Annular Coplanar Capacitance Dip Angle Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dip angle measurement technologies face challenges with electrochemical reactions due to direct metal electrode contact with conductive liquids, leading to instability and limited measurable ranges, especially in electrostatic capacitance-type sensors where large angles cause liquid displacement and loss of contact.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using oppositely crossly placed paired quartered ring-quartered circle nested polar plates with an insulating liquid to avoid electrochemical reactions, employing an annular coplanar capacitance structure for 360° full-range measurement, where quarter round and quarter circular-ring-shaped metal plates form capacitors with the insulating liquid, allowing continuous angle measurement without contact issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If metal electrodes directly contact conductive liquid for dip angle measurement, then the sensing mechanism can detect angle changes through electrical quantity changes, but electrochemical reactions occur causing metal precipitation and electrolysis which deteriorate long-term accuracy and stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an insulating liquid as an intermediary substance between the metal electrodes and the external environment. This insulating liquid allows the electrodes to maintain electrical contact for sensing while preventing direct contact with conductive liquids that would cause electrochemical reactions. The insulating liquid acts as a mediator that enables the sensing function while eliminating the harmful electrochemical interactions.
2Measurement precision
If electrostatic capacitance-type sensor uses traditional plate electrodes, then the sensing principle can detect dip angle through capacitance changes, but when dip angle is too large the liquid becomes biased to one side losing contact with the other electrode which limits the measurable range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrode structure into multiple segments arranged in a specific configuration. Instead of using simple parallel plates, the electrodes are segmented and positioned to ensure that the insulating liquid maintains contact with multiple electrode surfaces simultaneously. This segmentation allows the sensor to detect dip angles across a full 360-degree range by ensuring continuous electrical contact regardless of the liquid's biased position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional two-dimensional parallel plate electrode arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration where electrodes are positioned at different spatial locations and orientations. This dimensional change enables the sensor to maintain contact with the insulating liquid across all dip angle positions, expanding the measurable range from a limited angular sector to a full 360-degree range.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution maintains long-term stability and accuracy by avoiding electrochemical reactions and enables 360° measurement range, improving sensitivity and precision by maintaining liquid contact with electrodes, eliminating micro-errors from radial divisions and ensuring precise dip angle calculation.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating liquid is used to avoid electrochemical reactions such as precipitation from polar plate
Implementation Method 2
The capacitance value formed by a quarter round metal plate and a quarter circular-ring-shaped metal plate corresponding to the same sector angle is codetermined by the dielectric constant of air, the dielectric constant of the insulating liquid, the corresponding sector angle of the portion of respective polar plate that is exposed to the air and the corresponding sector angle of the portion of respective polar plate that is immerged in the insulating liquid
Implementation Method 3
The capacitance value formed by a quarter round metal plate and a quarter circular-ring-shaped metal plate corresponding to the same sector angle is codetermined by the dielectric constant of air, the dielectric constant of the insulating liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A method for measuring a dip angle of oppositely crossly placed paired quartered ring-quartered circle nested polar plates. An annular coplanar capacitance measuring head of a sensor unit consists of four quarter round metal plates and four quarter circular-ring-shaped metal plates, the eight metal plates are coplanar and concentric with one another, and a quarter round metal plate and a quarter circular-ring-shaped metal plate corresponding to the same sector angle form a capacitor. Two annular coplanar capacitance measuring heads are arranged on two round insulating substrates, the two round insulating substrates are used as two bottom surfaces of a cylindrical container, the cylindrical container is transversely arranged, and an insulating liquid equal to ½ volume of the cylindrical container is injected into the cylindrical container in a sealing manner. Potential leads extract potentials of the sixteen metal plates and are connected to an input end of a capacitance measuring unit, and the capacitance measuring unit is connected to a dip measuring unit. When the cylindrical container tilts, the relative positions of the two annular coplanar capacitance measuring heads and the insulating liquid are changed, and a dip angle value can be calculated by measuring the change of a capacitance value. Also disclosed is a device for measuring a dip angle of oppositely crossly placed paired quartered ring-quartered circle nested polar plates.