Inclinometer
From SensorWiki
| Sensors | Interfaces | Communications | Tutorials | References |
|
Summary
Introduction
Inclinometers, alternatively known as gravitational or tilt sensors, measure an angle from the direction of Earth's center of gravity. The words "tilt sensor" are often used to describe a tranducer of tilt specifically using gravity as a reference (Puccio 2004).
Examples
Examples of on-off tilt sensors are mercury switches, used in Michel Waisvisz's "The Hands".
Accelerometers, with sensitivities around a few g (1 g = 9.8m/s2), can also be used to measure inclination. One example is the ADXL 105 (one axis, ±5 g) or the ADXL 202 (two axes, ± 2 g) or the Memsic 2125GL 2-axes thermal accelerometer (also with a ±2 g acceleration measurement range).
Othe continuous inclination sensors also exist. Examples of sensors measuring continuous inclination include electrolytic tilt sensors, such as those provided by the Fredericks Company with ranges between ± 1º to ± 80º, or using an LED and arrays of photodetectors (Fraden 2004).
One commercial example is the TiltOn (http://infusionsystems.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/24/products_id/75), a mercury switch-based single axis inclination sensor supplied by Infusion Systems (http://www.infusionsystems.com/).
Devices
Source Country Price Digikey (http://www.digikey.ca) Canada CAN$ 17.99
[edit]Omron Electronics Inc D6B-1
Surface mounting micro tilt sensor.
Variants:
Datasheet: D6B.pdf (http://rocky.digikey.com/WebLib/Omron%20Web%20Data/D6B.pdf)
Resources:
Notes: 35 to 65 degrees tilt.
Source Country Price Jameco (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=235926) USA US$ 0.99
[edit]Signal Systems Series 3004
Vibration/Tilt Switch Sensor
Variants:
Datasheet: 235936.pdf (http://www.jameco.com/wcsstore/Jameco/Products/ProdDS/235926.pdf)
Resources:
Notes: Jameco part number 235926
Source Country Price
[edit]Fredericks Company 0732
Electrolytic on-off switch
Variants:
Datasheet: [1] (http://www.frederickscom.com/products/tilt/on_off_0732.html)
Resources:
Notes:
Source Country Price
[edit]Fredericks Company TrueTilt Sensors
Continuous output inclinometers
Variants: narrow (up to ± 5˚), mid (±3˚ to ±25˚), or wide range (up to ± 180˚, with a linear range of ± 80˚
Datasheet: [2] (http://www.frederickscom.com/products/tilt/tech_info.html)
Resources: [3] (http://www.frederickscom.com/products/tilt_overview.html)
Notes:
Source Country Price
[edit]Spectron Electrolytic Tilt Sensor
Single or dual axes, various ranges
Variants:
Datasheet:
Resources: [4] (http://www.spectronsensors.com/tilt.html)
Notes:
References
- Puccio, M. "Electrolytic tilt sensors and inclinometers: a primer." Sensorsmag, September 2004. [5] (http://archives.sensorsmag.com/articles/0904/41/main.shtml)
- Pheifer, D. and Powell, W. "The Electrolytic Tilt Sensor." Sensorsmag, May 2000. [6] (http://www.sensorsmag.com/sensors/Technologies+In+Depth%2FSensors%2FPosition%2FPresence%2FProximity/The-Electrolytic-Tilt-Sensor/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/360470?contextCategoryId=37246&searchString=Electrolytic%20tilt)
External links
- Primer on electrolytic tilt sensors and inclinometers (http://archives.sensorsmag.com/articles/0904/41/main.shtml)
- Sensorsmag (http://www.sensorsmag.com/)
- Appllication notes on electrolytic tilt sensor basics (http://www.spectronsensors.com/appsheets/SAN-201-1703.pdf) (PDF Document)
- Spectron Glas and Electronics Incorporated (http://www.spectronsensors.com/)
| Sensors | Interfaces | Communications | Tutorials | References |
