Optical sensor for measuring inclination angles
First Claim
1. An angle sensor adapted for 360 degrees rotation about an axis to provide output indications of angles between a reference axis and the axis of rotation, comprising:
- a transmitter located on the axis of rotation for transmitting energy;
a small area receiver located on the axis of rotation for receiving the energy transmitted thereto from the transmitter;
said transmitter and said receiver being immovable with respect to said sensor;
a medium that is movable with respect to said sensor, said medium being operative to change a characteristic of the transmitted energy in an amount corresponding to the angular movement of the sensor between the reference axis and the axis of rotation, before the transmitted energy reaches the receiver; and
said receiver providing the output indications of the extent of angular orientations of the sensor between the axis of rotation and the reference axis, and being independent of the rotational orientation of the sensor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device utilized for accurately measuring inclination angles independent of roll position using optical methods, whereby an amplitude of reflected (or refracted) light rays from a surface of a gravity-leveled liquid are detected by a photo-detector. The amplitude of the detected light beam is a function of the beam'"'"'s angle of incidence to the liquid, which is proportional to the angle of the sensor'"'"'s inclination. The incline sensor includes a cylindrical symmetric vessel which is partially filled with a liquid, an axially symmetric light emitting diode (LED) and a photo-detector. The fluid is chosen to have indices of refraction of at least 1.33, or reflectivity >0.60 so that measurable refraction (or reflection) angles can be realized for the geometry of the sensor. The liquid is also chosen to have freezing and boiling points acceptable for use in the desired applications.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An angle sensor adapted for 360 degrees rotation about an axis to provide output indications of angles between a reference axis and the axis of rotation, comprising:
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a transmitter located on the axis of rotation for transmitting energy; a small area receiver located on the axis of rotation for receiving the energy transmitted thereto from the transmitter; said transmitter and said receiver being immovable with respect to said sensor; a medium that is movable with respect to said sensor, said medium being operative to change a characteristic of the transmitted energy in an amount corresponding to the angular movement of the sensor between the reference axis and the axis of rotation, before the transmitted energy reaches the receiver; and said receiver providing the output indications of the extent of angular orientations of the sensor between the axis of rotation and the reference axis, and being independent of the rotational orientation of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An angle sensor adapted for 360 degrees rotation about an axis to provide output indications of angles between a reference axis and an axis about which said angle sensor rotates, comprising:
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a vessel for containing a fluid, said vessel having opposing end walls through which the axis of rotation passes; an optical emitter for emitting energy and an optical detector for detecting the energy, each fixed to a respective said end wall of the vessel where said axis of rotation passes therethrough, and for movement thereof with the vessel; and said fluid filling the vessel less than full and having a boundary surface for modifying an intensity characteristic of the energy in correspondence with angular orientation of the sensor with respect to the reference axis, whereby said detector detects the energy characteristics and produces an output corresponding to the angular orientation of the sensor and is independent of the rotational orientation of the angle sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An angle sensor adapted for rotation about an axis and providing output indications of angular orientations with respect to a reference, comprising:
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a vessel for containing a fluid, said vessel having a cylindrical shape for rotating about the axis, and having end caps fastened to the vessel for providing an enclosure; an optical emitter for emitting energy and an optical detector for detecting the energy, each fixed to a respective said end cap of said vessel in alignment with said axis for rotational movement thereof with the vessel; and said fluid being of the type for reflecting the emitted energy from the emitter and received by the detector in an intensity corresponding to an angular orientation of the vessel between the reference and the axis of rotation, whereby the detector produces a continuous angle output that changes only with a change in an angle between the reference and the rotational axis of the vessel, and is independent of the rotational position of the angle sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification