Tilt sensing device and method for its operation
US6664534B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C2009/107
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tilt sensing device and method for its operation, the device being of the type comprising a) a housing, b) a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver arranged in or at the housing to form a beam path therebetween, c) a radiation obstructing or deflecting body movable in relation to the beam path and d) a rest surface for the body defining at least two possible rest positions for the body relative the beam path between which rest positions the body can move by gravity at defined tilt angles for the device and which rest positions are selected to give a detectable output difference from the radiation receiver depending on which of the rest positions is occupied by the body. The size of the movable body, expressed as the diameter of a sphere of corresponding volume, is less than 10 mm. Operation of the device includes monitoring the output from the receiver to obtain an amplitude versus time function and processing data from the function to obtain a modified signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.