CA2128702A1 - Measuring instrument - Google Patents
Measuring instrumentInfo
- Publication number
- CA2128702A1 CA2128702A1 CA002128702A CA2128702A CA2128702A1 CA 2128702 A1 CA2128702 A1 CA 2128702A1 CA 002128702 A CA002128702 A CA 002128702A CA 2128702 A CA2128702 A CA 2128702A CA 2128702 A1 CA2128702 A1 CA 2128702A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- light
- accordance
- measuring
- medium
- relative position
- 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
- G01C9/02—Details
- G01C9/06—Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
- G01C2009/066—Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means optical
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
- Measuring Pulse, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure Or Blood Flow (AREA)
- Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
- Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
- Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
- Eye Examination Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
(57) Abstract An optical measuring instrument to indicate or determine the relative posi-tion or an objet and/or a substrate in relation to a horizontal plane comprises an
Description
~28702 M~a~uring Instrument The pre3ent invention relates to an opto-elec~ronic mea~urin~ inetrument for detexmining the relative position o~ an object in respect to a horizontal plane, with ~n at lea~t partially transparent measuring chamber in which two media which cannot be mixed of different denYity are contained, wherein one of the media is at least partially tran~parent translucent and at lea~t the other is a fluid medium, and wherein the relative position is determined on the ba~i~ of the position of the at lea~t partially tranjparent ~edium in the mea~uring chamber, with a light sour~e ~nd a light-jen~itive sensor, onto which the light transmitted ~y the light qource through the at lea3t partially transparent medium is projected ~nd the projection i~ u~ed to determine the relative po~ition. The invention fu~thermor~
relates to a method for determining the relative po~ition of an o~ject in re~pect to a hori~ontal plane by means of a measuring in~trumen~. Finally, the invention relates to a use of the mea~u~ing in~trument.
In~t~ume~ts for determining the relative posi~ion or the angle of objects in respec~ to the horizontal plane or the perpendicular are known. Probably the best known instrument i~
the so-called water level or bubble level, in which an air bub~le iq mai~tained in a liq~id inside a curved tube clo~ed at both ends and wherein thi~ bubble is located exactly at the zenith o~ the tube curve over the entire me~suring range.
In the course of improving the mea~uring accuracy, this rela~ively rough-indicating device ~as refined in that other gases were u3ed in place of air, or even that an extremely small amount of a second liquid of lower de~sit~, which cannot be mixed with the fir~t liguid and in addition i3 transparent, i~ al~o enclosed in the fir~t li~uid and the first liquid i3 colored or opaque.
: ..
. ~ , .
- i ~
- . , 212~7~2 It i~ possible by an appropriate optimization of the two non-mixable fluid media to create minute bubbles for allowing an extremely clo~e measurement by mean~ of a principle corresponding to the conventional water level In this way special oils, liquid silicons, noble gases, etc. are used today ~or a measuring i~strument operating in accordance with the described medium. In spite of this the problem of an accurate optical detection remain~, because definite limit~ are set for the accuracy of reading off, e~en with the mo~ minute hubbles, while the ease of reading is poor, i.e. the visual detection of the small bubbles i~
hardly possible.
An opto-electronic inclination detection is known from the reference l~TECHNISC~ES M~SSEN" ~Technical Me~suring], ~ol.5a, No.
3, March 1~91, M~nchen D~, pp 101 to 105, XP 224809 and from GB
relates to a method for determining the relative po~ition of an o~ject in re~pect to a hori~ontal plane by means of a measuring in~trumen~. Finally, the invention relates to a use of the mea~u~ing in~trument.
In~t~ume~ts for determining the relative posi~ion or the angle of objects in respec~ to the horizontal plane or the perpendicular are known. Probably the best known instrument i~
the so-called water level or bubble level, in which an air bub~le iq mai~tained in a liq~id inside a curved tube clo~ed at both ends and wherein thi~ bubble is located exactly at the zenith o~ the tube curve over the entire me~suring range.
