Author:adafruit(Adafruit Industries)

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Cutaway of rolling-ball type tilt sensor adafruit

What is a tilt sensor? Tilt sensors allow you to detect orientation or inclination. They are small, inexpensive, lowpower and easy-to-use. If used properly, they will not wear out. Their simplicity makes them popular for toys, gadgets and appliances. Sometimes they are referred to as "mercury switches", "tilt switches" or "rolling ball sensors" for obvious reasons. They are usually made by a cavity of some sort (cylindrical is popular, although not always) and a conductive free mass inside, such as a blob of mercury or rolling ball. One end of the cavity has two conductive elements (poles). When the sensor is oriented so that that end is downwards, the mass rolls onto the poles and shorts them, acting as a switch throw. Tilt switches used to be made exclusively of mercury, but are rarer now since they are recognized as being extremely toxic. The benefits of mercury is that the blob is dense enough that it doesn't bounce and so the switch isn't susceptible to vibrations. On the other hand, ball-type sensors are easy to make, wont shatter, and pose no risk of pollution. While not as precise or flexible as a full accelerometer, tilt switches can detect motion or orientation simply. Another benefit to them is that the big ones can switch power on their own. Accelerometers, on the other hand, output digital or analog voltage that must then be analyzed with extra circuitry. Basic Stats These stats are for the tilt sensor in the Adafruit shop which is very much like the 107-2006EV. Nearly all will have slightly different sizes & specifications, although they all pretty much work the same. If there's a datasheet, you'll want to refer to it Size: Cylindrical, 4mm (0.16") diameter & 12mm (0.45") long. Price: $2.00 at the Adafruit shop Sensitivity range: > +-15 degrees Lifetime: 50,000+ cycles (switches) Power supply: Up to 24V, switching less than 5mA

Tilt sensor
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A tilt sensor can measure the tilting in often two axes of a reference plane in two axes. In contrast, a full motion would use at least three axes and often additional sensors. One way to measure tilt angle with reference to the earths ground plane, is to use an Accelerometer. Typical applications can be found in the industry and in game controllers. Nintendo used tilt sensor technology in four games for its Game Boy series of hand-held game systems. The tilt sensor allows players to control aspects of the game by twisting the game system. Games that use this feature:
Yoshi's Universal Gravitation (Game Boy Advance) WarioWare: Twisted! (Game Boy Advance)(not released in Europe) Koro Koro Puzzle Happy Panechu! (Game Boy Advance)(Japan only) Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble (Game Boy Color)(not released in Europe)

Tilt sensors can also be found in game controllers such as the Microsoft Sidewinder Freestyle Pro and Sony's PlayStation 3 controller. However, unlike these other controllers in which the tilt sensor serves as a supplement to normal control methods, it serves as one of the central features of Nintendo's Wii Remote and nunchuk attachment. Along with accelerometers, the tilt sensors are a primary method of control in most Wii games. It is now being used in many different aspects, instead of just games like motocrossing and flight simulators. It can be used for sport gaming, First Person Shooters, and other odd uses such as in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Another example is a virtual version of a wooden maze with obstacles in which you have to maneuver a ball by tilting the maze. A homebrew tilt sensor interface was made for the Palm (PDA).

Contents
[hide] 1 Other uses 2 Factors which influence the use of Inclinometers 3 Survey methods used for 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Other uses

Tilt sensors are used for:

indicating pitch and roll of vehicles, sail boats, and aircraft. Monitoring boom angle of cranes and material handlers. Measuring the "look angle" of a satellite antenna towards a satellite. Measuring the slope angle of a tape or chain during distance measurement. Estimating the height of a building, tree, or other feature using a vertical angle and a distance (determined by taping or pacing). Measuring the angle of drilling in well-logging applications. Measuring the height of trees or other poles Measuring steepness of a ski slope. (<10 deg for beginners, 10-20 "green", 15-25 "blue", 25-35 "black", 35-45 "double black") Used as a warning system on the external surface of dewars(to transport cryogenic liquids) to indicate tilt being too much.

Tilt indicators are disposable-grade, albeit reusable sensors attached to goods as part of packaging during shipping.[1]

[edit] Factors which influence the use of Inclinometers

(Overall accuracy varies depending on the type of tilt sensor (or inclinometer) and technology utilized)
Gravity temperature (drift), zero offset, linearity, vibration, shock, cross-axis sensitivity, acceleration/deceleration A clear line of sight between the user and the measured point is needed. A well defined object is required to obtain the maximum precison. The angle measurement precision and accuracy is limited to slightly better than one degree of arc . the caliberation of tilt sensor in factory may differ on actual site.

[edit] Survey methods used for

Tilt sensors are used for the measurement of angles, typically in reference to gravity. The USDA Forest Service uses tilt sensors (or clinometers) to measure tree height in its Forest Inventory and Analysis program.

[edit] See also

inclinometer

[edit] References
1. ^ "Tilt Indicators for Fragile Goods in Transport". Shockwatch. http://www.shockwatch.com/shipping_handling_monitors/tilt_indicator/inde x.php. Retrieved 6 June 2011. This Nintendo-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v d e

This video game-related article on computer hardware is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v d e

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Categories: Dimensional instruments | Inclinometers | Nintendo stubs | Video game hardware stubs | Technology stubs Hidden categories: Articles lacking sources from July 2009 | All articles lacking sources | Articles needing cleanup from June 2008 | All articles needing cleanup