Open loop thin film laser gyro
US4674881A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 25, 1984 |
| Grant date | Jun 23, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 25, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C19/727
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The laser gyro includes a laser and a ring resonator. Apparatus is provided for coupling counter-propagating beams of light from the laser into the resonator. The frequency of the laser is scanned across the resonance frequency of the resonator in steps superimposed on a dc level. The intensity of light in one of the counter-propagating beams is detected during each of the steps and the difference in intensity of the detected light is determined. The difference in the intensity of the detected light is used to alter the dc level of the steps so as to drive the difference to zero. The intensity of light in the other of the counter propagating beams is detected during each of the steps and the difference in intensity is also detected. This difference is indicative of the rotation rate of the gyro.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.