In the course of improving the mea~uring accuracy, this rela~ively rough-indicating device ~as refined in that other gases were u3ed in place of air, or even that an extremely small amount of a second liquid of lower de~sit~, which cannot be mixed with the fir~t liguid and in addition i3 transparent, i~ al~o enclosed in the fir~t li~uid and the first liquid i3 colored or opaque.
: ..
. ~ , .
- i ~
- . , 212~7~2 It i~ possible by an appropriate optimization of the two non-mixable fluid media to create minute bubbles for allowing an extremely clo~e measurement by mean~ of a principle corresponding to the conventional water level In this way special oils, liquid silicons, noble gases, etc. are used today ~or a measuring i~strument operating in accordance with the described medium. In spite of this the problem of an accurate optical detection remain~, because definite limit~ are set for the accuracy of reading off, e~en with the mo~ minute hubbles, while the ease of reading is poor, i.e. the visual detection of the small bubbles i~
hardly possible.
An opto-electronic inclination detection is known from the reference l~TECHNISC~ES M~SSEN" ~Technical Me~suring], ~ol.5a, No.
3, March 1~91, M~nchen D~, pp 101 to 105, XP 224809 and from GB
2,232,762 A, FR 2,368,6g4 A and EP 168 150 A1. Kowever, these known de~ices onl~ permit angular mea~urements within a narrow angular range of approximate~y + 20. A 360 mea~urement is not possible with the~e de~ice~.
A further electronic inclinometer is ~nown ~rom DE 38 36 794 A1, which has a tube in the shape of an arc of a circle in which an air bubble i~ en~rained. Beams are directed radially from the inside to the outside through this tub~. A sensor is p~ovided at the zenith which, after an i~clination of the device, iQ ~eturned to the ze~ith by an adju~tme~t device. The angle of inclination is calculated by means of the adjustment device. This device is relatively cumbersome and ~low.
It is ~he object of the invention to provid~ a device which permits a mea~urement over an angle range of 360.
This object is attained in accordance with ~he invention in that the light ~ource, the measuring chamber and the light ~ensitive sen~or are dijpos~d behind each other on a horizontal axis, that the light ~ource i~ di~poQed on one side of the cha~ber ..
~ ~ .
. ~:
' ' 212~7~2 and the light-~en~itive ~en~or on the other side of the measuring chamber, that the mea~uring ~hamber is embodied as a circular tube or a hollow body in the ~hape of a circular disk and that the enti~e projection o~ the mea~uring chamber 19 placed on ~he li~ht-sensi~i~e ~ensor.
~ n opti~al measuring in~trument i~ propo~ed which e~enti~ly operate~ in accordance with the known principle of the water level determining the relative po~ition of an obje¢t in reqpe~t to a horizontal plane or the perpendicular. The measuring in~trument proposed by the invention comprises an at least partiall~ transparent measuring chamber ~ontaining t~o media of different density which cannot be mixed, wherein one of the media iB a~ least partially tran~parent o~ translucent and at least the other i9 a fluid medium, and wherein t~e relative position or the angular po~ition of the object in re~pect to the horizontal plane i~ determined on the basig of the poeition of ~he at least partiall~ transparent or t~an~lucent medium in the mea~uring chamber. A light source is disp~ed on one side of the measurlng chamber, i.e. one side of the me~uring ~hamber is illuminated by the light BoUrce ~ and an optical measuring cell or a light-sensitive, ~lat sensor i~ di~posed on the opposite side of the measuring cham~er, i.e. the ~ide oppo~ite the illumination, onto which the lig~t transmitted by the li~ht source through the at least partially transparent o~ translucent medium is projected, whe~ein the projection iB u~ed for determining the rel~tive position of the object in respect to the horizontal plane. In the -pro~ss it i~ also pos~ible for the light to be polarized while :
mo~ing through the medium.
