Patent ID: 7068053

Claim:
A pitch sensor capable of generating an output voltage indicative of fluid displacement within the pitch sensor in a number of specific operating modes, comprising: a pitch sensor housing defining a closed, elongated internal chamber which itself defines a central elongation axis; a predetermined number of electrically conductive members, the number members of which is dependent upon the number of operating modes the pitch sensor is intended to operate in, said conductive members being disposed at different predetermined spaced apart locations within said chamber and along said elongation axis; and a flowable material contained within said chamber such that, in each different mode of operation of the pitch sensor, a first ratio of an electrical property between a first one of the members and a second member to the corresponding electrical property between a third member and the second member is indicative of displacement of said flowable material within said chamber, where all of the modes of operation of the pitch sensor utilize different combinations of the conductive members, so that the pitch sensor is capable of generating an output that is indicative of such displacement for each mode of operation.