Laser gyroscope
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorShaoul Ezekiel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor for measuring inertial rotation is provided which includes a passive ring, a means for generating two beams of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation, means for passing the beams into the passive ring to form two countertravelling beams and means adapted to lock the beams entering the passive ring to the cavity resonant frequencies of the countertravelling beams. The amount and direction of inertial rotation is determined by determining the frequency of the beams entering the passive ring effected by the locking means and the frequency shift of the countertravelling beams resulting from the inertial rotation of the passive ring.
Claims20
A sensor for measuring inertial rotation which comprises:
- a. means for reflecting monochromatic electromagnetic radiation in a closed path comprising a passive ring,
- b. generating means for forming two beams of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation, said generating means being positioned to cause said beams to enter said closed path and to pass in resonance around said closed path in opposite directions,
- c. monitoring means for monitoring the resonant frequency shift of each of said beams within the closed path caused by inertial rotation of said closed path, and
- d. means responsive to said monitoring means adapted to control said generating means to change the frequency shift of at least one beam of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation to equal the resonant frequency of at least one of the beams within the closed path.
The process for measuring inertial rotation which comprises generating two beams of monochromatic light in a passive ring resonantly in a closed path in opposite directions monitoring the frequency shift of each beam within said passive ring caused by rotation of said passive ring and changing the frequency of at least one of said beams in response to the frequency monitored to equal the new resonant frequency of at least one of said beams within said passive ring caused by said rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.