Exempla~y embodimen~ will be subsequently deecribed wherein the light can also be polarized, jo that ~ special mention o~ this in every example can be omitted. It is furthermore pointed out that the projection o~ the ligh~ can be performed by - 212~702 u~ing lenses or other optical means, such as filters, pri~ms, of the like, or directly, i.e. without len~es and the like .
Preferably both media are fluid media and one of the media is an opaque medium or imperviou~ to light, wherein the two media are enclosed in a tran3parent hollow body, preferably of glas~
At lea~t one of the media here must be liquid, while the other medium can al~o be liquid or gaseous or solid.
Depending on whether the at least partially tran~parent or translucent medium has a higher or lower density than the other medium, the former i~ di~poRed at the zenith or the side opposite the zenith of the hollo~ body or the measuring chamber.
Depending on the relative position to be measured or of the angle enclosed by t~e objeot and the horizontal plane, the measuring chamber or hollow body can be embodied in di~ferent wa~, preferably with a con~tant cross section tran~ver~ely to the tube or the di~k.
The optical mea~rin~ ~ell or the light-sensitive flat ~en~or di~posed for detecting the projection can be, fox example, a ~o-called PSD detector (position-sensitive device) or a so-c~lled CCD (charge-coupled device). However, any optical or light-~ensitive mea~u~in~ cell~ are suitable for thiQ.
For determining the relative position of an objeet in re~pect to the horizontal plane by means of the above described measuring i~6trument in accordance ~ith the invention, light from a light ~ouroe, which i~ disposed on one side of the measuring chamber, is transmitted through the mea~uring chamber and through the a~ least partially transparent or translucent fluid medium and is projected onto the optical mea~uring cell or the light-sensitive flat sensor di~posed on the ~ide oppo~ite the other ~ide, wherein ~rom the po~ition of the projection on the cell or on the sensor the relati~e po~ition of the object or the substrate i~ determined.
, - - . . : -. ~ :
~l2~7n2 The relative po~itio~ ox the an~ul~r position o~ ~he o~ject i~ dete.rmined by means of the po~ition of the center of the transmitted light spot or the ~hadow of the projee~ion onto the position-~en~itive light sensor and is displayed by ~eans of suitable eval~ation and indicator element~.
The m~a~uring instruments defined by the invention or the method for operating them are particularly ~ited for use in an electronic water level. Further u~e~ are found in electronic leveling in~ruments, level meter~, ~ompens~tors and devices for the ele~tronic detection of the acceleration of ~n object. Use of the measuring in~t~u~ents in accordance with the invention are fea~ured in claim~ 10 t~ 13, among others.
The in~ention ~ill be explained below in detail by wa~ of example by meang of preferred devices in accordance with in~ention. Shown in the process are in.
Figs . 1 and 2, a longitudinal and cro~s ~ection of a first variant embodiment of a measuring in~txum~nt of the invention ~chematically I :
Fig~. 3 and 4, a furthe~ variant embodi~ent of the invention in lo~gitudinal and croQs ~ection. -A mea~uring chamber 1 is represen~ed in Fig. 1 in longitudinal ~nd cro~s section, containing an annularly or similar embodied hollow body 3. The cixcularly bent hollow body 3 contain~ a viscous translucent or opaque liquid 7 with an air bubble 8 or a bubble of a transparent or at lea~t partially transparent medium. As can be clearly seen i~ Fig. 2, a light source 13 iB dispo~ed on one side o~ the hollow body 3. The light beams 15 emi~ted by this light source 13 illuminate the hollow body 3 on one side. Since the tube i~ embodied to be gla~s-like, a part of the light in the axea of the air bubble 8 i~ transmitted through the tube and the light beams 17 which pass through corre~pondingly ~re projected onto a ~ensor 21 dispo~ed on the . ~
. .
r- , 2128702 other ~ide of the tube. In the proc~ss a light spot or shadow ~3 ia generated on the ligh~- en~itive sensor 21.
