Hollow-Spherical Orientation Sensor Using Optical Gimbal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inclinometers and gimbal systems are bulky, cumbersome, and limited by size, affecting portability and accuracy due to reliance on gravity, temperature drifts, vibrations, and magnetic disturbances, requiring frequent calibration and being unsuitable for complex applications like 3-axis stabilization.
Innovation Solution
A hollow-spherical enclosure with a gimbal assembly and light source system, where sensors detect light incidence to determine object orientation, allowing for compact, portable, and accurate orientation measurement independent of gravity, with a control unit processing signals from multiple sensors to calculate pitch, roll, and yaw.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional inclinometers are used to measure orientation parameters, then measurement capability is provided, but device size becomes bulky and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical inclinometer systems with a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes that use electrical and optical sensing mechanisms. This substitution eliminates the need for bulky mechanical components while maintaining orientation measurement precision through electronic sensors and computational algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple sensing functions (acceleration sensing, rotational rate sensing, and orientation calculation) into a single unified system. The device simultaneously measures linear acceleration, angular velocity, and computes orientation parameters, eliminating the need for separate mechanical inclinometers and reducing overall device volume.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional gimbal systems are used for stabilization, then stabilization capability is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical gimbal stabilization systems with electronic stabilization using accelerometers and gyroscopes. The sensors detect motion and orientation changes, and computational algorithms generate correction signals, eliminating the need for complex mechanical gimbal structures while maintaining stabilization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the stabilization approach from mechanical parameter adjustment (physical gimbal movements) to electrical and optical parameter changes (sensor signals and computational corrections). This transformation simplifies the physical structure while maintaining the ability to counteract disturbances through electronic control.
3Measurement precision
If gravity-based inclinometers are used for orientation measurement, then measurement function is provided, but calibration time increases due to sensitivity to environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces gravity-based mechanical inclinometers with accelerometers and gyroscopes that are less sensitive to environmental factors like temperature drifts and vibrations. These modern sensors require minimal calibration and can quickly adapt to different orientations, significantly reducing calibration time while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates self-calibration capabilities and pre-programmed calibration routines that automatically compensate for environmental factors. The system performs preliminary calibration actions internally without requiring extensive manual setup, reducing the time users need to spend on calibration before measurement.
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
The system provides a compact, accurate, and portable means to determine object orientation, reducing calibration time and minimizing the impact of environmental factors, enabling efficient use in various applications beyond traditional inclinometers.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light source is secured in the gimbal assembly and the gimbal assembly is configured to align the at least one light source relative to orientation of the object such that, the light emitted by the at least one light source is incident on at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, to determine orientation of the object
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a device (100) for determining orientation of an object (3). The device (100) includes a hollow-spherical enclosure (2) supportable by the object (3) and a plurality of sensors (S1 . . . Sn) circumferentially disposed in the hollow-spherical enclosure (2). A gimbal assembly (1) is secured in the hollow-spherical enclosure (2), where at least one gimbal ring of the gimbal assembly (1) is fixed perpendicular to a gravitational weight a gravitational vector (G) of the gimbal assembly (1). Further, at least one light source (8) is secured in the gimbal assembly (1) and the gimbal assembly (1) is configured to align the at least one light source (8) relative to orientation of the object (3) such that, the light emitted by the at least one light source (8) is incident on at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors (S1 . . . Sn), to determine orientation of the object (3).