Method and system for minimizing angular random walk or bias in a ring laser gyroscope through the use of temperature based control
AssigneeHoneywell Inc.
InventorsSteve Albers, Andrew J. Karpinski, Jr.
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Abstract
A system and method is provided which minimizes angular random walk or bias occurring in ring laser gyroscopes as a result of temperature changes. Temperature is known to affect components in a ring laser gyroscope in a manner which increases angular random walk or bias. By detecting temperature and causing movable path length transducers to move mirrors in the gyroscope into a position previously determined for a given temperature, angular random walk or bias is minimized for the given temperature.
Claims22
A method of minimizing angular random walk in a ring laser gyroscope in operation, said gyroscope having mirror transducers for adjusting the position of mirrors in said gyroscope, comprising the steps of:
- detecting the temperature of the ring laser gyroscope and generating a signal representative of said temperature;
- adjusting said signal in a predetermined manner to result in control signal for said mirror transducers for causing said mirror transducers to move said mirrors in said gyroscope into a position that yields minimum angular random walk for the temperature detected;
- and
- applying said control signal to said mirror transducers to cause movement of said mirrors whereby angular random walk in said gyroscope is minimized for the temperature detected.
A system for minimizing angular random walk in a ring laser gyroscope in operation, said gyroscope having at least three mirrors for redirecting the path of laser beams therein, at least two of said mirrors being mounted on selectively movable transducers for changing the path of laser beams in said gyroscope, comprising:
- temperature detecting means for detecting the temperatures of said gyroscope and for generating a signal representative of said temperature;
- and
- control signal means for receiving said signal from said temperature detecting means and for converting said signal from said temperature detecting means into a control signal for causing said movable transducers to move the mirrors associated therewith into a position defining a path for said laser beams wherein angular random walk is reduced for said detected temperature.
A method of minimizing bias in a ring laser gyroscope in operation, said gyroscope having mirror transducers for adjusting the position of mirrors in said gyroscope, comprising the steps of:
- detecting the temperature of the ring laser gyroscope and generating a signal representative of said temperature;
- adjusting said signal in a predetermined manner to result in control signal for said mirror transducers for causing said mirror transducers to move said mirrors in said gyroscope into a position that yields minimum bias for the temperature detected;
- and
- applying said control signal to said mirror transducers to cause movement of said mirrors whereby bias in said gyroscope is minimized for the temperature detected.
A system for minimizing bias in a ring laser gyroscope in operation, said gyroscope having at least three mirrors for redirecting the path of laser beams therein, at least two of said mirrors being mounted on selectively movable transducers for changing the path of laser beams in said gyroscope, comprising:
- temperature detecting means for detecting the temperatures of said gyroscope and for generating a signal representative of said temperature;
- and
- control signal means for receiving said signal from said temperature detecting means and for converting said signal from said temperature detecting means into a control signal for causing said movable transducers to move the mirrors associated therewith into a position defining a path for said laser beams wherein bias is reduced for said detected temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.