I~ now the object on which the optical measuring chamber 1 of the invention i~ disposed is inclined in respect to the hori~ontal plane (Fig. 1), the air bubble ~ or the bubble of the transparent or partially tran~parent medium movee inside the hollow body 3. However, the light spot or shadow 23 aleo moves on the light-sensitive sensor 21, by means of which the different relative position (A), ~hown in dashed lines, of the object can be opti~ally detected. The detection of the light spot 23 and the evaluation of ~he pojition of thi~ light spot 23 on the light-sen~iti~e sensor 21 takes place in a~cordance with techniques known per se, in that the 3en~0r 21 can ~e a so-called poeition-sensi~ive detector PSD (position ~en~itive devi~e), for example.
The detection of the light spot or the pro~ection is particularly ~imple in this ca~e, becau~e the center of the light spot 23 is :
always automatically detected, because of which additional calculating operation~ can be omit~ed. Howe~er, it i~ al~o po~ible to selec~ a matrix-like detector CCD (charge- ~oupled device) in the $o~m of silicon cell~ connection with which it i~ first necessary to cal¢ulate the center of the light spot projected onto the matrix.
In place of a liquid or air, it i~ al~o possible to select two different liquid6 forming two separate pha~es and having di~ferent densitie~. It is al~o po~sible to select a noble gas, such aQ helium, in place of air. Since the optimal selection of the liquid~ or of a gas and a liquid rep~e~ent commonly known technologies, no further reference i~ made to it here.
Tt is of course also possible to di~po~e a solid body of low density in a liquid. It is alqo possible to enclose a small amount o~ a colored or opaque liquid in a tran~paren~ liquid, so that reversely to what was described above, a dark spot in pla~e -' . 2l287o2 of a light spot is generated on the light-~ensitive sensor or detector. However, the ba~io prineiple remains the same here In Figs. 3 and 4 the mea~uri~g chamber 1 comprises a disk-like circular hollow body 3 with an exterior wall 4. In this ~ase the circular disk ha~ a con~tant cro~s seetion tran~v~rsely to the disk. Again, the hollow body 3 contains a liquid 7 which is opaque or impexvious ~o light and an air bubble ~ or a bubble of a transparent or parti~lly transparent medium.
The mode of operation of th~ measuring in4trument in accordance with Fig~. 3 and 4 is analogous to that of the previously described mea~uring in~truments.
The advantage of the ~wo measuring instrument~ resides in ~hat the relative posi~ion or angular devia~ion o~ an object ca~ I
be measured or detected over a complete turn of a circle, i, e.
over 360 The accuracy of measurement can be cho~en to be different by means of the selection of the radius R. With a very large radius R the accuracy of m~a~urement is of course greater than with a cmall radius R. However, the size of the measuring instxu~ent in accordance wi~h the invention increase~ when a greater ~adiu~ R i9 selected, because of which the u~e might po~ible become ~ue~tiona~le.
The variant embodiments of the invention are used for explaining and botter understanding the inven~ion and can of course be modified, varied or changed in any desired way. Thu~ it is po~ible to ~elect any combinations of two media which cannot be mixed, wherein at least one of the media, which i~ virtu~lly used a~ the carrier medium, must be fluid, i.e. liquid. The other mediu~ for the indication or detection of the relative po~ition of an object in respect to the horizontal can be either solid, liquid or gaseous. The de~ign of the measuring chamber 1 itself can also be ~elected in an~ way, basically all tran~parent hollow bodie~ 3 .
.
212~7~2 are i~uitable. The seleeted light source 13 can also be either vlslble light, infrared or UV, where in the latter cases the two media in the hollow body ~ mu~t of course be selected such that the detection of the emitted light on an appropriately sensitive detector material i~ po~ible.
.
A further electronic inclinometer is ~nown ~rom DE 38 36 794 A1, which has a tube in the shape of an arc of a circle in which an air bubble i~ en~rained. Beams are directed radially from the inside to the outside through this tub~. A sensor is p~ovided at the zenith which, after an i~clination of the device, iQ ~eturned to the ze~ith by an adju~tme~t device. The angle of inclination is calculated by means of the adjustment device. This device is relatively cumbersome and ~low.
