A Compact and Lightweight Microwave Tilt Sensor Based on an SRR-Loaded Microstrip Line

In this paper, the symmetry property of split ring resonators (SRRs) is exploited to develop a tilt sensor. The sensor is composed of an SRR-loaded microstrip line operating at microwave frequencies. It is shown that the depth of notch in the reflection characteristic of the microstrip is a function of the tilt angle of the SRR. Thus, it can be used for sensing inclination. The sensor benefits from very compact size and light weight. Moreover, it is operated at a single frequency, therefore can be used with a simple power meter as the readout circuit. EM simulations show that the proposed sensor exhibits a good average sensitivity of 1 dB/degree while providing a relatively wide span of 25 degrees.