Electronic inclination sensing device
US4590680A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 13, 1984 |
| Grant date | May 27, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 13, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C9/06
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device is disclosed for sensing information relating to the orientation of a selected direction or plane with respect to the horizontal. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a housing (40), a vial (70) mounting in the housing, a source of electromagnetic radiation (62, 64), sensors (66, 68) and associated electronic circuitry, and a rail (12) for positioning the housing. The vial is elongated along a central longitudinal axis and is partially filled with liquid (72) to form a bubble (74) in the vial. The source of radiation is positioned in a housing plane to one side of the vial such that radiation passes through the vial and forms a shadow of the bubble on the other side of the vial. The shadow is detected by the sensors, and the associated electronic circuitry produces an output signal having a characteristic related to the bubble position along the longitudinal axis. The rail is adapted to position the housing with respect to a selected direction such that the housing is vertical and the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the vial with respect to the selected direction is known. The electronic circuitry is preferably adapted to produce an output signal correspondin…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.