It is ~he object of the invention to provid~ a device which permits a mea~urement over an angle range of 360.
This object is attained in accordance with ~he invention in that the light ~ource, the measuring chamber and the light ~ensitive sen~or are dijpos~d behind each other on a horizontal axis, that the light ~ource i~ di~poQed on one side of the cha~ber ..
~ ~ .
. ~:
' ' 212~7~2 and the light-~en~itive ~en~or on the other side of the measuring chamber, that the mea~uring ~hamber is embodied as a circular tube or a hollow body in the ~hape of a circular disk and that the enti~e projection o~ the mea~uring chamber 19 placed on ~he li~ht-sensi~i~e ~ensor.
~ n opti~al measuring in~trument i~ propo~ed which e~enti~ly operate~ in accordance with the known principle of the water level determining the relative po~ition of an obje¢t in reqpe~t to a horizontal plane or the perpendicular. The measuring in~trument proposed by the invention comprises an at least partiall~ transparent measuring chamber ~ontaining t~o media of different density which cannot be mixed, wherein one of the media iB a~ least partially tran~parent o~ translucent and at least the other i9 a fluid medium, and wherein t~e relative position or the angular po~ition of the object in re~pect to the horizontal plane i~ determined on the basig of the poeition of ~he at least partiall~ transparent or t~an~lucent medium in the mea~uring chamber. A light source is disp~ed on one side of the measurlng chamber, i.e. one side of the me~uring ~hamber is illuminated by the light BoUrce ~ and an optical measuring cell or a light-sensitive, ~lat sensor i~ di~posed on the opposite side of the measuring cham~er, i.e. the ~ide oppo~ite the illumination, onto which the lig~t transmitted by the li~ht source through the at least partially transparent o~ translucent medium is projected, whe~ein the projection iB u~ed for determining the rel~tive position of the object in respect to the horizontal plane. In the -pro~ss it i~ also pos~ible for the light to be polarized while :
mo~ing through the medium.
Exempla~y embodimen~ will be subsequently deecribed wherein the light can also be polarized, jo that ~ special mention o~ this in every example can be omitted. It is furthermore pointed out that the projection o~ the ligh~ can be performed by - 212~702 u~ing lenses or other optical means, such as filters, pri~ms, of the like, or directly, i.e. without len~es and the like .
Preferably both media are fluid media and one of the media is an opaque medium or imperviou~ to light, wherein the two media are enclosed in a tran3parent hollow body, preferably of glas~
At lea~t one of the media here must be liquid, while the other medium can al~o be liquid or gaseous or solid.
Depending on whether the at least partially tran~parent or translucent medium has a higher or lower density than the other medium, the former i~ di~poRed at the zenith or the side opposite the zenith of the hollo~ body or the measuring chamber.
Depending on the relative position to be measured or of the angle enclosed by t~e objeot and the horizontal plane, the measuring chamber or hollow body can be embodied in di~ferent wa~, preferably with a con~tant cross section tran~ver~ely to the tube or the di~k.
The optical mea~rin~ ~ell or the light-sensitive flat ~en~or di~posed for detecting the projection can be, fox example, a ~o-called PSD detector (position-sensitive device) or a so-c~lled CCD (charge-coupled device). However, any optical or light-~ensitive mea~u~in~ cell~ are suitable for thiQ.
For determining the relative position of an objeet in re~pect to the horizontal plane by means of the above described measuring i~6trument in accordance ~ith the invention, light from a light ~ouroe, which i~ disposed on one side of the measuring chamber, is transmitted through the mea~uring chamber and through the a~ least partially transparent or translucent fluid medium and is projected onto the optical mea~uring cell or the light-sensitive flat sensor di~posed on the ~ide oppo~ite the other ~ide, wherein ~rom the po~ition of the projection on the cell or on the sensor the relati~e po~ition of the object or the substrate i~ determined.
