Inclination sensor

US7526870B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Sartorius AG · DE

Inventors

• Franz Klapper · Bad Lobenstein, DE
• Herbert Rink · Oettingen, DE
• Gerd Freydank · Oettingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 15, 2008
• Grant date: May 5, 2009
• Expiry date: May 15, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01C2009/066
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

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.