Remote reading tilt encoder

Claim 2

A tilt sensing system comprising: first means for producing a position signal varying in magnitude with the position of a body with respect to a gravity vector through a pivot thereof; second means connected to said first means for generating a ramp signal, the magnitude of said ramp signal starting at a reference level and having a linear increase with time related to the position signal; third means connected to said second means for generating a pulse signal to be superimposed upon said ramp signal at a preestablished magnitude thereof whereby the time elapsed for the ramp signal to increase from the reference level to the preestablished magnitude is proportional to the value of said position signal; and circuit means responsive to said third means to superimpose the pulse signal on said ramp signal.

Claim 3

A tilt sensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first means includes: a hollow toroid formed of insulating material; a wire extending axially around the interior of said toroid; and a conductive fluid occupying a fraction of the interior volume of said toroid to vary the resistance of said wire as a function of the orientation of said toroid.

Claim 4

A tilt sensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first means includes a band and roller device.

Claim 5

A tilt sensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first means includes: a pendulum rotatable about an axis normal to the gravity vector; and a potentiometer having a wiper arm coupled to said pendulum and positioned in accordance with the movement thereof.

Claim 6

A tilt sensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second means includes: means for generating a current proportional to said position signal; and means for integrating said current to generate the ramp signal.

Claim 7

A tilt sensing system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said third means includes: comparing means for continuously comparing the magnitude of said ramp signal with the magnitude of a preselected reference signal; and means connected to said comparing means and actuated when the magnitude of said ramp signal equals the magnitude of the preselected reference signal for generating the pulse signal to be superimposed onto said ramp signal.

Claim 8

A tilt sensing system comprising: first means for producing a position signal varying in magnitude with the position of a pendulum weight with respect to the gravity vector through a pivot point thereof; second means connected to said first means for generating a ramp signal, the magnitude of said ramp signal starting at a reference level and having a linear increase with time related to the position signal; third means connected to said second means for generating a pulse signal to be superimposed upon said ramp signal at a pre-established magnitude thereof whereby the time elapsed for the ramp signal to increase from the reference level to the pre-established magnitude is proportional to the value of said position signal; and circuit means responsive to said third means to superimpose the pulse signal on said ramp signal.

Claim 9

A tilt sensing system comprising: first means for producing a position signal varying in magnitude with the position of a pendulum weight with respect to the gravity vector through a pivot point thereof; second means connected to said first means for generating a ramp signal, the magnitude of said ramp signal starting at a reference level and having a linear increase with time related to the position signal; third means connected to said second means for generating a pulse signal to be superimposed upon said ramp signal at a pre-established magnitude thereof whereby the time elapsed for the ramp signal to increase from the reference level to the pre-established magnitude is proportional to the value of said position signal; and circuit means responsive to said third means to superimpose the pulse signal on said ramp signal.

Claim 10

A tilt sensing system comprising: first means for producing a first position signal varying in magnitude with the position of a body in a first plane with respect to the gravity vector through a pivot point thereof; second means for producing a second position signal varying in magnitude with the position of a body in a second plane with respect to the gravity vector through a pivot point thereof, said first and second planes being orthogonal; third means connected to said first and second means for generating a ramp signal, the magnitude of the ramp signal starting at a reference level and having a linear increase with time related to the first position signal for a first period and having a linear increase with time related to the second position signal for a second period; fourth means connected to said third means for generating a pulse signal to be superimposed upon said ramp signal at a pre-established magnitude thereof whereby the time elapsed for the ramp signal to increase from the reference level to the pre-established magnitude is proportional to the value of said first position signal; circuit means responsive to said fourth means to superimpose the pulse signal on said ramp signal; and fifth means connected to said third means for terminating said ramp signal at a second pre-established magnitude thereof whereby the time elapsed for the ramp signal to increase from the superimposed pulse signal to the second pre-established magnitude is proportional to the magnitude of said second position signal.

Claim 11

A tilt sensing system comprising: first means for producing a first position signal varying in magnitude with the position of a body in a first plane with respect to the gravity vector through a pivot point thereof; second means for producing a second position signal varying in magnitude with the position of a body in a second plane with respect to the gravity vector through a pivot point thereof, said first and second planes being orthogonal; third means connected to said first and second means for generating a ramp signal, the magnitude of the ramp signal starting at a reference level and having a linear increase with time related to the first position signal for a first period and having a linear increase with time related to the second position signal for a second period; fourth means connected to said third means for generating a pulse signal to be superimposed upon said ramp signal at a pre-established magnitude thereof whereby the time elapsed for the ramp signal to increase from the reference level to the pre-established magnitude is proportional to the value of said first position signal; circuit means responsive to said fourth means to superimpose the pulse signal on said ramp signal; and fifth means connected to said third means for terminating said ramp signal at a second pre-established magnitude thereof whereby the time elapsed for the ramp signal to increase from the superimposed pulse signal to the second pre-established magnitude is proportional to the magnitude of said second position signal.

Claim 12

A tilt sensing system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first means includes a first pendulum rotatable about an axis normal to the gravity vector; a first potentiometer having a wiper arm coupled to said first pendulum and positioned in accordance with the movement thereof; a second pendulum rotatable about an axis normal to the axis of said first pendulum and to the gravity vector; and a second potentiometer having a wiper arm coupled to said second pendulum and positioned in accordance with the movement thereof.

Claim 13

A tilt sensing system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said third means includes: first means for generating a first current proportional to the magnitude of said first position signal; second means for generating a second current proportional to the magnitude of said second position signal; means for integrating one of said currents to generate a ramp signal; switching means for alternately connecting said first and second current generating means to said integrating means; means operable when said first current generating means is connected to said integrating means for continuously comparing the magnitude of said ramp signal with the magnitude of a preselected center reference signal; means responsive to when the magnitude of said ramp signal equals the magnitude of said center reference signal for generating the pulse signal to be superimposed onto said ramp signal; means actuating said switching means to connect said second current generating means to said means for integrating; means operable when the second current generating means is connected to said means for integrating for continuously comparing the magnitude of said ramp signal with the magnitude of a preselected maximum signal; means responsive to when the magnitude of said ramp signal equals the magnitude of said center reference signal for interrupting said means for integrating to terminate said ramp signal at a time from the generation of said superimposed pulse proportional to the position of said body in said second plane; and means for actuating said switching means to connect said first current generating means to said integrating means.

Claim 14

A tilt sensing system as set forth in claim 10 which also includes: switching means connected to the output of said means for integrating; second means for integrating to generate a second ramp signal having a magnitude increasing at a slower rate than said first means for integrating connected to said switching means; and means responsive to the magnitude of the ramp signal of said second means for integrating and when the magnitude thereof exceeds the magnitude of the ramp signal of said first means for integrating by a preselected value for actuating said switching means to connect said second means for integrating and said first means for integrating in parallel.