Micro-electro-mechanical systems resonant optical gyroscope
US6546798B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C19/56
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A gyroscope is based upon the integration of an optical resonant cavity and a photodiode to detect minute perturbations due to angular forces. A Fabry-Perot cavity is created from two parallel semitransparent mirrors used in conjunction with a monochromatic light source. One mirror is fixed while the other is allowed to rotate with respect to the first mirror. A resonant cavity is thereby formed on either side of the axis. The gap between the mirrors is set so that light transmission through the mirrors is optimized. Rotation of the mirror from this position causes the distance between the mirrors to be altered and the light transmission on either side of the rotational axis to be change. Photodiodes on these sides sense this change as a change in photo-generated current, enabling the amount of change in rotation to be calculated. The photo-currents can be differentially amplified for sensitivity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.