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:
Jan. 02, 1996
Filed:
Jul. 12, 1994
Michael E Murphy, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Design & Test Technology, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved inclination sensor in which electrically conductive elements are fabricated onto one or both surfaces of a flat plate. The plate comprising discrete, isolated sector sections having a distinct electrically conductive regions is oriented in a substantially vertical plane. The plate has an axis which lies in a horizontal plane and which is substantially perpendicular to the plate so that the plate may tilt about the axis. The plate is encased within a sealed chamber occupied by a fluid having electrical properties. In one embodiment a dielectric fluid occupies a first portion of a chamber and has a dielectric constant greater than that of a gas which occupies a second portion of the sealed chamber. The fluid flows in response to a change in the tilt of the sealed chamber and the plate. In a second embodiment a capacitive fluid changes the capacitance between the distinct electrically conductive regions of each section of the plate. By determining the capacitance between the electrically conductive regions in one or more of the sections, the tilt of the inclinometer may be determined.