Abstract: A clinometer includes a cylindrical cavity having a conductive cylindrical wall and a vertical annular wall having a high resistance resistor uniformly distributed thereon. A freely moving, heavy conductive ball, which may be solid or liquid such as mercury, seeks the lowest point in the cavity. The conductive ball contacts both the conductive cylindrical wall at a point along the resistor, thereby defining the resistance between a terminal connected to one end of the resistor and another terminal connected to the conductive cylindrical wall. This resistance is a function of the inclination of the clinometer. A reference voltage is applied to the end terminal of the resistor. The terminal connected to that conductive cylindrical wall may be coupled to a circuit that converts a voltage across the resistance into a digital voltage that represents the inclination of the clinometer.

Abstract: A clinometer includes a cyclindrical cavity having a conductive cylindrical wall and a vertical annular wall having a high resistance resistor uniformly distributed thereon. A freely moving, heavy conductive ball seeks the lowest point in the cavity. The conductive ball contacts both the conductive cylindrical wall and a point along the resistor, thereby defining the resistance between a terminal connected to one end of the resistor and another terminal connected to the conductive cylindrical wall. This resistance is a function of the inclination of the clinometer. A reference voltage is applied to the end terminal of the resistor. The terminal connected to the conductive cylindrical wall is coupled to a circuit that converts a voltage across the resistance into a digital voltage that represents the inclination of the clinometer.