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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7596876 | Gravity gradiometer The present invention provides a method of tuning properties of a gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravity gradient tensor. The gravity gradiometer comprises a pair of first and second transversely arranged sensor masses that are arranged for move... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7584544 | Gravity gradiometer The present invention provides a gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravity gradient tensor. The gravity gradiometer comprises a housing and a gimballed support structure with at least one actuator. The gravity gradiometer further comprises at least... | 09/08/2009 |
| 7581327 | Gravity gradiometer The present invention provides a gravity gradiometer which comprises at least one sensor mass suspended by a coupling which enables movement of the at least one sensor mass about an axis in response to a gravity gradient. Further, the gravity gradiometer comprises a... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7571547 | Gravity gradiometer A gravity gradiometer is disclosed which has sensor masses in the forms of bars 41 and 43 arranged orthogonal to one another and transducers for providing an output signal indicative of movement of the bars in response to changes in the gravity gradien... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7562461 | Gravity gradiometer The present invention provides a gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravity gradient tensor. The gravity gradiometer comprises at least one sensor mass for movement in response to a gravity gradient. The gravity gradiometer also comprises a pivotal ... | 07/21/2009 |
| 7562460 | Gravity gradiometer A gravity gradiometer is disclosed which has a pair of sensor bars 41, 42 mounted in housings 43 and 45. Transducers 71 are located adjacent the bars for measuring movement of the bars in response to the gravity gradient tensor. Signals f... | 07/21/2009 |
| 7559149 | Gravity gradiometer The present invention provides a gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravity gradient tensor. The gravity gradiometer comprises at least one sensor mass for movement in response to a gravity gradient and a pivotal coupling enabling the movement of th... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7318283 | Inclination sensor An inclination sensor includes: a case having a turning shaft section projected in a lateral direction on a front surface thereof; magnetism detecting means fixed on an upper side of the turning shaft section; a pair of magnets fixed in parallel to a rear surface of... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7254897 | Integrated tilt sensor A tilt sensor having a printed circuit board disposed in a direction normal to a reference plane for measuring a tilt angle with a pair of electrodes formed on a first surface of the printed circuit board. A cover is affixed to the printed circuit board and creates ... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7225553 | Gradiometer mounting and isolation system An apparatus for maintaining the orientation of an instrument or other object in one embodiment includes an inner shell of ferromagnetic material. An outer shell surrounds the inner shell, and one or more electromagnets are attached to the inner surface of said oute... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7196527 | Redundant compact encoders A position transducer for a rotary member such as the rotor of a motor has a rotating encoder disc and flat, disc-shaped elements interacting with the encoder disc to produce position dependent signals. The encoder disc has at least one active element such as metal ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7075293 | Method for inductive distance measurement, and a working head for carrying out this method using an induction coil An inductive measurement is carried out of the distance between a workpiece (3) and a working head (1), which bears an induction coil (8), through which an alternating current flows and which is part of a resonance circuit whose oscillation freq... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7009310 | Autonomous power source An autonomous power source comprises a power harvester mounted on a movable structure. The power harvester includes a coil, a magnet, and a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with the magnet, arranged such that the magnet and coil move with respect to each... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6922063 | Apparatus and method for capacitive level sensor A capacitive sensor including a pendulum for electronically determining an indication of angular offset and a capacitive leveling device having such a capacitive sensor for leveling an associated reference surface. The capacitive sensor detects a difference in capac... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6909374 | Level/position sensor and related electronic circuitry for interactive toy A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device. The sensor comprises a base member having at least one recess formed therein which is partially defined by a peripheral wall thereof. Disposed within the peripheral wall of the base member is at least one switch.... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6732440 | Orientation sensor An orientation sensor includes variable resistance elements within the sensor, the variable resistance elements forming an electric circuit with a conductive ball or drop of conductive material. The resistance of the electric circuit uniquely identifies the orientat... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6722049 | Inclination measurement apparatus Inclination measurement apparatus includes an indexable clinometer bearing turntable rotatable in a single plane between a pair of precisely reproducible diametrically opposite orientations with respect to the desired measurement axis for respectively issuing inclin... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6571483 | Orientation sensor An orientation sensor includes variable resistance elements within the sensor, the variable resistance elements forming an electric circuit with a conductive ball or drop of conductive material. The resistance of the electric circuit uniquely identifies t... | 06/03/2003 |
