Patent US4482249A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4482249A
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Electromagnetic wave ring resonator
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1982-11-17
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Granted: 1984-11-13
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Expires: 2002-11-17
Abstract
Abstract An electromagnetic wave ring resonator is disclosed wherein field distribution of electromagnetic waves are spatially rotated about the direction of propagation of such waves in said resonator. With such arrangement the electromagnetic field distribution rotation produces a phase difference between waves of opposite polarization senses, thereby enabling the waves to resonate with different frequencies. In a laser gyroscope the electromagnetic field distribution may be achieved by a catoptric arrangement which reduces the loss, scatter and linear birefringence associated with the ring resonator of the gyroscope.
Inventors
- 👤 Irl W. Smith, Jr.
- 👤 Terry A. Dorschner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:13
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/06; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of producing different frequencies in an electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising the steps of: spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of electromagnetic waves passing around said ring resonator about the direction of propagation of such waves while said waves pass through a non-solid medium providing a predetermined phase difference between a pair of resonant waves to produce such pair of the waves with opposite senses of circular polarizations and with different resonant frequencies; and imparting different phase delays to said electromagnetic waves produced in said resonator with the same circular polarization sense and propagating in the resonator in opposite directions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of producing different frequencies in an electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising the steps of: spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of electromagnetic waves passing around said ring resonator about the direction of propagation of such waves while said waves pass through a non-solid medium providing a predetermined phase difference between a pair of resonant waves to produce such pair of the waves with opposite senses of circular polarizations and with different resonant frequencies; and imparting different phase delays to said electromagnetic waves produced in said resonator with the same circular polarization sense and propagating in the resonator in opposite directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said step of producing different phase delays comprises propagating said waves through a solid medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said step of spatially rotating said field distribution of said waves comprises sequentially reflecting said waves from a plurality of reflectors along path portions defining different intersecting planes to provide phase differences.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
213 words
The method of determining the rotation rate of an electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising the steps of: (a) producing two pairs of circularly polarized waves in said resonator, a first pair of the two pairs of waves having a first sense of circular polarization and a second pair of the two pairs of waves having a second, opposite sense of circular polarization, the two waves in each of the two pairs of waves traveling in the resonator in opposite directions, each of the waves in the two pairs of waves having different frequencies, the frequencies of the waves traveling in one direction being between the frequencies of the waves traveling in the opposite direction, comprising: (i) spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of said waves while said waves pass through a non-solid medium producing pairs of waves having opposite circular polarization senses propagating around said ring resonator in opposite directions; and (ii) imparting different phase delays to electromagnetic waves having the same circular polarization sense and propagating in said resonator in opposite directions to enable such waves to resonate at different frequencies comprising propagating said waves through a solid optically transparent medium in a substantially steady state magnetic field; and (b) detecting differences in the frequencies of said waves produced in said resonator.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
213 words
The method of determining the rotation rate of an electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising the steps of: (a) producing two pairs of circularly polarized waves in said resonator, a first pair of the two pairs of waves having a first sense of circular polarization and a second pair of the two pairs of waves having a second, opposite sense of circular polarization, the two waves in each of the two pairs of waves traveling in the resonator in opposite directions, each of the waves in the two pairs of waves having different frequencies, the frequencies of the waves traveling in one direction being between the frequencies of the waves traveling in the opposite direction, comprising: (i) spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of said waves while said waves pass through a non-solid medium producing pairs of waves having opposite circular polarization senses propagating around said ring resonator in opposite directions; and (ii) imparting different phase delays to electromagnetic waves having the same circular polarization sense and propagating in said resonator in opposite directions to enable such waves to resonate at different frequencies comprising propagating said waves through a solid optically transparent medium in a substantially steady state magnetic field; and (b) detecting differences in the frequencies of said waves produced in said resonator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising: means for spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of resonant electromagnetic waves in a non-solid medium about the optic axis of such waves within said ring resonator to enable said waves to resonate at different frequencies and with opposite states of circular polarization; means for producing different phase delays in electromagnetic waves having the same polarization state propagating in said resonator in opposite directions comprising a solid optically transparent region of the path of said waves in a steady state magnetic field; and means for detecting differences in the frequencies of said waves propagating in said resonator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising: means for spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of resonant electromagnetic waves in a non-solid medium about the optic axis of such waves within said ring resonator to enable said waves to resonate at different frequencies and with opposite states of circular polarization; means for producing different phase delays in electromagnetic waves having the same polarization state propagating in said resonator in opposite directions comprising a solid optically transparent region of the path of said waves in a steady state magnetic field; and means for detecting differences in the frequencies of said waves propagating in said resonator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electromagnetic wave ring resonator of claim 5 wherein: said means for spatially rotating said distribtion of said waves comprises a plurality of reflectors providing phase differences between circularly polarized electromagnetic waves of opposite polarization senses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising: a plurality of reflectors for directing electromagnetic