry for converting the light sensors'"'"' readings into an orientation indicating signal for communication to other electronic devices.
43 Citations
44 Claims
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1. Orientation indicating apparatus for indicating angular position about an axis of interest, comprising:
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sensor means including a housing forming a generally cylindrical chamber having a non-vertically oriented central axis coincident with the axis of interest; a rotation responsive element located within said chamber and free to move therein around the perimeter of the chamber under the influence of gravity as the housing is rotated about the central axis, the element being capable of influencing the direction of light cast upon it as a function of its location within said chamber; light emitting means disposed along said central axis, including at least one light emitting component disposed along said central axis and facing said chamber and operative to illuminate said element; and light detecting means including first and second light measuring components disposed on opposite sides of said chamber and along a first detection axis passing through said chamber, said first detection axis and said central axis being mutually perpendicular, said first and second light measuring components being responsive to light influenced by said element and operative to generate corresponding first and second detection signals commensurate with a characteristic thereof; and signal processing means responsive to said detection signals and operative to generate orientation indicating signals commensurate with the orientation of said sensor means about said axis of interest. - 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. A sensor for sensing orientation with respect to a horizontal plane and producing corresponding detection signals, comprising
a housing forming a generally cylindrical chamber having a non-vertically oriented central axis coincident with an axis of interest; -
a rotation responsive element located within said chamber and free to move therein around the perimeter of the chamber under the influence of gravity as the housing is rotated about the central axis, the element being capable of influencing the direction of light cast upon it as a function of its location within said chamber; light emitting means including at least one light emitting component disposed along said central axis and facing said chamber and operative to illuminate said element; and light detecting means including first and second light measuring components disposed on opposite sides of said chamber and along a first detection axis passing through said chamber, said first detection axis and said central axis being mutually perpendicular, said first and second light measuring components being responsive to light influenced by said element and operative to generate corresponding first and second detection signals commensurate with a characteristic thereof. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of generating signals indicative of the angle of inclination of an object relative to a horizontal plane comprising the steps of:
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providing said object with means forming a generally cylindrical chamber having a central axis, said chamber being filled with a predetermined quantity of liquid, and containing a light reflective element which is free to move within said liquid and which has the characteristic that its position within said chamber is related to the angle of inclination of said object; causing light to pass into said chamber in the direction of said central axis so as to be reflected by said light reflective element; detecting light reflected by said element in a first direction along a diameter of said chamber and generating a corresponding first electrical signal; detecting light reflected by said element in a second direction along said diameter of said chamber and generating a corresponding second electrical signal; using said first and second electrical signals to provide information indicative of the angle of inclination of said object; converting said information into a pulse width modulated signal whose duty cycle is indicative of the angle of inclination of said object; and using said pulse width modulated signal as an input to a computer driven system. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. Orientation indicating apparatus for indicating angular position about an axis of interest, comprising:
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sensor means including a housing forming a generally cylindrical chamber having a non-vertically oriented central axis coincident with the axis of interest; a rotation responsive element located within said chamber and free to move therein around the perimeter of the chamber under the influence of gravity as the housing is rotated about the central axis, the element being capable of influencing the direction of light cast upon it as a function of its location within said chamber; light emitting means disposed along said central axis, including at least one light emitting component disposed along said central axis and facing said chamber and operative to illuminate said element; and light detecting means including first and second light measuring components disposed on opposite sides of said chamber, along radial lines extending from said central axis and mutually perpendicular thereto, said first and second light measuring components being responsive to light influenced by said element and operative to generate corresponding first and second detection signals commensurate with a characteristic thereof; and signal processing means responsive to said detection signals and operative to detect a difference therebetween and to generate a corresponding signal indicative of the orientation of said sensor means about said axis of interest.
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43. A sensor for sensing orientation with respect to a horizontal plane and producing corresponding detection signals, comprising
a housing forming a generally cylindrical chamber having a non-vertically oriented central axis coincident with an axis of interest; -
a rotation responsive element located within said chamber and free to move therein around the perimeter of the chamber under the influence of gravity as the housing is rotated about the central axis, the element being capable of influencing the direction of light cast upon it as a function of its location within said chamber; light emitting means including at least one light emitting component disposed along said central axis and facing said chamber and operative to illuminate said element; and light detecting means including first and second light measuring components disposed on opposite sides of said chamber, along radial lines extending from said central axis and mutually perpendicular thereto, said first and second light measuring components being responsive to light influenced by said element and operative to generate corresponding first and second detection signals commensurate with a characteristic thereof.
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44. A method of generating signals indicative of the angle of inclination of an object relative to a horizontal plane comprising the steps of:
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providing said object with means forming a generally cylindrical chamber having a central axis, said chamber being filled with a predetermined quantity of liquid, and containing a light reflective element which is free to move within said liquid and which has the characteristic that its position within said chamber is related to the angle of inclination of said object; causing light to pass into said chamber in the direction of said central axis so as to be reflected by said light reflective element; detecting light reflected by said element in a first direction along a first radial line of said chamber, said first radial line extending from said central axis and mutually perpendicular thereto, and generating a corresponding first electrical signal; detecting light reflected by said element in a second direction along a second radial line of said chamber, said second radial line extending from said central axis and mutually perpendicular thereto, and generating a corresponding second electrical signal; using a difference between said first and second electrical signals to provide information indicative of the angle of inclination of said object; converting said information into a pulse width modulated signal whose duty cycle is indicative of the angle of inclination of said object; and using said pulse width modulated signal as an input to a computer driven system.
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Specification