US3924475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibrating ring gyro
Assignee: Kearfott Guidance and Navigation Corp
•
Filing: 1973-10-23
•
Granted: 1975-12-09
•
Expires: 1993-10-23
Abstract
Abstract An extremely simple gyroscope for use in a strapdown system having a vibrating ring as the gyroscopic element. The ring is supported and vibrated by an electrostatic field, established by a voltage supplied to case-fixed electrodes. An additional pair of fixed electrodes senses the position of the nodes of vibration of the ring and an eddy current drive forces rotation of the ring to move the nodes back to a reference position. Optical sensing means provide the pick-off, sensing the direction and amount of rotation required to move the ring back to the nodal reference position.
Inventors
- 👤 John C Stiles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/56; G01C19/567; G01C19/5677; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12; Y10T74/1261; Y10T74/1264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of providing an indication of the rotation about an axis of a gyroscopic element comprising the steps of: a. supporting a thin-walled ring to substantially prevent motion thereof in any direction other than rotation about the ring axis; b. vibrating said ring to set up nodes of vibration; c. establishing fixed reference positions for said nodes; d. rotating said ring to move said nodes to said reference positions in response to a relative rotation of said ring and said reference positions; and e. indicating the amount and directions of rotation required to move said nodes back to said reference positions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of providing an indication of the rotation about an axis of a gyroscopic element comprising the steps of: a. supporting a thin-walled ring to substantially prevent motion thereof in any direction other than rotation about the ring axis; b. vibrating said ring to set up nodes of vibration; c. establishing fixed reference positions for said nodes; d. rotating said ring to move said nodes to said reference positions in response to a relative rotation of said ring and said reference positions; and e. indicating the amount and directions of rotation required to move said nodes back to said reference positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said ring is supported by an electrostatic field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said ring is supported by an electromagnetic field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said ring is vibrated by applying thereto alternating electrostatic forces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said ring is vibrated by applying thereto alternating electromagnetic forces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherEin said indicating is performed by optically sensing the amount and direction of rotation of said ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said ring is rotated to move said nodes to said reference positions by a moving induced magnetic field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said ring is rotated by the force resulting from eddy currents in said ring opposing motion of said magnetic field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A gyroscope for use in a strap-down application comprising: a. a thin-walled ring; b. first means for supporting said ring at a nominal position for movement only in rotation about its own axis; c. second means for maintaining said ring in a state of sustained vibration, thereby establishing nodes of vibration; d. third means establishing a fixed reference location for said nodes; e. fourth means for rotating said ring to move said nodes to said reference location in response to an apparent rotation of said ring moving said nodes away from said reference location; and f. optical means for measuring the direction and amount of rotation of said ring by said fourth means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
A gyroscope for use in a strap-down application comprising: a. a thin-walled ring; b. first means for supporting said ring at a nominal position for movement only in rotation about its own axis; c. second means for maintaining said ring in a state of sustained vibration, thereby establishing nodes of vibration; d. third means establishing a fixed reference location for said nodes; e. fourth means for rotating said ring to move said nodes to said reference location in response to an apparent rotation of said ring moving said nodes away from said reference location; and f. optical means for measuring the direction and amount of rotation of said ring by said fourth means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said first means comprises a plurality of fixed plates symmetrically positioned with respect to said nominal position of the ring, and electrical means for providing to said plates a voltage establishing an electrostatic field of magnitude sufficient to maintain said ring at said nominal position thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention according to claim 10 wherein said ring forms one side of capacitors, the other sides of which are formed by the respective plates, and said capacitors are arranged in a bridge circuit, imbalance of which is caused by movement of said ring in any direction other than rotation about its own axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said second means comprises means providing an alternating voltage to said plates, the latter being so disposed with respect to said ring that said ring is vibrated at the frequency of said voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said third means comprises at least one arcuate electrode fixedly positioned adjacent one of said reference locations and forming one side of a capacitor, the other side of which is formed by said ring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention according to claim 13 wherein said fourth means comprises an eddy current torquer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention according to claim 14 wherein two of said arcuate electrodes are provided adjacent two of said reference locations, said ring forming one side of two capacitors, the other sides of which are formed by respective ones of said two electrodes, said two capacitors being connected in parallel to a DC voltage source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said optical means comprise alternating reflecting and non-reflecting portions symmetrically arranged on a circumferential surface of said ring, and sensing means responsive to the movement of said portions past a fixed sensing position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 16 wherein said sensing means comprise photodetector means arranged to receive light reflected from said ring surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 17 wherein said reflective and non-reflective portions are provided in two parallel rows, axially spaced on said surface, the reflecting portions of one row being circumferentially spaced from those of the other row in predetermined relation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 18 wherein two photodetectors are provided, one for receiving light reflected from each of said rows and generating signals in response thereto.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention according to claim 19 wherein said sensing means further comprise logic means responsive to signals from said photodetectors and capable of discriminating the direction of rotation of said ring in accordance with the sequence of presence or absence of signals from said photodetectors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention according to claim 20 wherein the output of said logic meaNs is supplied to an up-down counter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3307409A
Cited
US3318160A
Cited
US3367194A
Cited
US3394597A
Cited
US3408872A
Cited
US3559492A
Cited
US3625067A
Cited
US3656354A
Cited
US3680391A
Cited
US3719074A
Cited
US3779087A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |