Discriminant apparatus for ring laser angular rate sensors

Patent · Tue Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6865012

Egli, W H; Weber, M W

An apparatus is described for providing a discriminant signal indicative of the lock-in rate of an angular rate sensor of the class wherein two waves propagate in opposite directions along a closed-loop path. The frequency of each of the waves is a function of the rate of rotation of the closed-loop path, the waves establishing a phase difference therebetween. The lock-in rate is the rate of rotation of the sensor below which the frequency of the waves tend to lock-in to a common frequency. The lock-in rate is related to the coupling of energy between each of the waves traveling along the closed-loop path. The apparatus comprises: signal means responsive to each of the waves for providing an output signal related to the phase difference between the waves, the output signal having phase and amplitude modulation components resulting substantially from energy coupling between the waves; and discriminant signal means for signal processing the signal means output signal to extract from the output signal a phase jitter signal representative of the phase modulation of the phase difference, the phase jitter signal providing the signal indicative of the lock-in rate.

• Assignee: Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, MN
• Patent Number(s): US 4637723
• OSTI ID: 6865012
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLITUDES
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
INCIDENCE ANGLE
LASERS
MODULATION
MOTION
RING LASERS
ROTATION
SIGNALS
TRAVELLING WAVES
WAVE PROPAGATION