Talk:Paparazzi Infrared Sensors

Sensor Mounting?

I've read all I can find, and while I am no longer completely in the dark about the theory of operation of the xy sensor, I still need help turning on the lamp in the corner.

I get that the xy sensor uses 4 thermopiles in pairs, with one sensor on the opposing side of its counterpart within a pair. I know that the voltages are combined to achieve a median voltage of 0v, or 1.65v after the offset voltage, and anything different indicates tilting.

What I don't get is why the sensor is mounted diagonally on the plane. It seems that if it was mounted this way, you would get voltage variations in both pairs even if the airplane was only tilting in one axis. Can somebody explain to me the way the sensor programming overcomes this or how this method even works? Diagonal mounting.