Method of sensing tilt, tilt sensor, and method of manufacturing same

A tilt sensor, comprising

• an envelope;
• a conductive medium disposed in the envelope;
• and
• at least four electrodes disposed in the envelope such that at least a portion of each electrode is in contact with the conductive medium, the electrodes being electrically insulated from each other to provide at least a first set of spaced-apart electrodes and at least a second set of spaced-apart electrodes, at least one electrode of at least one of the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes being adapted to be selectively connected to an electrical signal, at least one electrode of at least one of the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes being adapted to be used to provide an electrical parameter in response to the electrical signal, the electrical parameter being representative of an angle of tilt relative to at least one axis, such that no more than four electrodes are used to provide electrical parameters representative of angles of tilt relative to two non-parallel axes.

A tilt sensing system, comprising

• a tilt sensor comprising:
• an envelope;
• a conductive medium disposed in the envelope;
• and
• at least four electrodes disposed in the envelope such that at least a portion of each electrode is in contact with the conductive medium, the electrodes being electrically insulated from each other to provide at least a first set of spaced-apart electrodes and at least a second set of spaced-apart electrodes, at least one electrode of the first set of electrodes being adapted to be used to provide at least one first electrical parameter, at least one electrode of the second set of electrodes being adapted to be used to provide at least one second electrical parameter, such that no more than four electrodes are used to provide electrical parameters representative of angles of tilt relative to two non-parallel axes;
• and
• an electrical signal source adapted to be selectively connected to at least one electrode of at least one of the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes such that an electrical signal is applied thereto.

A method of making a tilt sensor, comprising:

• providing at least four electrodes comprising at least two sets of spaced-apart electrodes, such that no more than four electrodes are used to provide electrical parameters representative of angles of tilt relative to two non-parallel axes;
• forming an envelope adapted to receive at least a portion of the electrodes;
• placing a conductive medium into the envelope;
• and
• sealing the conductive medium in the envelope to be in contact with at least a portion of each electrode.