Patent ID: 6032375
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
An inclination sensor comprising:a container having a cavity holding a liquid and a gas such that said gas forms a bubble floating in said liquid, said container having a concave surface defining a ceiling of said cavity, said concave surface having substantially uniform first and second radii of curvature crossing a center of said concave surface, said second radius of curvature being perpendicular to said first radius of curvature;a measuring system for measuring a positional displacement of said bubble in the direction of said first radius of curvature with respect to said center to measure the inclination of said container in the direction of said first radius of curvature;said second radius of curvature being smaller than said first radius of curvature,wherein said bubble is less sensitive to an inclination of said container in the direction of said second radius of curvature than to an inclination of said container in the direction of said first radius of curvature; andsaid container having a bottom member, a side wall, and a top member having said concave surface such that said concave surface extends directly from a cylindrical plane defined by said side wall.