Patent ID: 8792092
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. An optoelectronic inclination sensor for determining the inclination of a reference plane relative to the horizontal, comprising: a unitary sensor body having a liquid layer whose free surface represents a horizon that can be inclined relative to the reference plane, and forms an optical boundary to the adjacent medium; at least one light source arranged beneath the liquid layer, for the emission of a light beam onto the boundary through the liquid layer, wherein the light beam is emitted with a beam axis oriented perpendicularly to the reference plane; at least one optical sensor surface arranged beneath the liquid layer for the detection of the light beam reflected by the boundary, and a processing unit for determining the inclination of the reference plane as a function of the light quantity received by the optical sensor surface; wherein between the light source and the liquid layer, a deflecting layer with a deflecting element for the first total reflection of the light beam is arranged, so that the light beam, as a result of this first total reflection, is inclined relative to the boundary in such a manner that a second total reflection occurs at the boundary, in both the inclined and also in the non-inclined position, and such that at least the optical sensor surface, the deflecting layer, and the liquid layer are disposed within the unitary sensor body.