US3862803A
Expired / Lapsed
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Differential laser gyro system
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1968-09-27
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1988-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A laser gyro employs both polarization anisotropy and directional anisotropy in the optical path so as to provide two laser gyros operating in the same cavity with cavity modes of different frequencies in the form of mutually opposite polarization (such as both right and left circularly polarized waves, or two waves of mutually perpendicular orientation), in each of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Two different species of lasing medium may be utilized so as to reduce interference and source depletion in supplying the four distinct effective frequencies across a wide range of operating conditions. Parameters are adjusted to maintain substantially the same change in oscillation frequency for variations in cavity tuning and other parameters for each of the four frequencies.
Inventors
- 👤 George Busey Yntema
- 👤 Jr David C Grant
- 👤 Richard T Warner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/58; G01C19/64; G01C19/66; G01C19/667
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
A laser gyro system comprising: a ring laser comprising a closed loop optical cavity and a lasing medium; and means including a quartz crystal providing polarization anisotropy and directional anisotropy within the optical path of said ring laser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A laser gyro system comprising: a ring laser comprising a closed loop optical cavity and a lasing medium; and means including a quartz crystal providing polarization anisotropy and directional anisotropy within the optical path of said ring laser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a quartz crystal having therein a magnetic field parallel with the optical path of said ring laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 2 further comprising a pair of quarter-wave plates disposed in said optical path on opposite sides of said quartz crystal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 1 wherein said means provides the polarizatiOn anisotropy of an optically active element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 1 wherein said means provides the polarization anisotropy of a birefringent optical element and further comprising: a pair of quarter-wave plates disposed in said optical path on opposite sides of said means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises: a polarization anisotropic optical element located within the optical path of said ring laser; and a directional anisotropic optical element located in the optical path of said ring laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 6 wherein said polarization anisotropic optical element comprises an optically active element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 6 wherein said polarization anisotropic optical element comprises a birefringent optical element and further comprising: a pair of quarter-wave plates located in the optical path on opposite sides of said directional anisotropic optical element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A laser gyro system comprising: a ring laser comprising a closed loop optical cavity and a laser gain medium comprising a substantially equal gain mixture of two species of lasing substance; and means providing polarization anisotropy and directional anisotropy in the optical path of said ring laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A laser gyro system comprising: a ring laser comprising a closed loop optical cavity and a laser gain medium comprising a substantially equal gain mixture of two species of lasing substance; and means providing polarization anisotropy and directional anisotropy in the optical path of said ring laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 1 wherein said lasing medium comprises a substantially equal gain mixture of two species of lasing gas, said two species having mutually distinctive line frequencies of transition between energy levels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 6 wherein said lasing medium comprises a substantially equal mixture of two species of lasing gas, said two species having mutually distinctive line frequencies of transition between energy levels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 9 wherein said lasing medium comprises a substantially equal mixture of two species of lasing gas, said two species having mutually distinctive line frequencies of transistion between energy levels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 9 wherein said two species comprise two isotopes of the same lasing gas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser gyro system according to claim 10 wherein said two species comprise two isotopes of the same lasing gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser gyro according to claim 13 wherein said two species consist of neon of atomic weight 20 and neon of atomic weight 22.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laser gyro according to claim 14 wherein said two species consist of neon of atomic weight 20 and neon of atomic weight 22.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
A laser gyro according to claim 1 wherein the parameters of said means are chosen so that there is provided a pair of laser gyros separated in frequency each implemented in a polarization which is distinct from the other, each having a bias which is opposite to but substantially equal in magnitude to the bias of the other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A laser gyro according to claim 6 wherein the parameters of said means are chosen so that there is provided a pair of laser gyros separated in frequency each implemented in a polarization which is distinct from the other, each having a bias which is opposite to but substantially equal in magnitude to the bias of the other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
A laser gyro according to claim 9 wherein the parameters of said means are chosen so that there is provided a pair of laser gyros separated in frequency each implemented in a polarization which is distinct from the other, each having a bias which is opposite to but substantially equal in magnitude to the bias of the other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
A laser gyro according to claim 17 wherein said lasing medium comprises a substantially equal gain mixture of the atoms of two species of lasing gas, said two species having mutually distinctive line frequencies of transition between energy levels, and wherein the electromagnetic waves of one of said gyros sustain oscillation as a result of energy suppled primarily by one of said species, and the electromagnetic waves of the other of said Gyros sustain oscillations as a result of energy supplied primarily by the other of said species.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
87 words
A laser gyro according to claim 18 wherein said lasing medium comprises a substantially equal mixture of the atoms of two species of lasing gas, said two species having mutually distinctive line frequencies of transition between energy levels, and wherein the electromagnetic waves of one of said gyros sustain oscillation as a result of energy supplied primarily by one of said species, and the electromagnetic waves of the other of said gyros sustain oscillations as a result of energy supplied primarily by the other of said species.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
88 words
A laser gyro according to claim 19 wherein said lasing medium comprises a substantially equal gain mixture of the atoms of two species of lasing gas, said two species having mutually distinctive line frequencies of transition between energy levels, and wherein the electromagnetic waves of one of said gyros sustain oscillation as a result of energy supplied primarily by one of said species, and the electromagnetic waves of the other of said gyros sustain oscillations as a result of energy supplied primarily by the other of said species.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A differential laser gyro system comprising: ring laser means for establishing two independent laser gyros on a single optical path; and means responsive to said independent laser gyros for producing a gyro system output indication equal to the difference between their independent outputs.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
A differential laser gyro system comprising: ring laser means for establishing two independent laser gyros on a single optical path; and means responsive to said independent laser gyros for producing a gyro system output indication equal to the difference between their independent outputs.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A differential laser gyro system according to claim 23 wherein said ring laser means includes a quartz crystal disposed in the optical path thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A differential laser gyro system according to claim 23 including means providing an angular rate bias in each of said laser gyros.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
A differential laser gyro system according to claim 25 wherein a single angular rate bias means provides mutually opposite bias for said laser gyros, whereby substantial cancellation of bias is provided by said gyro system output indication means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
A differential laser gyro system according to claim 23 wherein the laser gain medium of said ring laser means comprises a substantially equal gain mixture of two species of a lasing gas.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A differential laser gyro system according to claim 27 wherein the laser oscillation of each laser gyro is primarily supported by a respective one of said species.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A differential laser gyro system according to claim 23 wherein said ring laser means includes means to cause said two laser gyros to operate at mutuallly mutually wavelengths.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3373650A
Cited
US3508831A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-27 | 1978-07-29 | 1979-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-27 | 1982-07-29 | 1983-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-27 | 1986-07-29 | 1987-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |