Two-axis optical inertial system using a gyro rotor as a stable reference
US4662727A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 1983 |
| Grant date | May 5, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/644
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a two-axis optical inertial reference system wherein the rotor (12) of a gyro (10) is utilized as a stable reference. A surface (19) of the rotor is made reflective. Sighting on the reference is provided through a window (18) in the gyro case, (16) to access rotor reflective surface (19) the gyro case being hard mounted to a moving surface in the coarse gimbal of the system, since the gyro rotor has a finite angle of travel with respect to the case. A stabilized inertial platform (gyro rotor (12)) is achieved without the need of intermediate servoed gimbals. The gyro torquers are used to precess the rotor's spin axis to provide a means for slewing the spin axis and, hence, the optical system's line-of-sight (60) to the desired direction of the optical system. Specific embodiments for obtaining the required reference beam are disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.