Fiber optic inclination detector system having a weighted sphere with reference points

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:869953

Cwalinski, Jeffrey P ^[1]

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1. Ballston Lake, NY

A fiber optic inclination detector system for determining the angular displacement of an object from a reference surface includes a simple mechanical transducer which requires a minimum number of parts and no electrical components. The system employs a single light beam which is split into two light beams and provided to the transducer. Each light beam is amplitude modulated upon reflecting off the transducer to detect inclination. The power values associated with each of the reflected light beams are converted by a pair of photodetectors into voltage signals, and a microprocessor manipulates the voltage signals to provide a measure of the angular displacement between the object and the reference surface.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
• Assignee: United States of America as represened by United States Department (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5428219
• OSTI ID: 869953
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

fiber
optic
inclination
detector
weighted
sphere
reference
determining
angular
displacement
surface
simple
mechanical
transducer
requires
minimum
electrical
components
employs
single
light
beam
split
beams
provided
amplitude
modulated
reflecting
detect
power
values
associated
reflected
converted
pair
photodetectors
voltage
signals
microprocessor
manipulates
provide
measure
single light
amplitude modulated
reference surface
angular displacement
electrical components
voltage signal
fiber optic
light beam
light beams
reflected light
voltage signals
optic inclination
weighted sphere
inclination detector
mechanical transducer
electrical component
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