Disclosed is a visual tool for determining the spatial orientation of an aircraft relative to a level plane, including a closed container constructed of a material that permits the passage of light therethrough. An indicator body is fixed within the container and viewable through the container. An indicator fluid is provided including a liquid that fills the container a selected amount. The indicator fluid presents a fluid surface that is viewable through the container and free to move within the container. When the visual tool is affixed to an aircraft the indicator body and the fluid surface are parallel to the level plane when the aircraft is level. The indicator body is moved out of the level plane and the fluid surface remains parallel to the level plane when the aircraft deviates from the level plane to generate a visual signal representative of the orientation of the aircraft.

The present invention relates to a liquid retaining device for providing the actual amount of liquid intake by a user, comprising: a) a container body having a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the inside surface of the bottom and side walls is a non-conductive layer; b) at least one pair of sensors in form of capacitive strips that are embedded within the side walls in such a way that each strip extends from top to bottom of the side wall, such that the non-conductive layer serves as a dielectric in a capacitor composed of said capacitive strips a conductive liquid within said container body, thereby the readings of said sensors indicates the liquid level inside the container body across the side wall; and c) an electronic module that includes a control logic for handling the readings of said sensors, thereby enabling to convert said readings into the actual amount of liquid intake.

To eliminate influences of unnecessary reflected light other than a liquid surface in a liquid surface reflection type inclination sensor. In order to attain the object described above, an inclination sensor includes a liquid that forms a liquid surface, an illumination section, a barcode pattern to be illuminated by the illumination section, an optical system that projects the barcode pattern on the liquid surface, a light receiving element that detects the barcode pattern, a storage section that stores a detection image when the liquid surface is removed from an optical path of the optical system, and an arithmetic section that calculates an inclination angle by subtracting the detection image when the liquid surface is removed from a detection image when the liquid surface is present on the optical path of the optical system.

The present invention relates to a sensing system and a sensing method using the same. The sensing system includes at least one tested unit and an optical fiber measuring unit. The tested unit includes a container, a strain arm and a float. The container can be filled with a fluid, and the strain arm is connected with the float and combined with a measuring portion of the optical fiber measuring unit. When the container is disposed on a body of interest, the surface inclination or settlement of the body of interest would cause changes of buoyant force on the floating element and induce bending deformation of the strain arm. Accordingly, the surface deformation of the body of interest can be determined by detecting the bending deformation of the strain arm using the measuring portion combined with the strain arm.

The present invention relates to a sensing system and a sensing method using the same. The sensing system includes at least one tested unit and an optical fiber measuring unit. The tested unit includes a container, a strain arm and a float. The container can be filled with a fluid, and the strain arm is connected with the float and combined with a measuring portion of the optical fiber measuring unit. When the container is disposed on a body of interest, the surface inclination or settlement of the body of interest would cause changes of buoyant force on the floating element and induce bending deformation of the strain arm. Accordingly, the surface deformation of the body of interest can be determined by detecting the bending deformation of the strain arm using the measuring portion combined with the strain arm.

A measuring device includes a base unit, a rotational unit rotatably provided on the base unit, a fluid container secured in the base unit, containing fluid forming a free surface, a light emitting system secured in the rotational unit to emit light to the free surface in the fluid container, a light receiving system secured in the rotational unit, including a light receiving element to receive the light reflected by the free surface and generate a light receiving signal, and an arithmetic controller which controls the light emitting system and the light receiving system and calculates a tilt of a rotational axis of the rotational unit according to the light receiving signal of the reflected light from the light receiving element.

A measuring device includes a base unit, a rotational unit rotatably provided on the base unit, a fluid container secured in the base unit, containing fluid forming a free surface, a light emitting system secured in the rotational unit to emit light to the free surface in the fluid container, a light receiving system secured in the rotational unit, including a light receiving element to receive the light reflected by the free surface and generate a light receiving signal, and an arithmetic controller which controls the light emitting system and the light receiving system and calculates a tilt of a rotational axis of the rotational unit according to the light receiving signal of the reflected light from the light receiving element.

A method of designing a container of a liquid reflection inclination sensor includes a liquid surface calculating step (S1) that calculates a shape of a liquid surface of a liquid in a horizontal direction x and a vertical direction y by utilizing the Young-Laplace formula and the hydrostatic pressure formula, the liquid surface formed on a plate extending vertically and infinitely with respect to a horizontal part of the liquid surface, an optical simulation step (S2) that obtains a light receiving pattern by reflecting a dark field pattern (4) irradiated from an imaginary light source (2) on an imaginary mirror plane (9a) having the shape of the liquid surface, and a container adjusting step (S3-S4) that adjusts a shape of a cylindrical container (10) for enclosing the liquid by judging whether image accuracy of the light receiving pattern satisfies demanded sensor accuracy.

A method of designing a container of a liquid reflection inclination sensor includes a liquid surface calculating step (S1) that calculates a shape of a liquid surface of a liquid in a horizontal direction x and a vertical direction y by utilizing the Young-Laplace formula and the hydrostatic pressure formula, the liquid surface formed on a plate extending vertically and infinitely with respect to a horizontal part of the liquid surface, an optical simulation step (S2) that obtains a light receiving pattern by reflecting a dark field pattern (4) irradiated from an imaginary light source (2) on an imaginary mirror plane (9a) having the shape of the liquid surface, and a container adjusting step (S3-S4) that adjusts a shape of a cylindrical container (10) for enclosing the liquid by judging whether image accuracy of the light receiving pattern satisfies demanded sensor accuracy.

The present invention provides a measuring device, which comprises a leveling unit, a measuring device main body provided on the leveling unit, a control unit, a first tilt angle measuring device for detecting a horizontality with high accuracy, and a second tilt angle measuring device for detecting a tilt angle in a wider range than a range of the first tilt angle measuring device and having a higher responsiveness than a responsiveness of the first tilt angle measuring device, wherein the control unit, the first tilt angle measuring device and the second tilt angle measuring device are provided in the measuring device main body and wherein the control unit drives the leveling unit based on a detection result of the second tilt angle measuring device, performs a rough leveling until a tilt angle detected by the second tilt angle measuring device reaches within a range in which the first tilt angle measuring device is capable of detecting and levels the measuring device main body horizontally based on a detection result of the first tilt angle measuring device.