Rugged three-axis inclinometer,申请号US201113297752-传众专利搜索

Rugged three-axis inclinometer

申请公布号：US9250070(B2)

申请号：US201113297752

申请日期：2011.11.16

申请公布日期：2016.02.02

发明人：Wootten Keith Robert

分类号：G01R33/02;G01C9/20;G01R33/09;E21B47/022;G01R33/12

主分类号：G01R33/02

代理机构：

Crowe & Dunlevy

代理人：Crowe & Dunlevy

摘要：A method and apparatus for a rugged three-axis inclinometer for determining an object's orientation with respect to a gravitational field. Components of the apparatus include but not limited to a magnet, a non-magnetic casing, a ferrofluid, one or more non-magnetic gravitational field aligning materials attached to the magnet and a plurality of angle sensors attached to the non-magnetic casing. In this regard, when the apparatus is rotated, the gravitational field aligning materials maintain a constant orientation of the magnet and the angle sensors experience different magnetic field strengths as they rotate around the magnet. The position of the apparatus, with respect to the gravitational field can then be calculated based on the angle sensor outputs.

主权项：1. An apparatus for measuring orientation with respect to gravity, said apparatus comprising: a magnet assembly comprising: a magnet; andone or more non-magnetic gravitational alignment materials attached to said magnet; a non-magnetic casing with a cavity for enclosing said magnet assembly; a ferrofluid enclosed in said cavity and encasing said magnet assembly; and a plurality of angle sensors, attached to said non-magnetic casing, for measuring a magnetic field associated with said magnet, wherein each of the plurality of angle sensors is a Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor, and wherein said plurality of angle sensors further comprises three angle sensors configured such that an angle sensor is centered on each axis of rotation of said non-magnetic casing.