waves along a predetermined path around said ring resonator, with one segment of said path being disposed in a first plane and a second segment of said paths being disposed in a second plane intersecting said first plane, to provide a phase difference between circularly polarized waves of opposite polarization senses thereby enabling said waves of opposite polarization senses to resonate at respectively different frequencies; means for producing different phase delays in electromagnetic waves having the same polarization sense propagating in said resonator in opposite directions; and means for extracting portions of said waves from said resonator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising: a plurality of reflectors for directing electromagnetic waves along a predetermined path around said ring resonator, with one segment of said path being disposed in a first plane and a second segment of said paths being disposed in a second plane intersecting said first plane, to provide a phase difference between circularly polarized waves of opposite polarization senses thereby enabling said waves of opposite polarization senses to resonate at respectively different frequencies; means for producing different phase delays in electromagnetic waves having the same polarization sense propagating in said resonator in opposite directions; and means for extracting portions of said waves from said resonator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electromagnetic wave ring resonator in accordance with claim 7 wherein: said wave extracting means comprises a plurality of detectors; and means for directing waves derived from the same polarization senses and different propagating directions within said resonator onto each of said detectors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electromagnetic ring resonator in accordance with claim 7 wherein: a portion of said path comprises a solid medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electromagnetic ring resonator of claim 9 wherein: at least a portion of said path comprises an isotropic medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising: a plurality of reflectors providing a phase difference between circularly polarized waves of opposite polarization senses passing around said resonator to enable said waves of opposite polarization senses to resonate at respectively different frequencies; means for producing different phase delays to electromagnetic waves of the same polarization sense propagating around said ring resonator in opposite directions comprising a solid optically transparent region of the path of said waves in a steady state magnetic field; and means for extracting portions of said waves from said resonator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electromagnetic wave ring resonator comprising: a plurality of reflectors providing a phase difference between circularly polarized waves of opposite polarization senses passing around said resonator to enable said waves of opposite polarization senses to resonate at respectively different frequencies; means for producing different phase delays to electromagnetic waves of the same polarization sense propagating around said ring resonator in opposite directions comprising a solid optically transparent region of the path of said waves in a steady state magnetic field; and means for extracting portions of said waves from said resonator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
108 words
A laser gyroscope comprising: a plurality of reflectors defining a nonplanar ring resonator for spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of such waves providing a phase difference between circularly polarized waves of opposite polarization senses to enable such waves to resonate at different frequencies; means for imparting different phase delays to electromagnetic waves having the same polarization sense and propagating around said resonator in opposite directions comprising a solid optically transparent region of the path of said waves having a steady state magnetic field in such region; and output means for extracting portions of said waves of different polarization senses and opposite directions of propagation around said resonator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
108 words
A laser gyroscope comprising: a plurality of reflectors defining a nonplanar ring resonator for spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of such waves providing a phase difference between circularly polarized waves of opposite polarization senses to enable such waves to resonate at different frequencies; means for imparting different phase delays to electromagnetic waves having the same polarization sense and propagating around said resonator in opposite directions comprising a solid optically transparent region of the path of said waves having a steady state magnetic field in such region; and output means for extracting portions of said waves of different polarization senses and opposite directions of propagation around said resonator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser gyroscope in accordance with claim 12 wherein: said ring resonator comprises a medium providing amplification of waves passing therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
145 words
A laser gyroscope comprising: a ring resonator, including an amplifying medium, and supporting a plurality of circularly polarized waves propagating around said ring resonator in opposite directions through said amplifying medium; said waves being supported by means comprising means for spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of said waves while such waves pass through a non-solid medium producing oppositely circularly polarized waves; said ring resonator comprising means for producing a magnetic field parallel to a portion of the path of said waves for producing different phase delays between the waves having the same polarization sense and opposite propagation directions, and for producing the same phase delays between waves having opposite polarization senses and the same propagation direction to enable said waves to resonate at a plurality of pairs of different frequencies; and output means for extracting portions of said waves at said pairs of frequencies.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
145 words
A laser gyroscope comprising: a ring resonator, including an amplifying medium, and supporting a plurality of circularly polarized waves propagating around said ring resonator in opposite directions through said amplifying medium; said waves being supported by means comprising means for spatially rotating the electromagnetic field distribution of said waves while such waves pass through a non-solid medium producing oppositely circularly polarized waves; said ring resonator comprising means for producing a magnetic field parallel to a portion of the path of said waves for producing different phase delays between the waves having the same polarization sense and opposite propagation directions, and for producing the same phase delays between waves having opposite polarization senses and the same propagation direction to enable said waves to resonate at a plurality of pairs of different frequencies; and output means for extracting portions of said waves at said pairs of frequencies.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A laser gyroscope in accordance with claim 14 wherein: a first segment of the path of said waves defines a first plane and a second segment of the path of said waves defines a second plane intersecting said first plane.
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) | 1987-11-13 | 1988-05-14 | 1988-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-11-13 | 1992-05-14 | 1992-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-11-13 | 1996-05-14 | 1996-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |