US 6,499,220 B2
Inclination sensor
Nobuharu Katsuki,
Kyotanabe (Japan);
Masaharu Ushihara,
Hirakata (Japan);
and Toshiya Nakagaki,
Hashimoto (Japan)
Assigned to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.,
Osaka (Japan)
Filed on 28-Sep-2000, as Appl. No. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.,
Osaka (Japan)
Int. Cl.7G01C009/12
U.S. Cl. 33-391
40 Claims
US 6,499,220 B2
Inclination sensor
Nobuharu Katsuki,
Kyotanabe (Japan);
Masaharu Ushihara,
Hirakata (Japan);
and Toshiya Nakagaki,
Hashimoto (Japan)
Assigned to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.,
Osaka (Japan)
Appl. No. 9/367,164PCT Filed Dec. 03, 1998, PCT No. PCT/JP98/05457PCT Pub. No. WO99/30110, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 17, 1999.
Claims priority of application No. 9-338409 (JP), filed on Dec. 09, 1997;
and application No. 10-114670 (JP), filed on Apr. 24, 1998.
Prior Publication US 2002/0050068 A1, May 02, 2002
Int. Cl.7G01C009/12
U.S. Cl. 338212;391
40 Claims
1. An inclination sensor comprising:
a fixing body adapted to be attached to a mounting body;
a frame provided within said fixing body, said frame having a threaded bearing retention hole;
a bearing having a thread on a periphery thereof and fitted within said threaded bearing retention hole;
a pendulum having a rotary shaft rotatably supported in said bearing;
a magnetic flux generator mounted on said pendulum for rotatable movement with said pendulum through a rotational path; and
a reed switch mounted on said fixing body in the rotational path of said magnetic flux generator, said reed switch having
a space of a distance d in a direction along an axis of said rotary shaft provided between said reed switch and said magnetic
flux generator, wherein said space of a distance d is adjustable via said thread; and
at least one magnetic damping adjusting device made of a magnetic material and adjustably positioned on said fixing body.