Modern electronic tilt angle sensors: an overview of the basic physical principles of operation and prospective developments

Electronic tilt angle sensors, also called inclinometers, are devices that measure horizontal tilt and are widely used in many fields of science and technology. This paper considers not only the basic physical principles of the functioning of such sensors, but also provides examples of some promising developments in this field. Currently, tilt angle measuring devices based on electronic accelerometers are becoming increasingly common. At the same time, such devices have a significant disadvantage, which is expressed in the fact that the greater the measured angle of inclination, the lower the sensitivity of the device becomes. An important task is to develop specialized inclinometers with higher performance and lower power consumption. Such sensors use solid-state, liquid or gas free mass, which is driven by gravitational forces. Resistive, capacitive, inductive, magnetic, fiber-optic and optical methods are most often used to measure the reaction to gravity. Mercury or electrolyte is usually used as a conductive medium in liquid tilt sensors with an electric outlet, while devices with ferromagnetic liquid are also being developed. Optical inclinometers are immune to electromagnetic interference, which is suitable for extreme operating conditions and provides potentially high performance. Most of these devices are fiber sensors with a Bragg grid. In thermal inclinometers, the slope is analyzed by changing the resistance of the electrodes in the temperature field of the hot air flow in a sealed chamber. Capacitive inclinometers have a number of advantages, such as simplicity of design, non-contact measurement and the possibility of extended linear movement. It should be noted that in addition to tilt angle sensors, switches are being developed and successfully applied that open or close electrical contacts when a certain angle of inclination is reached.

Authors: D. K. Kostrin

Direction: Physics

Keywords: tilt angle sensor, inclinometer, accelerometer, free mass, gravitational forces, pendulum, motion control

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