US3635563A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for detecting small rotations
Assignee: Alcatel Lucent SAS
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Filing: 1969-11-18
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1989-11-18
Abstract
Abstract Slight rotations are detected by the variation, according to the angle of incidence, of dephasing introduced by a total reflection between the light polarized perpendicularly to the plane of incidence, and that which is polarized parallel to this plane. The apparatus includes a polarized light source, a prism with a parallelogram-shaped section in which the light undergoes four total reflections, a dephasing plate, an analysis polarizer, and a light detector.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques Mouchart
- 👤 L Hay-Les-Roses
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34; F; F23; F23Q; F23Q2/00; F23Q2/16; F23Q2/162; G01B; G01B3/00; G01B3/02; H; H01; H01T; H01T13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for detecting small rotations of an element made of transparent material comprising: a luminous source for directing a fixed polarized luminous beam into said element, said element comprising two plane and parallel reflecting faces on which the beam is alternately reflected inside said element and wherein at least one reflecting surface portion of said element in the path of the luminous beam has the angle of incidence of said beam on said reflecting portion in the neighborhood of the critical angle of total reflectance thereof, an analyzing polarizer disposed in the path of the luminous beam emerging from said element and means for detecting the intensity of the light emerging from said polarizer, whereby; the variation of intensity of said beam is representative of the rotation of the said element around an axis other than an axis perpendicular to said reflecting portion and the axis of propagation of said fixed polarized luminous beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for detecting small rotations of an element made of transparent material comprising: a luminous source for directing a fixed polarized luminous beam into said element, said element comprising two plane and parallel reflecting faces on which the beam is alternately reflected inside said element and wherein at least one reflecting surface portion of said element in the path of the luminous beam has the angle of incidence of said beam on said reflecting portion in the neighborhood of the critical angle of total reflectance thereof, an analyzing polarizer disposed in the path of the luminous beam emerging from said element and means for detecting the intensity of the light emerging from said polarizer, whereby; the variation of intensity of said beam is representative of the rotation of the said element around an axis other than an axis perpendicular to said reflecting portion and the axis of propagation of said fixed polarized luminous beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the form of said element is such that the beam internally undergoes the same number of reflections from the two plane and parallel reflecting faces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for detecting small rotations of an element made of transparent material comprising: a luminous source for directing a fixed polarized luminous beam into said element, said element comprising inlet and outleT faces respectively through which the light beam enters and leaves which are plane and perpendicular to the light beam and wherein at least one reflecting surface portion of said element lies in the path of the luminous beam in said element with the angle of incidence of said beam on said reflecting portion being in the neighborhood of the critical angle of total reflection thereof, an analyzing polarizer disposed in the path of said luminous beam emerging from said element and means for detecting the intensity of light emerging from said polarizer, whereby; the variation of intensity of said beam is representative of the rotation of said element around an axis other than an axis perpendicular to said reflecting portion and the axis of propagation of said fixed polarized luminous beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for detecting small rotations of an element made of transparent material comprising: a luminous source for directing a fixed polarized luminous beam into said element, said element comprising inlet and outleT faces respectively through which the light beam enters and leaves which are plane and perpendicular to the light beam and wherein at least one reflecting surface portion of said element lies in the path of the luminous beam in said element with the angle of incidence of said beam on said reflecting portion being in the neighborhood of the critical angle of total reflection thereof, an analyzing polarizer disposed in the path of said luminous beam emerging from said element and means for detecting the intensity of light emerging from said polarizer, whereby; the variation of intensity of said beam is representative of the rotation of said element around an axis other than an axis perpendicular to said reflecting portion and the axis of propagation of said fixed polarized luminous beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said transparent element has the form of a prism whose cross section is a parallelogram.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |