US5099690A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber-optic gyroscope accelerometer
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
•
Filing: 1989-07-31
•
Granted: 1992-03-31
•
Expires: 2009-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An inertial measurement instrument including a gyroscope and accelerometer utilizes fiber optics to measure gyro rates and accelerations in two orthogonal axes. Bender beam fiber optic transducers are mounted on a rotating shaft and signals representative of force effects on the bending beams are provided at the rotor in an optical format. The signals are then optically transmitted to the stator thereby eliminating the need for slip rings and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert T. Califano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/18; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/005; G01C19/58; G01C19/64; G01C19/72; G01C21/00; G01C21/10; G01C21/12; G01C21/16; G01C21/166
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A fiber-optic interferometer gyroscope accelerometer comprising: a rate sensor rotatable around a spin axis for providing a rate sensor optical output representative of rotational rate; an acceleration sensor rotatable around a spin axis with said rate sensor for providing an acceleration sensor optical output representative of linear acceleration; wherein said rate sensor and said acceleration sensor each comprise a fiber-optic transducer; and, means to transmit optically said rate sensor optical output and said acceleration sensor optical output to a receiver which is fixed in rotation, said rate sensor optical output and said acceleration sensor optical output being substantially unchanged when transmitted to said receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A fiber-optic interferometer gyroscope accelerometer comprising: a rate sensor rotatable around a spin axis for providing a rate sensor optical output representative of rotational rate; an acceleration sensor rotatable around a spin axis with said rate sensor for providing an acceleration sensor optical output representative of linear acceleration; wherein said rate sensor and said acceleration sensor each comprise a fiber-optic transducer; and, means to transmit optically said rate sensor optical output and said acceleration sensor optical output to a receiver which is fixed in rotation, said rate sensor optical output and said acceleration sensor optical output being substantially unchanged when transmitted to said receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fiber-optic gyroscope accelerometer as described in claim 1 further comprising: means to convert said rate sensor optical output and said acceleration sensor optical output to electrical signals; and, means to combine said electrical signals to provide rate measurements correlated with acceleration measurements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fiber-optic gyroscope accelerometer as described in claim 1 wherein said rate sensor senses two axes of inertial rate information via Coriolis accelerations acting to deflect one or more bender beam transducers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fiber-optic gyroscope accelerometer as described in claim 1 wherein said acceleration sensor senses two axes of acceleration information by sensing bending of one or more bender beam transducers due to linear accelerations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fiber-optic gyroscope accelerometer as described in claim 1 wherein said rate sensor and said acceleration sensor are mounted to a shaft which rotates around a spin axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A fiber-optic gyroscope accelerometer as described in claim 2 wherein said electrical signals representative of said rate sensor optical output and said acceleration sensor optical output are either digital or analog or a combination of digital and analog to provide both fine and course output resolution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fiber-optic gyroscope accelerometer as described in claim 1 wherein said rate sensor and said acceleration sensor comprise: integrated optics.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fiber-optic gyroscope accelerometer as described in claim 1 wherein said rate sensor and said acceleration sensor comprise: discrete element optical components configured with fiber optic cable.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of measuring linear acceleration and inertial rate comprising: mounting one or more first bendable beams radially on a shaft rotating about a spin axis, said one or more first bendable beams having optical fiber and providing an acceleration sensor optical output representative of linear acceleration; mounting one or more second bendable beams radially on said shaft rotating about said spin axis, said one or more second bendable beams having optical fiber and providing a rate sensor optical output representative of inertial rate; transmitting optically said acceleration sensor optical output and said rate sensor optical output to a receiver which is fixed in rotation, said acceleration sensor optical output and said rate sensor optical output being substantially unchanged when transmitted to said receiver; and, converting said acceleration sensor optical output and said rate sensor optical output to an electrical signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of measuring linear acceleration and inertial rate comprising: mounting one or more first bendable beams radially on a shaft rotating about a spin axis, said one or more first bendable beams having optical fiber and providing an acceleration sensor optical output representative of linear acceleration; mounting one or more second bendable beams radially on said shaft rotating about said spin axis, said one or more second bendable beams having optical fiber and providing a rate sensor optical output representative of inertial rate; transmitting optically said acceleration sensor optical output and said rate sensor optical output to a receiver which is fixed in rotation, said acceleration sensor optical output and said rate sensor optical output being substantially unchanged when transmitted to said receiver; and, converting said acceleration sensor optical output and said rate sensor optical output to an electrical signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4175230A
Cited
US4222272A
Cited
US4353259A
Cited
US4518962A
Cited
US4457173A
Cited
US4739661A
Cited
US4900918A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-31 | 1995-09-30 | 1996-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-31 | 1999-09-30 | 2000-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-31 | 2003-09-30 | 2004-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |