Laser angular rate sensor with dithered mirrors
Patent
·
OSTI ID:5914748
This patent describes a ring laser angular rate sensor having a substantially square ring laser beam path about a sensing axis, including four corner mirrors. The first and second laser beams counterpropagate about the path, having means for extracting the counterpropagating beams and means for beating the extracted beams against each other, and further comprising processor means for converting the beat frequency so-obtained into a measure of angular velocity about the sensing axis. The improvement consists of: first and second vibrating means, attached to the mirrors, for substantially sinusoidally dithering first and second consecutive ones of the mirrors along their optical axes, to distort the ring laser beam path while holding constant the length of the path; drive circuit means, connected to drive the two vibrating means, for substantially sinusoidally energizing the first and second means, at the same mechanical frequency, in a 180 degree phase relationship, and to the same predetermined amplitude; and means for controlling the amplitude to minimize the lock-in effects of mirror backscatter upon the operation of the sensor.
- Assignee:
- Litton Systems, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4686683
- OSTI ID:
- 5914748
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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