JP2553820Y2 - Horizontal angle sensor - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a horizontal angle sensor formed by using a resistor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an inclination angle sensor is used as a sensor for detecting an inclination of a video camera, a table surface or the like. FIG. 6 shows a general tilt angle sensor of this type. In the conventional tilt angle sensor, an adapter 3 is fixed to a rotating shaft 2 of a potentiometer 1, an arm 4 is projected downward from the adapter 3, a weight 5 is fixed to a lower end side of the arm 4, and a case of the potentiometer 1 is provided. 6 is fixed to a base 7 or the like to be measured.

According to this inclination angle sensor, the weight 5 always faces vertically downward with respect to the rotating shaft 2, so that the base 7
When the rotary shaft 2 is tilted only by one angle, the rotary shaft 2 rotates relative to the base 7 (case 6) by θ, and the amount of rotation of the rotary shaft 2 is converted into an electric signal and taken out.

[0004]

However, since the conventional inclination angle sensor has a structure in which the weight 5 is attached to the potentiometer 1, the structure of the device is complicated and large, the device becomes large, and the device cost increases. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its object is to provide a simple device configuration.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a small and inexpensive horizontal angle sensor.

[0006]

The present invention is configured as follows to achieve the above object. That is, the horizontal angle sensor according to the present invention includes a resistor having a surface extending in the length direction, electrodes arranged side by side with the resistor via an open space, and a conductor connected to the electrode and the resistor. A roller disposed so as to roll around the rotation shaft in the open space, and a concave curved surface is formed on the surface of the resistor and the electrode over a rolling region of the rotation shaft of the roller. It is characterized by having been done.

[0007]

In the present invention having the above construction, when the horizontal angle sensor is tilted, the rotation axis of the roller rolls along the curved surface of the resistor according to the tilt, and moves to the lowest position of the curved surface by the action of gravity. And stop. At this time, the resistance value corresponding to the position where the rotation axis is moved is converted into a voltage value or the like and detected,
The inclination is detected from the detected value.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of a horizontal angle sensor according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a main configuration of a side surface of the horizontal angle sensor, and FIG. 3 shows a main configuration of the horizontal angle sensor as viewed from the front. In these figures, the horizontal angle sensor of this embodiment is provided with a base 16 on which insulating holding members 19 and 20 are spaced apart from each other by a distance E.
Are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction. On the upper surface of the holding member 19, an elongated electrode 9 extending in the longitudinal direction is provided so as to protrude upward, and the electrode 9 is fixed by the holding member 19. A resistor 10 having a band-like surface extending in the length direction is provided side by side on the upper surface of the holding member 20 via the electrode 9 and a gap F, and the resistor 10 is fixed by the holding member 20.
That is, the electrode 9 and the resistor 10 are juxtaposed via the open space.
Have been. On the electrode 9 side, a pair of left and right lead terminals 17 of the electrode 9 is provided so as to protrude downward through the holding member 19 and the base 16, and a pair of left and right lead terminals 18 A is similarly provided on the resistor 10 side. , 18B project through the base 16. A rotating shaft 12 made of a conductor of a roller 11 is rollably wrapped around the electrode 9 and the resistor 10. Also, this electrode 9
A concave curved surface 14 is formed on the surface of the resistor 10 and the rolling region of the rotation shaft 12 of the roller 11. The curved surface 14 is a curved surface which has a central portion as a center point Q and rises symmetrically left and right from the center point Q. The electrode 9, the resistor 10, the roller 11, and the holding members 19, 20 are covered with a cover 21, which protects the electrode 9 and the resistor 10 from dust. In this embodiment, when the horizontal angle sensor 15 is horizontal, the rotating shaft 12 of the roller 11 is stopped at the position of the center point Q. If the inclination of the sensor 15 is large, the roller 11 may roll suddenly and jump out of the curved surface 14. Therefore, the cover 21 is provided with a stopper (not shown) for preventing it from jumping out. In this embodiment, the electrode 9 is formed by processing an iron plate or a copper plate, and the resistor 10 is made of a resistance material such as a conductive plastic.

FIG. 5 shows an equivalent circuit of the horizontal angle sensor 15. In the figure, a power line A corresponds to a lead terminal 18A of the resistor 10, and a ground line B is a resistor
Corresponds to ten extraction terminals 18B. Output side C is roller 11
Are connected to the lead-out terminal 17 in correspondence with the rotary shaft 12 of FIG. This resistor 10 performs the same action as a so-called sliding resistance,
When the rotating shaft 12 on the output side C moves, the resistance is divided and the resistance changes. When the horizontal angle sensor 15 is tilted and the rotation shaft 12 of the roller 11 is
When it rolls over and reaches a point C corresponding to the lowest surface of the curved surface 14 and stops, the resistor 10 is divided into resistance values R1 and R2. At this time, the output voltage output from the point C is {R2 / (R1 + R2)} V (where V is the voltage of the power supply line), and the slope is detected from this output voltage.

[0010] According to this embodiment, by using the resistor 10 and the roller 11, the rolling roller 11, the rotation shaft 12 is resistor
Since the surface of the resistor 10 is moved by contact, the resistor 10 does not wear due to sliding from the rotating shaft 12, and a long life can be expected.

In addition, since a large-scale potentiometer 1 such as attaching a weight 5 as in the prior art becomes unnecessary,
Since a small and lightweight configuration is possible and the structure is simple, it can be manufactured at low cost.

The performance of the apparatus of this embodiment can be further improved by various measures. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, on the upper side of the resistor 10, a projecting portion 22 having a cross-sectional shape protruding in a mountain shape with a flat tip surface is provided, and the width of the tip surface 23 of the projecting portion 22 is reduced. The contact area between the resistor 10 and the rotating shaft 12 is reduced, and the contact pressure per unit area is increased, so that a stable contact state can be obtained.

When the rotating shaft 12 is made thinner,
The contact area between the resistor 12 and the resistor 10 is reduced, and the line contact state is changed from the surface contact state when the rotating shaft 12 is thick.
This can be detected even for 12 slight movements,
Higher resolution can be achieved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can take various embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the material of the electrode 9 is iron or copper. However, the material of the electrode 9 is copper alloy such as brass, aluminum and aluminum alloy, or the like, and further, iron, copper or the like is plated with tin, zinc, nickel or the like. May be done.

[0015]

[Effects of the Invention] In the present invention, the rotating shaft is brought into contact with the surface of the resistor by the rolling of the roller, so that the resistor does not wear due to sliding from the rotating shaft, and a long life can be expected. . In addition, since a large-scale potentiometer such as attaching a weight is not required, a small and lightweight configuration is possible, and the structure is simple, so that it can be manufactured at low cost.

Further , the resistor and the electrode are connected through an open space.
Since they are juxtaposed, the rotation axis of the roller is hung over the resistor and the electrode.
And remove the weight of the roller with a larger diameter than the rotating shaft
It is possible to dispose freely in the space. like this
The roller and the electrode are wound around the axis of rotation of the roller.
Roller weight can be rolled freely in the open space between the electrode and the electrode
Because it can be arranged, the height of the resistor
Since the center of gravity of the roller can be located at the height,
Horizontal angle that is not easily affected by the inclination in the width direction as shown in
A sensor can be provided.

For example, the resistor side is low, and conversely, the electrode side
The horizontal angle sensor is tilted in the width direction so that
In this case, the center of gravity of the roller is
By positioning at the surface level, the rotation axis of the roller is
The force that strongly presses against the antibody and the electrode acts, and the roller rotates.
The shaft is raised from one electrode, for example, and the other is a resistor
To prevent the problem of poor contact that
Without any adverse effects from the widthwise inclination.
The rotating shaft of the roller makes sure contact with both the electrode and the resistor.
The tilt angle in the length direction of the resistor and electrode even if tilted in the width direction
Degree detection can be performed.

Further, the diameter of the roller is smaller than the weight of the roller.
The rolling shaft protrudes from the weight of the roller, and the rotating shaft is
Because it is in contact with the body and the electrode,
The contact area with the rotating shaft is small, and the contact state of the rotating shaft is line contact.
State, and the contact pressure per unit area increases.
The contact state becomes stable, and the reliability of tilt angle detection is improved.
Can be increased.

Further, as described above, the resistors and the electrodes are low.
The rollers are rolled around the axis of rotation
The total length of the resistor and electrode from one end to the other
The spacing between the crossover resistor and the electrode is formed with approximately equal width
Of course, the distance between the resistor and the electrode is processed
Even if the same width cannot be formed due to accuracy,
La rollability is almost equal over the entire length,
Problems can be avoided .

For example, if both the resistor and the electrode are
Instead of a single metal ball in contact with a roller with a rotating shaft,
If it is arranged, the metal
Since the rolling ease of the sphere changes, the distance between the resistor and the electrode
When the metal ball is not formed with the same width
The rolling ease differs depending on the place. like this
In addition, when the ease of rolling the metal ball differs
For example, if the horizontal angle sensor is in the length direction of the resistor or electrode
When the metal ball is difficult to roll
The amount of rolling movement of the ball is
Tilt fluctuation, such as less than the amount of rolling movement
The amount of rolling movement of the metal ball with respect to the amount
Therefore, in places where metal balls do not easily roll,
If the detection accuracy of tilt change is worse than where the
In other words, the detection accuracy for tilt variation is
Tilt detection
There is a problem that the reliability of accuracy is reduced.

As described above, the horizontal angle sensor of the present invention comprises :
Roll the roller around the axis of rotation of the roller between the resistor and the electrode.
By arranging it freely, it is easy to roll the roller.
Configuration that can equalize the entire length of the resistor and electrode
Therefore, the problem of the variation of the tilt fluctuation detection accuracy
Can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a horizontal angle sensor according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a main part side surface of the horizontal angle sensor.

FIG. 3 is a main part configuration diagram of the horizontal angle sensor as viewed from the front.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a contact state between the roller and the resistor of the horizontal angle sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the horizontal angle sensor of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a general inclination angle sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Electrode 10 Resistor 11 Roller 12 Roller rotation axis 15 Horizontal angle sensor

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A resistor having a surface extending in the length direction, an electrode arranged in parallel with the resistor via an open space , and a rotating shaft of a conductor crossed over the electrode and the resistor. On
And a roller rotatably disposed in the open space ,
A horizontal angle sensor in which a concave curved surface is formed on a surface of the resistor and the electrode over a rolling region of a rotation axis of the roller.