, - - . . : -. ~ :
~l2~7n2 The relative po~itio~ ox the an~ul~r position o~ ~he o~ject i~ dete.rmined by means of the po~ition of the center of the transmitted light spot or the ~hadow of the projee~ion onto the position-~en~itive light sensor and is displayed by ~eans of suitable eval~ation and indicator element~.
The m~a~uring instruments defined by the invention or the method for operating them are particularly ~ited for use in an electronic water level. Further u~e~ are found in electronic leveling in~ruments, level meter~, ~ompens~tors and devices for the ele~tronic detection of the acceleration of ~n object. Use of the measuring in~t~u~ents in accordance with the invention are fea~ured in claim~ 10 t~ 13, among others.
The in~ention ~ill be explained below in detail by wa~ of example by meang of preferred devices in accordance with in~ention. Shown in the process are in.
Figs . 1 and 2, a longitudinal and cro~s ~ection of a first variant embodiment of a measuring in~txum~nt of the invention ~chematically I :
Fig~. 3 and 4, a furthe~ variant embodi~ent of the invention in lo~gitudinal and croQs ~ection. -A mea~uring chamber 1 is represen~ed in Fig. 1 in longitudinal ~nd cro~s section, containing an annularly or similar embodied hollow body 3. The cixcularly bent hollow body 3 contain~ a viscous translucent or opaque liquid 7 with an air bubble 8 or a bubble of a transparent or at lea~t partially transparent medium. As can be clearly seen i~ Fig. 2, a light source 13 iB dispo~ed on one side o~ the hollow body 3. The light beams 15 emi~ted by this light source 13 illuminate the hollow body 3 on one side. Since the tube i~ embodied to be gla~s-like, a part of the light in the axea of the air bubble 8 i~ transmitted through the tube and the light beams 17 which pass through corre~pondingly ~re projected onto a ~ensor 21 dispo~ed on the . ~
. .
r- , 2128702 other ~ide of the tube. In the proc~ss a light spot or shadow ~3 ia generated on the ligh~- en~itive sensor 21.
I~ now the object on which the optical measuring chamber 1 of the invention i~ disposed is inclined in respect to the hori~ontal plane (Fig. 1), the air bubble ~ or the bubble of the transparent or partially tran~parent medium movee inside the hollow body 3. However, the light spot or shadow 23 aleo moves on the light-sensitive sensor 21, by means of which the different relative position (A), ~hown in dashed lines, of the object can be opti~ally detected. The detection of the light spot 23 and the evaluation of ~he pojition of thi~ light spot 23 on the light-sen~iti~e sensor 21 takes place in a~cordance with techniques known per se, in that the 3en~0r 21 can ~e a so-called poeition-sensi~ive detector PSD (position ~en~itive devi~e), for example.
The detection of the light spot or the pro~ection is particularly ~imple in this ca~e, becau~e the center of the light spot 23 is :
always automatically detected, because of which additional calculating operation~ can be omit~ed. Howe~er, it i~ al~o po~ible to selec~ a matrix-like detector CCD (charge- ~oupled device) in the $o~m of silicon cell~ connection with which it i~ first necessary to cal¢ulate the center of the light spot projected onto the matrix.
In place of a liquid or air, it i~ al~o possible to select two different liquid6 forming two separate pha~es and having di~ferent densitie~. It is al~o po~sible to select a noble gas, such aQ helium, in place of air. Since the optimal selection of the liquid~ or of a gas and a liquid rep~e~ent commonly known technologies, no further reference i~ made to it here.
Tt is of course also possible to di~po~e a solid body of low density in a liquid. It is alqo possible to enclose a small amount o~ a colored or opaque liquid in a tran~paren~ liquid, so that reversely to what was described above, a dark spot in pla~e -' . 2l287o2 of a light spot is generated on the light-~ensitive sensor or detector. However, the ba~io prineiple remains the same here In Figs. 3 and 4 the mea~uri~g chamber 1 comprises a disk-like circular hollow body 3 with an exterior wall 4. In this ~ase the circular disk ha~ a con~tant cro~s seetion tran~v~rsely to the disk. Again, the hollow body 3 contains a liquid 7 which is opaque or impexvious ~o light and an air bubble ~ or a bubble of a transparent or parti~lly transparent medium.
