Optical readout for differential laser gyros

Patent · Tue Jan 04 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7328290

Grant, Jr, D C

In a differential laser gyro system including a ring laser in the form of a figure eight incorporated in a solid block, optical readout is accomplished by mounting the readout optics to the block in a manner similar to that employed for the laser optics. The laser optics comprises four mirrors mounted on the outer face of the block, with diagonally opposite faces being parallel. A modulator having plane parallel end faces is incorporated in the laser optical system, and oriented so that readout reflections therefrom occur in a plane at a slight angle to the lasing plane. Readout beam director prisms are positioned on the outer faces of the block adjacent to the laser optic system mirrors, and direct the readout reflections to a beam splitter and then to optical detectors as in conventional readout optical systems. Alignment of the readout system is enhanced by virtue of the fact that both angular and linear adjustments can be made by rotating or translating the readout optics. By virtue of the mounting of the beam splitter on a spherical base, angular adjustment of the beam splitter is provided to assure colinearity of the readout beams at the optical detectors.

• Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4000947
• OSTI ID: 7328290
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
GAIN
LASERS
READOUT SYSTEMS
RINGS