Inclination sensor
First Claim
1. An inclination sensor comprising:
- a spirit level that has a liquid and a gas bubble under a cover glass in a housing;
a light source arranged above the cover glass; and
at least two photodetectors arranged above the cover glass for detecting light emitted by the light source, the light source and the photodectors being arranged on a chip substrate,wherein, when the gas bubble is centered, the light is substantially completely reflected at the gas bubble and the light is thereby detected by the at least two photodetectors, andwherein, when the gas bubble is off-center, different quantities of light are detected by the photodetectors.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inclination sensor is provided having a level which has a liquid and a gas bubble in a housing under a covering glass, wherein a light source is arranged above the covering glass. The invention is based on the object of providing an inclination sensor which can be used to determine the direction and degree of an inclination with high accuracy and which is suitable for automatic orientation of an apparatus provided with such an inclination sensor. The object is achieved according to the invention by virtue of an inclination sensor in which at least two light receivers are arranged above the covering glass such that light, which is emitted by the light source and undergoes total internal reflection at the gas bubble when the gas bubble is centered, can be detected by means of these at least two light receivers, wherein different quantities of light can be detected by means of these light receivers when the gas bubble is not centered, and the light receivers are arranged on a chip substrate.
23 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An inclination sensor comprising:
-
a spirit level that has a liquid and a gas bubble under a cover glass in a housing; a light source arranged above the cover glass; and at least two photodetectors arranged above the cover glass for detecting light emitted by the light source, the light source and the photodectors being arranged on a chip substrate, wherein, when the gas bubble is centered, the light is substantially completely reflected at the gas bubble and the light is thereby detected by the at least two photodetectors, and wherein, when the gas bubble is off-center, different quantities of light are detected by the photodetectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification