Remotely readable fiber optic compass
Abstract
A remotely readable fiber optic compass. A sheet polarizer is affixed to a magnet rotatably mounted in a compass body, such that the polarizer rotates with the magnet. The optical axis of the sheet polarizer is preferably aligned with the north-south axis of the magnet. A single excitation light beam is divided into four identical beams, two of which are passed through the sheet polarizer and through two fixed polarizing sheets which have their optical axes at right angles to one another. The angle of the compass magnet with respect to a fixed axis of the compass body can be determined by measuring the ratio of the intensities of the two light beams. The remaining ambiguity as to which of the four possible quadrants the magnet is pointing to is resolved by the second pair of light beams, which are passed through the sheet polarizer at positions which are transected by two semicircular opaque strips formed on the sheet polarizer. The incoming excitation beam and the four return beams are communicated by means of optical fibers, giving a remotely readable compass which has no electrical parts.
- Inventors:
-
- Santa Fe, NM
- Los Alamos, NM
- Pebble Beach, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865795
- Patent Number(s):
- 4577414
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01C - MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- remotely; readable; fiber; optic; compass; sheet; polarizer; affixed; magnet; rotatably; mounted; rotates; optical; axis; preferably; aligned; north-south; single; excitation; light; beam; divided; identical; beams; passed; fixed; polarizing; sheets; axes; angles; angle; respect; determined; measuring; ratio; intensities; remaining; ambiguity; quadrants; resolved; pair; positions; transected; semicircular; opaque; strips; formed; incoming; return; communicated; means; fibers; giving; electrical; sheet polarizer; optical axis; rotatably mounted; optical fibers; fiber optic; optical fiber; light beam; light beams; excitation light; remotely readable; return beam; readable fiber; optic compass; /33/
Citation Formats
Migliori, Albert, Swift, Gregory W, and Garrett, Steven L. Remotely readable fiber optic compass. United States: N. p., 1986.
Web.
Migliori, Albert, Swift, Gregory W, & Garrett, Steven L. Remotely readable fiber optic compass. United States.
Migliori, Albert, Swift, Gregory W, and Garrett, Steven L. Wed .
"Remotely readable fiber optic compass". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865795.
@article{osti_865795,
title = {Remotely readable fiber optic compass},
author = {Migliori, Albert and Swift, Gregory W and Garrett, Steven L},
abstractNote = {A remotely readable fiber optic compass. A sheet polarizer is affixed to a magnet rotatably mounted in a compass body, such that the polarizer rotates with the magnet. The optical axis of the sheet polarizer is preferably aligned with the north-south axis of the magnet. A single excitation light beam is divided into four identical beams, two of which are passed through the sheet polarizer and through two fixed polarizing sheets which have their optical axes at right angles to one another. The angle of the compass magnet with respect to a fixed axis of the compass body can be determined by measuring the ratio of the intensities of the two light beams. The remaining ambiguity as to which of the four possible quadrants the magnet is pointing to is resolved by the second pair of light beams, which are passed through the sheet polarizer at positions which are transected by two semicircular opaque strips formed on the sheet polarizer. The incoming excitation beam and the four return beams are communicated by means of optical fibers, giving a remotely readable compass which has no electrical parts.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986}
}