Ring laser gyroscope having means for maintaining the beam intensity
US5059028A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 1990 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C19/665
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A closed path (14) around which two beams of laser radiation may pass in opposite directions is formed in a block (10) of material and is defined by at least three mirrors (11, 12 13). One of these mirrors (11) is partially transmissive of laser radiation in each beam and has detector means (17, 18) associated with it to derive electrical signals dependent upon the rotational forces acting on the gyroscope about an axis 19. A second mirror (12) is totally reflecting and is associated with a transducer (20) which continuously moves the mirror. Second detector means (21) is responsive to laser radiation in the two beams to derive alternating-current signals to control the transducer (20). Control means (22) respond to the direct-current component of the output of the second detector means (21) to maintain the intensity of the laser beams at a constant value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.