Simple tilt/rotate over sensors exist?

Comments

• tonyp12 Posts: 1,951

  2013-03-25 11:18 edited 2013-03-25 11:18

  Here is a new IC, 45deg sense in x,y,z without any programming.
  http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Freescale-Semiconductor/MMA8491QR1/?qs=%2fha2pyFadujyDfLlWUGDeECT%2fizTUYUDclHBH9IEEfU%3d
  
  If you want something bigger and mechanical.
  http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/E-Switch/TM1000/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtCWdKUURnHj1%252bkvdiUuPvDlfB2tFt2oBI%3d
• CuriousOne Posts: 931

  2013-03-25 22:52 edited 2013-03-25 22:52

  I assume, for my 180 degree requirement, I can install two of these 45 degree ICs in angle to each other and monitor their triggering sequence...
• WBA Consulting Posts: 2,938

  2013-03-25 23:02 edited 2013-03-25 23:02

  How about the simple tilt sensor from Parallax?
  http://www.parallax.com/Store/Sensors/AccelerationTilt/tabid/172/CategoryID/47/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/722/Default.aspx
• CuriousOne Posts: 931

  2013-03-25 23:46 edited 2013-03-25 23:46

  Will it withstand drops, hits, falls, etc?
• Irone Posts: 116

  2013-03-26 07:04 edited 2013-03-26 07:04

  Hello,
  
  How about a homemade one from Forrest M. Mims III?
  
  

  

  

  

  Tilt switch.jpg

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  Tilt switch.jpg 68.1K
• Tracy Allen Posts: 6,667

  2013-03-26 07:54 edited 2013-03-26 07:54

  It used to be a bead of mercury rolling from one end of a tube to the other, but that is out now. There are still tilt sensors available that consist of a tube sealed with liquid inside, and electrodes placed to detect the position of a bubble of inert gas.
  
  The one Andrew mentioned, the Memsic sensor from Parallax, is very rugged--no moving parts. It detects the distribution of a bubble of warm gas inside a tiny chamber.
  
  (I do like that one from Forrest Mims!)
• tonyp12 Posts: 1,951

  2013-03-26 08:13 edited 2013-03-26 08:13

  >my 180 degree requirement, I can install two of these 45 degree ICs in angle
  Does your product have a mcu?, more info could help.
  Freescale's IC does do negative G to detect upside down, but the Tilt Detection Output's are absolute values, eg -1 = 1
• CuriousOne Posts: 931

  2013-03-27 22:58 edited 2013-03-27 22:58

  I need as simpler solution, as possible. I can use MCU, but I think, in case of two sensors, trigger and logical AND will do just fine.
• WBA Consulting Posts: 2,938

  2013-03-27 23:20 edited 2013-03-27 23:20

  The tilt sensor that I mentioned can easily be used without an MCU. You could use the outputs to drive logic gates to perform the function of enabling the device when turned over. I have one specifically for that reason. I am going to use it to drive Pololu's pushbutton power switch.
• tonyp12 Posts: 1,951

  2013-03-28 07:45 edited 2013-03-28 07:45

  If you mount the mechanical e-switch above upside down, and you OR the two outputs.
  I think you should only get a 0 if the item is upside down (135deg to 225deg)
• WBA Consulting Posts: 2,938

  2013-03-28 16:36 edited 2013-03-28 16:36

  tonyp12, thanks for the follow up. I figured there was a simple way with a single logic gate (and, nand, or, nor), but my real life application of Boolean is rusty.