Capacitive gravity sensor

Claim 1

An inclinometer comprising: a housing having a fluid container therewithin formed by first and second metallic outer walls and a metallic perimeter; a first sheet of dielectric material positioned within said fluid container at a preselected distance from said first metallic outer wall to form a first fluid chamber bounded by said first sheet of dielectric material, said first metallic outer wall, and said metallic perimeter; a second sheet of dielectric material positioned within said fluid container in a parallel relationship with said first sheet of dielectric material at a distance from said second metallic outer wall that is equal to said preselected distance to form a second fluid chamber bounded by said second sheet of dielectric material, said second metallic outer wall, and said metallic perimeter; first and second coplanar, electrically decoupled, metallic sensor plates positioned in a plane located between said first and second sheets of dielectric material to form a laminated disk, said first and second metallic sensor plates being completely covered by said first and second sheets of dielectric material, said first and second metallic sensor plates having a separation distance therebetween to provide a metal free region in said plane defining an area having a predetermined length; a fluid, having a preselected dielectric constant, contained in said first and second fluid chambers at equal predetermined levels; and a gas having a dielectric constant less than said preselected dielectric constant filling areas in said first and second fluid chambers not containing said fluid.