| 6505409 | Inclinometer An inclinometer comprising a spherical mass, a spherical shell having a reference axis and surrounding said spherical mass and a plurality of electrodes mounted on the spherical inner surface of said spherical shell, said inclinometer applied to detect th... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6381860 | Electrostatic capacitor-type inclination sensor To provide an electrostatic capacitor-type sensor that does not require regulation such as zero-point adjustment and temperature compensation, etc. A pair of semi-circular differential electrodes are positioned next to each other in the vertical direction... | 05/07/2002 |
| 6311406 | Electrostatic capacitor-type inclination sensor To provide an electrostatic capacitor-type sensor that does not require regulation such as zero-point adjustment and temperature compensation, etc. A pair of semi-circular differential electrodes are positioned next to each other in the vertical direction... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6148669 | Acceleration sensor with a spherical inductance influencing member An acceleration sensor (100) includes a spherical chamber (104) accommodating a spherical member (106) made from an inductance influencing material. The member is inductively coupled to one or more coils (110) outside the chamber. A force on the sensor pu... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6073355 | Method for inclination measurement using piezoelectric effect A method using piezoelectric effect is provided for measuring an angle between a reference plane and a plane to be measured. The method can be used to measure the inclination of a plane or for leveling purpose. The method employs an apparatus wherein the ... | 06/13/2000 |
| 5992032 | Method and apparatus for inclination measurement using piezoelectric effect An apparatus using piezoelectric effect is provided for measuring an angle between a reference plane and a plane to be measured. Such an apparatus can be used to measure the inclination of a plane or for leveling purpose. The main characteristics of the a... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5632093 | Inductive sensor and method for detecting displacement of a body An inductive sensor is comprised of a sealed housing; at least one current path disposed in the housing; means for applying current to the current path; variable low reluctance magnetic path about the current path; and means for sensing the output from th... | 05/27/1997 |
| 5469632 | Capacitive angle sensor employing a vertical cantilever beam Capacitive angle sensor that changes capacitance as a function of angular rotation by employing a vertical cantilever beam capacitor.... | 11/28/1995 |
| 5457438 | Antitheft alarm system for motor vehicles An alarm system is disclosed which includes a triggering device which triggers a warning device in the case of an unauthorized change of the position of the motor vehicle. The device comprises a compass by means of which the actual position value is repor... | 10/10/1995 |
| 5261279 | Inclination sensor A rotor for detecting inclination angles in relation to a defined rotational axis perpendicular to the direction of the field of gravity is proposed. In the center area of the sensor interior, enclosed by a housing, a mounting (25) is located, which is fi... | 11/16/1993 |
| 5148604 | Micromechanical tilt sensor A sensor for measurement of tilt or inclination angle features a sensor element made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer, from which is etched at least one movable silicon mass. The silicon mass is freed from the surrounding wafer by an etch groove which... | 09/22/1992 |
| 5042158 | Inclination sensor An inclination sensor, in particular for measuring an inclination of service lines and/or ram boring machines, comprising a pendulum arranged in a measuring cell and at least one displacement sensor measuring the deflection of the pendulum. The pendulum c... | 08/27/1991 |
| 4991301 | Inductive displacement sensors Two members 21,22 are relatively displaceable along a linear or circular path. One member 21 provides a plurality of coil portions along the path. Their individual inductances are dependent on the configuration of the second member 22. For example, the fi... | 02/12/1991 |
| 4821423 | Instrument producing electrical signals in response to acceleration forces This invention provides an instrument responsive to acceleration forces. In the preferred embodiment, a body of magnetic material is positioned in a cavity such that it moves to a central position in response to a magnetic field and moves along a preselec... | 04/18/1989 |
| 4811492 | Cant angle sensor assembly A cant angle sensor assembly, includes a pendulum pivoted on a supporting system adapted to be mounted on an object whose cant angle is to be sensed, for swinging movement in a direction of tilt of the object, a movable electrode provided on the pendulum ... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4794703 | Navigational instrument for controlling the stability of a mobile device The invention relates to a navigational instrument for automatically controlling the stability of a mobile target, or locating the position of the target with respect to one of several reference planes. The arrangement includes a moving part A whose base ... | 01/03/1989 |
| 4713890 | Mislevel sensing device An improved mislevel sensing device having a balanced pair of capacitive pick-up circuits includes a pendulously-suspended common electrode assembly comprising a leaf spring member in the available flexing length of which is located a centrally-disposed h... | 12/22/1987 |
| 4561299 | Apparatus for detecting changes in inclination or acceleration Apparatus for detecting changes in inclination or acceleration is disclosed. In its preferred environment the apparatus is used to determine the position of the sucker-rod of a sucker-rod pump. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a magnetic... | 12/31/1985 |
| 4344235 | Levitated ball inclinometer The circuitry and structure of a levitated ball inclinometer are disclosed. A ferromagnetic ball is centerized between pairs of electromagnets by electromagnetic forces of magnitudes sufficient to offset the gravitational forces imposed on the ball. The e... | 08/17/1982 |
| 4027399 | Positional sensing An angular positional sensor comprises a housing in which is mounted a rotary sensing device including a shaft which mounts a pendulum having relatively low inertia and a balanced member having relatively high inertia and rotatably mounted within the hous... | 06/07/1977 |
| 3945128 | Dynamic vertical angle sensor A dynamic vertical angle sensor operable on a vehicle that isolates the output device from the vehicle movement in that the rotor of the output data device is not directly coupled to the sensor mounting frame. The output rotor is driven by a low pass serv... | 03/23/1976 |
