EP0229448A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ring laser accelerometer
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1986-10-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-10-02
Abstract
Abstract An instrument for measuring acceleration as a function of reciprocal mode splitting within a non-planar rising cavity. A glass block (10) includes an internal non-planar cavity (24, 26, 28, 30). The block includes orthogonal bending axes (12, 14). A proofmass (60) atop the block causes flexure about such axes upon imposition of acceleration force (A, B) along a preselected sensitive axis. The resulting deformation results in detectable changes in the cavity aspect ratio that provide a measure of acceleration.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham John Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
An accelerometer comprising a ring laser having a body (10) defining a closed optical path for a laser beam, characterised in that the accelerometer includes: an element (60) arranged to be responsible to acceleration to cause deformation of the body, the body defining a non-planar optical path (24, 26, 28, 30) whereby said deformation of the body causes alteration of the configuration of the optical path; and means for measuring said acceleration by detecting changes in properties of a laser beam due to said alteration of the configuration of the optical path thereby to measure said acceleration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
An accelerometer comprising a ring laser having a body (10) defining a closed optical path for a laser beam, characterised in that the accelerometer includes: an element (60) arranged to be responsible to acceleration to cause deformation of the body, the body defining a non-planar optical path (24, 26, 28, 30) whereby said deformation of the body causes alteration of the configuration of the optical path; and means for measuring said acceleration by detecting changes in properties of a laser beam due to said alteration of the configuration of the optical path thereby to measure said acceleration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An accelerometer as claimed in claim 1, which includes means (16, 18) for generating at least one laser beam for propagation around said closed optical path, said laser beam having two oppositely circularly polarized modes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An accelerometer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said measuring means (78, 80) comprises means for detecting the difference between the frequencies of the respective circularly polarised modes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An accelerometer as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said optical path includes four segments (24, 26, 28, 30).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An accelerometer as claimed in claim 4, wherein said optical path is a puckered square shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An accelerometer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said body has two orthogonal axes (12, 14) about which the body bends when said deformation of the body occurs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An accelerometer as claimed in claim 6, in which the element is arranged to be responsible to acceleration along a sensitive axis orthogonal to each of said bending axes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An accelerometer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said element is in the form of a proofmass located atop said body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
An accelerometer as claimed in claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 8 when appendent thereto in which said generating means is arranged to generate two counter propagating laser beams, each beam having two oppositely circularly polarized modes; and in which said measuring means includes means for detecting (74, 76), for each beam, the difference between the frequencies of the respective circularly polarised modes in that beam and means for averaging (14) the acceleration measurements derived from said differences.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
An accelerometer comprising, in combination: (a) a block; (b) a non-planar cavity within said block; (c) said cavity comprising a plurality of substantially straight intersecting segments; (d) means for generating at least one rotating beam of laser light within said cavity; (e) a mirror arranged adjacent each of said cavity intersections to direct light between said intersecting segments; (f) a proofmass contacting said block so that said block is elastically deformed in a predetermined manner in response to acceleration force; and (g) means for determining said acceleration force as a function of the light within said cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
An accelerometer comprising, in combination: (a) a block; (b) a non-planar cavity within said block; (c) said cavity comprising a plurality of substantially straight intersecting segments; (d) means for generating at least one rotating beam of laser light within said cavity; (e) a mirror arranged adjacent each of said cavity intersections to direct light between said intersecting segments; (f) a proofmass contacting said block so that said block is elastically deformed in a predetermined manner in response to acceleration force; and (g) means for determining said acceleration force as a function of the light within said cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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