A New Multifunctional Space Angle Sensor Using Capacitance Method

Abstract

In this study, we propose a novel ball form multifunctional sensor which can measure azimuth and elevation angle at the same time, and rotating speed is also sensed. We use 4 electrodes arranged on the surface of a ball which is half filled with water. Since water will keep aclinic when the ball leans to any direction, the capacitance between electrodes will change correspondingly. Steady rotating speeds lead to different curves on the surface of water which changes the dielectric distribution of capacitances between electrodes. We use 3 capacitances to determine the space angle and rotating speed. The output functions of sensor and corresponding input value reconstructing method are furthermore proposed. Experiment and analysis results show that it is effective to sense 3 inputs by this multifunctional sensor.