The mode of operation of th~ measuring in4trument in accordance with Fig~. 3 and 4 is analogous to that of the previously described mea~uring in~truments.
The advantage of the ~wo measuring instrument~ resides in ~hat the relative posi~ion or angular devia~ion o~ an object ca~ I
be measured or detected over a complete turn of a circle, i, e.
over 360 The accuracy of measurement can be cho~en to be different by means of the selection of the radius R. With a very large radius R the accuracy of m~a~urement is of course greater than with a cmall radius R. However, the size of the measuring instxu~ent in accordance wi~h the invention increase~ when a greater ~adiu~ R i9 selected, because of which the u~e might po~ible become ~ue~tiona~le.
The variant embodiments of the invention are used for explaining and botter understanding the inven~ion and can of course be modified, varied or changed in any desired way. Thu~ it is po~ible to ~elect any combinations of two media which cannot be mixed, wherein at least one of the media, which i~ virtu~lly used a~ the carrier medium, must be fluid, i.e. liquid. The other mediu~ for the indication or detection of the relative po~ition of an object in respect to the horizontal can be either solid, liquid or gaseous. The de~ign of the measuring chamber 1 itself can also be ~elected in an~ way, basically all tran~parent hollow bodie~ 3 .
.
212~7~2 are i~uitable. The seleeted light source 13 can also be either vlslble light, infrared or UV, where in the latter cases the two media in the hollow body ~ mu~t of course be selected such that the detection of the emitted light on an appropriately sensitive detector material i~ po~ible.
.
Claims (13)
1. A measuring instrument for determining the relative position of an object in respect to a horizontal plane, with an at least partially transparent measuring chamber (1) in which two media (7, 8) which cannot be mixed of different density are contained, wherein one of the media (8) is at least partially transparent translucent and at least the other is a fluid medium, and wherein the relative position is determined on the basis of the position of the at least partially transparent medium (8) in the measuring chamber (1), with a light source (13) and a light-sensitive sensor (21), onto which the light transmitted by the light source (13) through the at least partially transparent medium (8) is projected and the projection (23) is used to determine the relative position (A), characterized in that the light source, the measuring chamber and the light sensitive sensor are disposed behind each other on a horizontal axis, that the light source is disposed on one side of the chamber and the light-sensitive sensor on the other side of the measuring chamber, that the measuring chamber is embodied as a circular tube or a hollow body in the shape of a circular disk and that the entire projection of the measuring chamber is placed on the light-sensitive sensor.
2. A measuring instrument in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the media (7 or 8) polarizes light.
3. A measuring instrument in accordance with claim 1 and 2, characterized in that both media are fluid media (7, 6), and the medium (7) is an opaque medium or impervious to light, and the two media are enclosed in a transparent hollow body (3), in particular of glass.
4. A measuring instrument in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amount of the transparent or translucent medium (8) is small in relation to the amount of opaque medium (7).
5. A measuring instrument in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transparent medium (8) is disposed at the zenith or at the side opposite the zenith of the hollow body (3).
6. A measuring instrument in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow body (3) has a constant cross section vertically to the tube or the disk.
7, A measuring instrument in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized is that the light-sensitive sensor (21) is a position-sensitive detector (PSD = position sensitive device) or a matrix-like detector (CCD = charge- coupled device).
8. A method for indicating or determining the relative position of an object in respect to a horizontal plane by means of a measuring device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that light from a light source (13), disposed on one side of a measuring chamber (1), is transmitted through the measuring chamber and through the at least partially transparent fluid medium (8) and is projected onto a light-sensitive flat sensor (1) disposed on the opposite side of the measuring chamber, wherein from the position of the projection (23) the sensor (21) the relative position (A) of the object is determined.
