Ring laser gyroscope mirror orientation system and method

Patent 4884283 Issued on November 28, 1989. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 20, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Counterbalanced oscillating ring laser gyro
Patent #: 4115004
Issued on: 09/19/1978
Inventor: Hutchings , et al.

Control apparatus
Patent #: 4152071
Issued on: 05/01/1979
Inventor: Podgorski

Laser gyro with phased dithered mirrors
Patent #: 4281930
Issued on: 08/04/1981
Inventor: Hutchings

Meat roaster
Patent #: 4442762
Issued on: 04/17/1984
Inventor: Beller

Laser gyro mode locking reduction scheme
Patent #: 4522496
Issued on: 06/11/1985
Inventor: Sanders

Ring laser lock-in correction apparatus
Patent #: 4641970
Issued on: 02/10/1987
Inventor: Gustafson , et al.

Lock-in rate discriminate apparatus for ring laser angular rate sensors
Patent #: 4657392
Issued on: 04/14/1987
Inventor: Egli

Error cancelling bias system
Patent #: 4695160
Issued on: 09/22/1987
Inventor: Egli

Method and apparatus for measuring angular rate with a passive optical resonator
Patent #: 4702600
Issued on: 10/27/1987
Inventor: Handrich , et al.

Method and apparatus for optically aligning a laser cavity Patent #: 4831632
Issued on: 05/16/1989
Inventor: Simms

Inventors

Assignee

Litton Systems, Inc.

Application

No. 287131 filed on 12/20/1988

US Classes:

372/107, Mirror support or alignment structure356/469, Cavity mirror details372/94Having a ring configuration

Examiners

Primary: Scott, Leon Jr.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Rish; L. David

International Class

H01S 003/08

Abstract

A method and system of ring laser gyroscope mirror orientation is disclosed which provides minimal backscatter within the closed optical pathway as a result of analysis and manipulation of the speckle pattern associated with each of the mirrors defining the optical pathway.

Other References

Elson, Scattering from Optical Surfaces, vol. VIII, Chapt. 7, "Applied Optics & Optical Engineering", pp. 191-244, 1979 Academic Press
Erf, "Applications of Laser Speckle to Measurement", Laser Applications, vol. 4, pp. 1-69, Academic Press, 1980
Chiang, "Laws of Laser Speckle Movement in Space" Optical Engineering, vol. 5 (25), pp. 667-670 (May 1986)
Stetson, "A Review of Speckle Photography & Interferometry", Optical Engineering, vol. 14, (5), Sep. Oct. 1975
Anderson, "Alignment of Resonant Optical Cavities", Applied Optics, vol. 23, Sep. 198