CA2123452A1 - Gravity controlled potentiometer - Google Patents
Gravity controlled potentiometerInfo
- Publication number
- CA2123452A1 CA2123452A1 CA 2123452 CA2123452A CA2123452A1 CA 2123452 A1 CA2123452 A1 CA 2123452A1 CA 2123452 CA2123452 CA 2123452 CA 2123452 A CA2123452 A CA 2123452A CA 2123452 A1 CA2123452 A1 CA 2123452A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- gravitational field
- respect
- potentiometer
- sensor
- gravity controlled
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
- G01C9/02—Details
- G01C9/06—Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
- G01C9/10—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using rolling bodies, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
- G01C9/02—Details
- G01C9/06—Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
- G01C2009/068—Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means resistive
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
- G01C9/10—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using rolling bodies, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets
- G01C2009/105—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using rolling bodies, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets mercury droplets
Abstract
A level is a tool used to determine whether a surface is horizontal or inclined with respect to the gravitational field. A level requires a sensing mechanism to measure an angle with respect to the gravitational field, the most common being an air bubble in a liquid filled tube. In this invention, a potentiometer type sensor is used to measure the exact surface angle with respect to the gravitational field. Since this Gravity Controlled Potentiometer uses an electrical current that varies with respect to its position to the gravitational field, this sensor could be interfaced with an electronic circuit.
Description
SPECIFICATION
This invention, the Gravity Controlled Potentiometer, varics its resistance to the flow of electrical current with relation to its position in a gravitational field.
The level indicator currently available relies on centering an air bubble inside a liquid filled tube. This system only allows for a single angle precision; mostly parallel or perpendicular to the gravitational field. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to interface this system with an electronic circuit.
I have found that by using a gravity sensitive electrical sensor, I can detect not one, but any angle in relation to the gravitational field. Furthermore, the electrical signal sent out by this sensor can be electronically treated in order to display a very accurate and reliable reading.
Description of assembly Figure 1 (a) shows the top view of a semiconductive disk with a narrow discontinuity. The semiconductive disk is used as the resistive material in our potentiometer. Each end of the narrow gap is mounted with a conductive material connectors.
. 2I23452 -Figure l(b) is the top view of the casing. The semiconductive disk is deposited into the casing with both connectors passing through holes at the bottom of the casing.
The casing is electrically isolated from the semiconductive element from fig,ure l(a). A
drop of mercury is deposited in the casing and in contact with the semiconductive disk.
Mercury was chosen over a metal ball because it is a liquid conductive material, therefore readings will be more accurate. The conductive cover in figure l(c) is the center tap of the Gravity Controlled Potentiometer and seals the assembly, thereby ensuring a permanent contact with the mercury.
Mode of operation Once the assembly completed, the Gravity Controlled Potentiometer (or level sensor) is placed in a perpendicular position with respect to the gravitational field.
The mercury, perm~nently in contact with the conductive cover and the semiconductive disk, acts as a moving element of a conventional mechanical potentiometer. As the level sensor is rotated, the mercury will go to the lowestgravitational point, thereby increasing or decreasing the voltage at the center tap (conductive cover).
This Gravity Controlled Potentiometer was designed to interface an electronic circuit, and to be used in a digital level meter. Because this level sensor doesn't need a human observer, it could be implemented in stand-alone system, or be run by a computerized circuit. A few examples of applications include level sensoring for small airplanes and underwater operations.
This invention, the Gravity Controlled Potentiometer, varics its resistance to the flow of electrical current with relation to its position in a gravitational field.
The level indicator currently available relies on centering an air bubble inside a liquid filled tube. This system only allows for a single angle precision; mostly parallel or perpendicular to the gravitational field. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to interface this system with an electronic circuit.
I have found that by using a gravity sensitive electrical sensor, I can detect not one, but any angle in relation to the gravitational field. Furthermore, the electrical signal sent out by this sensor can be electronically treated in order to display a very accurate and reliable reading.
Description of assembly Figure 1 (a) shows the top view of a semiconductive disk with a narrow discontinuity. The semiconductive disk is used as the resistive material in our potentiometer. Each end of the narrow gap is mounted with a conductive material connectors.
. 2I23452 -Figure l(b) is the top view of the casing. The semiconductive disk is deposited into the casing with both connectors passing through holes at the bottom of the casing.
The casing is electrically isolated from the semiconductive element from fig,ure l(a). A
drop of mercury is deposited in the casing and in contact with the semiconductive disk.
Mercury was chosen over a metal ball because it is a liquid conductive material, therefore readings will be more accurate. The conductive cover in figure l(c) is the center tap of the Gravity Controlled Potentiometer and seals the assembly, thereby ensuring a permanent contact with the mercury.
Mode of operation Once the assembly completed, the Gravity Controlled Potentiometer (or level sensor) is placed in a perpendicular position with respect to the gravitational field.
The mercury, perm~nently in contact with the conductive cover and the semiconductive disk, acts as a moving element of a conventional mechanical potentiometer. As the level sensor is rotated, the mercury will go to the lowestgravitational point, thereby increasing or decreasing the voltage at the center tap (conductive cover).
This Gravity Controlled Potentiometer was designed to interface an electronic circuit, and to be used in a digital level meter. Because this level sensor doesn't need a human observer, it could be implemented in stand-alone system, or be run by a computerized circuit. A few examples of applications include level sensoring for small airplanes and underwater operations.
Claims
1-2-I have found that by using a gravity sensitive electrical sensor, I can detect not one but any angle in relation to the gravitational field. Furthermore, the electrical signal sent out by this sensor can be electronically treated in order to display a very accurate and reliable reading.
3- A potentiometer does not exist with a mercury contact that creates the center tap.
4- It is the first time, I believe, that a potentiometer is use to measure a level.
3- A potentiometer does not exist with a mercury contact that creates the center tap.
4- It is the first time, I believe, that a potentiometer is use to measure a level.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2123452 CA2123452A1 (en) | 1994-05-12 | 1994-05-12 | Gravity controlled potentiometer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2123452 CA2123452A1 (en) | 1994-05-12 | 1994-05-12 | Gravity controlled potentiometer |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2123452A1 true CA2123452A1 (en) | 1995-11-13 |
Family
ID=4153580
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2123452 Abandoned CA2123452A1 (en) | 1994-05-12 | 1994-05-12 | Gravity controlled potentiometer |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2123452A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107289919A (en) * | 2017-06-01 | 2017-10-24 | 西安交通大学 | A kind of annular electro resistive MEMS liquid angle gyroscopes |
-
1994
- 1994-05-12 CA CA 2123452 patent/CA2123452A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107289919A (en) * | 2017-06-01 | 2017-10-24 | 西安交通大学 | A kind of annular electro resistive MEMS liquid angle gyroscopes |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |