Control apparatus
AssigneeHoneywell Inc.
InventorTheodore J. Podgorski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus to minimize laser angular rate sensor lock in by optimal positioning of the beam path within the laser cavity.
Claims12
Apparatus for minimizing lock-in in a laser angular rate sensor comprising a laser cavity around which a pair of laser beams travel in opposite directions along the same closed loop, means responsive to lock-in of said beams and producing a signal indicative of the magnitude of the lock-in frequency, beam loop shifting means connected to said signal producing means, and means controlling said beam loop shifting means to respond to said signal so as to cause said beam loops to be shifted within said cavity to a position at which the lock-in frequency is at a minimum.
In a laser apparatus comprising a cavity having at least three reflective surfaces defining a polygonal closed loop and laser beam producing means for producing two contrarotating oscillating beams traveling in opposite directions around said loop, means for minimizing the lock-in frequency of oscillation of said two beams comprising:
- first and second transducer means having reflective surfaces, said transducer means with their associated reflective surfaces defining two corners of said polygonal closed loop;
- means for producing a signal indicative of the magnitude of the lock-in frequency;
- and
- means connecting said signal producing means to said first and second transducer means so as to energize said transducer means to shift said associated reflective surfaces in unison but in opposite senses so as to shift said closed loop within said cavity to a position at which the lock-in frequency is at a minimum.
In a laser apparatus comprising a cavity having at least three reflective surfaces defining a polygonal closed loop and laser beam producing means for producing two contrarotating oscillating beams traveling in opposite directions around said loop, means for minimizing the lock-in frequency of oscillation of said two beams comprising:
- first and second transducer means having reflective surfaces, said transducer means with their associated reflective surfaces in combination with at least one additional reflective surface defining said polygonal closed loop;
- means for controlling said first transducer means as a function of laser beam intensity so as to control total path length of said beams, said path length being maintained at a length at which maximum intensity/maximum power is produced;
- and
- means controlling said second transducer means as a function of the magnitude of the lock-in frequency of said beams, said transducers when so controlled functioning to (i) maintain said beams at peak power/intensity and (ii) shift the entire loop within said cavity to a position at which the lock-in frequency is at a minimum.
In a laser apparatus comprising a cavity having at least three reflective surfaces defining a polygonal closed loop and laser beam producing means for producing two contrarotating oscillating beams traveling in opposite directions around said loop, and means for periodically dithering the entire laser apparatus so that said beams periodically lock in, means for minimizing the lock-in frequency of oscillation of said two beams comprising:
- first and second transducer means having reflective surfaces, said transducer means with their associated reflective surfaces in combination with at least one additional reflective surface defining said polygonal closed loop;
- means for controlling said first transducer means as a function of laser beam intensity so as to control total path length of said beams, said path length being maintained at a length at which maximum intensity/maximum power is produced;
- and
- means controlling said second transducer means as a function of the magnitude of the lock-in frequency of said beams, said transducers when so controlled functioning to (i) maintain said beams at peak power/intensity and (ii) shift the entire loop within said cavity to a position at which the lock-in frequency is at a minimum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.