Thin film laser gyro
US4326803A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 1979 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C19/727
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A passive ring resonator laser gyro includes a thin film, passive waveguide adapted to provide a closed, substantially circular propagation path for optical signals. Couplers are provided for coupling coherent optical signals in opposite directions in the waveguide. Frequency controllers for each of the counter-rotating optical signals are adapted to adjust the frequencies of the respective signals in the waveguide to achieve resonance along the optical path encountered by each of the signals. Detectors provide signals representative of the frequency shifts of the two counter-rotating optical signals in the waveguide. These signals are nulled by servos which apply correcting frequencies to the frequency controllers. A difference network generates a rate signal corresponding to the difference in frequency between the signals applied to the controllers. The rate signal is representative of the angular rotation rate of the waveguide.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.