US3741657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Laser gyroscope
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1971-03-03
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1991-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A laser gyroscope system which detects frequency shifts in which waves are propagated along a path in opposite directions at different frequencies to minimize interaction between the waves with frequency separation of the waves maintained by both reciprocal and non-reciprocal polarization dispersion in which frequencies of the two waves propagating in one direction lie between the two frequencies of waves propagating in the opposite direction. Rotation of the system produces shifts of the frequencies so that variation in the difference between the separation between the two upper frequencies, which propagate in opposite directions, and the separation between the two lower frequencies, which propagate in opposite directions, is used to measure rotation rate.
Inventors
- 👤 K Andringa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/083; G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/58; G01C19/64; G01C19/66; G01C19/667; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/36; G01P3/366
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
In combination: means for simultaneously directing radiant energy waves along a polarization dispersive path, said waves having at least a plurality of substantially coherent frequencies in opposite directions of said path; means in said path amplifying said waves; and said amplifying means comprising a distributed medium common to the path of all said waves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
In combination: means for simultaneously directing radiant energy waves along a polarization dispersive path, said waves having at least a plurality of substantially coherent frequencies in opposite directions of said path; means in said path amplifying said waves; and said amplifying means comprising a distributed medium common to the path of all said waves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said waves vary in frequency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said frequency variation is produced by movement of said paths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said paths are defined at least in part by a plurality of reflectors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein at least two of said waves travelling in the same direction along said path have substantially different polarizations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein said amplifying means comprises a medium extending along at least a substantial portion of said path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said medium has a plurality of possible energy states.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein said amplifying means comprises means for producing a population inversion in at least one of said energy states.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein said medium comprises a fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination in accordance with claim 9 wherein said gas comprises helium and neon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
In combination: means for producing a plurality of waves having different frequencies comprising a distributed medium; means for producing a population inversion in said medium for amplifying said waves passing through said medium; means for directing at least two pairs of said waves in opposite directions through said medium along a reentrant path; means in said path for increasing the transit time of said waves along said path; and means for extracting portions of said waves from said path and deriving a signal which varies as a function of the variations in frequencies of all of said waves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
In combination: means for producing a plurality of waves having different frequencies comprising a distributed medium; means for producing a population inversion in said medium for amplifying said waves passing through said medium; means for directing at least two pairs of said waves in opposite directions through said medium along a reentrant path; means in said path for increasing the transit time of said waves along said path; and means for extracting portions of said waves from said path and deriving a signal which varies as a function of the variations in frequencies of all of said waves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination in accordance with claim 11 wherein said pairs of waves comprise waves of different polarizations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination in accordance with claim 12 wherein said medium comprises a gaseous laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination in accordance with claim 11 wherein said waves are circularly polarized.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination in accordance with claim 14 wherein each of said pairs of waves comprises a wave circularly polarized in one direction and a wave circularly polarized in the opposite direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination in accordance with claim 15 wherein One of said pairs of waves travels in one direction around said reentrant path through said medium and the other of said pairs of waves travels in the other direction around said reentrant path through said medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination in accordance with claim 16 wherein portions of said waves are extracted from said path and an output signal is derived which is substantially proportional to the variation of the difference between a first wave traveling in a first direction having a first polarization and a second wave traveling in a second direction having a first polarization and a third wave traveling in a first direction having a second polarization and a fourth wave traveling in a second direction having a second polarization.
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) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |