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Everything You Need to Know About Tilt Sensors – Types, Applications, and More

Author: Simon Hopes
by Simon Hopes
Posted: Sep 26, 2018

Many industries use tilt sensors to prevent accidents and improve machine functions. Others use this type of sensor to enhance the user experience or add functionality to an electronic device or vehicle. Today, you can find tilt sensors installed inside video game controllers, aeroplanes, smartphones, robots and a wide range of other equipment.

Tilt sensors are small electronic devices that measure the tilt and slope of the angular movement. Each tilt sensor is equipped with a rolling ball and a conductive plate. As an object is tilted, the rolling ball of the attached sensor moves accordingly.

What are the key specifications?

The functionality of this type of sensor largely depends on factors such as temperature, gravity, vibration, shock, acceleration and linearity. As such, it’s essential to choose a type of sensor that will best fit your situation. You must consider the features including the number of axes, sensitivity, noise tolerance, vibrations and measuring range when you select a sensor.

The number of axes determines the sensors tilting direction, while the frequency range, bandwidth, noise tolerance and sensitivity influences the accuracy of the measurement of the acceleration or deceleration.

What are the different types of tilt sensors?

There are five types of tilt sensors, namely, MEMS sensor, force balance sensor, and fluid-filled sensor. MEMS stands for micro-electromechanical systems used in consumer electronics, inkjet printers and military equipment.

Another type is called the force balance sensor, and its best known for its insensitivity to fluctuating temperatures, high performance and costly price tag. The last and most likely the cheapest type of tilt sensor, fluid-filled, is further categorised into two sub-types, namely electrolytic and capacitive. The fluid type can produce superior roll and pitch measurements.

Among all the types and subtypes of tilt sensors, engineers prefer using the electrolytic type because of its unparalleled durability, simple integration and affordable pricing. It can be used to monitor structures, position mobile satellites, level lasers, construction of vehicles and improve the safety of work platforms.

Applications of tilt sensors

Tilt sensors are widely used today. Your handheld devices are equipped with them. Notice how your phone or tablet auto rotates when you shift the angle of the device? That's made possible by a tilt position sensor. Tilt sensors also enable the same auto-rotate feature for cameras.

Apart from adding tilt features to gadgets, this type of sensor is also used to measure ski slopes, estimate building heights, reinforce the safety of cryogenic liquid transport, monitor seismic activities and determine the angle shift of satellite antennas.

Tilt sensors are heavily utilised today because they are cost-effective, compact, highly accurate and easy to use. They are also super simple to integrate with other types of technology.

If you are planning on using them on your projects, it’s highly recommended to check with your manufacturer first. Don’t hesitate to ask questions before you make a purchase. Moreover, don’t forget to compare the pricing of the sensors so that you can pick the right type for your project.

About the Author

With extensive research and study, Simon passionately creates blogs on divergent topics. His writings are unique and utterly grasping owing to his dedication in researching for distinctive topics.

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Author: Simon Hopes
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Simon Hopes

Member since: Feb 13, 2017
Published articles: 439

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