The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 25, 1986
Filed:
Jul. 30, 1984
Applicant:
Inventors:
Jack A Ekchian, Watertown, MA (US);
Robert W Hoffman, Arlington, MA (US);
Leon Ekchian, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Assignee:
Optima Systems, Inc., Burlington, MA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
7330 / ; 73653 ; 33366 ; 33377 ; 340689 ;
Abstract
The inside surface of a conductive vessel (preferably spherical) with insulated adjacent segments is coated with a dielectric layer. The vessel is then partly filled with a conductive liquid-like material such as mercury having an upper surface which remains approximately horizontal irrespective of the inclination of the vessel. The capacitance between the segments and liquid varies as a function of the vessel's inclination. Vibration-induced surface action also produces varying capacitance which can be detected for seismometer applications and the like.