9. A method in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the center of the transmitted light spot or the projection (3) onto the light-sensitive sensor (21) is determined and the relative position (A) or angular position is determined from this value and displayed by suitable means.
10. Use of the optical measuring devices in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7 for the automatic leveling of an object to be held in a defined position, wherein the relative position (A) of the object detected by the measuring device is used to reduce or compensate by suitable means a detected deviation as a result of a defined position which the object is supposed to take up.
11. Use of an optical measuring device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7 as an elevation angle measuring instrument or as an inclinometer, wherein the elevation measuring device or the inclinometer is provided on one or both legs with respectively an optical measuring device in accordance with one of the claims, and the elevation angle measurement or the measurement of the inclination takes place by means of the relative position (A) of the two legs in respect to each other or respectively in respect to the horizontal.
12. Us of an optical measuring device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7 for detecting the acceleration of an object in that the temporal change of the indication of the relative position (A) or the angular position is measured or determined.
13. Use of an optical measuring device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7 in an artificial horizon, for example of an aeronautical device, for determining the deviation or the relative position of an object, for example an aeronautical device, in respect to the horizontal.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH18592 | 1992-01-22 | ||
| CH185/92-4 | 1992-01-22 | ||
| PCT/EP1993/000111 WO1993015377A1 (en) | 1992-01-22 | 1993-01-19 | Measuring instrument |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2128702A1 true CA2128702A1 (en) | 1993-08-05 |
Family
ID=4181203
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002128702A Abandoned CA2128702A1 (en) | 1992-01-22 | 1993-01-19 | Measuring instrument |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0626061B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH07503071A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR950701065A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE143488T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2128702A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE59303982D1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993015377A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA2257124A1 (en) * | 1996-06-03 | 1997-12-11 | Larry A. Nickum | Rotationally actuated position sensor |
| DE19859968A1 (en) * | 1998-12-25 | 2000-07-06 | Rothenbuehler Walter | Optoelectronic measuring device |
| DE10025744C2 (en) * | 2000-05-24 | 2002-04-18 | Peter Langbein | Arrangement for recording motion sequences and position positions |
| EP1186858A1 (en) * | 2000-09-08 | 2002-03-13 | Prüftechnik Dieter Busch Ag | Electrical inclinometer |
| DE10135329B4 (en) * | 2001-07-19 | 2006-06-29 | Schulz, Wolfgang, Dr.-Ing. | Device for measuring inclination angles |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4110609A (en) * | 1976-10-22 | 1978-08-29 | The Singer Company | Tilt limiting detecting apparatus |
| US4590680A (en) * | 1984-06-13 | 1986-05-27 | Technical Designs Incorporated | Electronic inclination sensing device |
| CA1314706C (en) * | 1988-08-02 | 1993-03-23 | Kikuo Shimura | Inclination angle detector |
| DE3836794A1 (en) * | 1988-10-28 | 1990-05-03 | Peter Rabenseifner | Electronic inclinometer |
-
1993
- 1993-01-19 WO PCT/EP1993/000111 patent/WO1993015377A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1993-01-19 CA CA002128702A patent/CA2128702A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-01-19 AT AT93914542T patent/ATE143488T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1993-01-19 DE DE59303982T patent/DE59303982D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-01-19 EP EP93914542A patent/EP0626061B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-01-19 JP JP5512900A patent/JPH07503071A/en active Pending
-
1994
- 1994-07-22 KR KR1019940702522A patent/KR950701065A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0626061A1 (en) | 1994-11-30 |
| WO1993015377A1 (en) | 1993-08-05 |
| DE59303982D1 (en) | 1996-10-31 |
| JPH07503071A (en) | 1995-03-30 |
| EP0626061B1 (en) | 1996-09-25 |
| KR950701065A (en) | 1995-02-20 |
| ATE143488T1 (en) | 1996-10-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |