Bubble level and apparatus containing a bubble level

摘要

An apparatus and method for measuring the horizontal position uses a gas bubble in a bubble level. The gas bubble is in a cylindrical sealed housing that is partially filled with liquid. At least two light-emitting devices are used to illuminate the gas bubble and an inner bottom surface of the bubble level. A corresponding number of receiving devices are used to receive the light that is either reflected by the inner bottom surface or is reflected and refracted by the gas bubble. The amount of light received is translated into an electrical signal and is sent to a processing unit to calculate the position of the gas bubble. The light-emitting devices and the receiving devices are disposed in an alternating manner at the periphery of the cylindrical sealed housing.

主权项

1. An apparatus for determining horizontal position, based on calculations made by a processing unit, using a bubble level that comprises a housing that sealingly contains a liquid that only partially fills an interior of the housing, so that the housing also contains a gas bubble, the housing having a cylindrical side wall, an bottom surface and a transparent upper surface through which the gas bubble is observed, the apparatus comprising:
at least two light-emitting devices, each arranged to illuminate the gas bubble and the bottom surface of the housing with the light emitted therefrom; and at least two receiving devices, each arranged to receive light that is reflected by the bottom surface and/or reflected and refracted by the gas bubble, each receiving device configured to convert the received light into electrical signals for processing by the processing unit, the respective light-emitting devices and receiving devices in alternating arrangement around a periphery of the housing.