Optically sensed wire gyroscope apparatus and system, and methods for manufacture and cursor control

A method for measuring motion comprising the steps of:

• suspending a wire having ends under tension within a magnetic field perpendicular to it longitudinal axis of the wire;
• applying a fluctuating current to the wire to induce vibration thereof within the magnetic field;
• sensing a counter-potential across the wire as a function of vibrational velocity thereof within the magnetic field;
• forming from the counter-potential sensed across the wire a first velocity signal representative of a first direction of vibrational movement of the wire perpendicular to the magnetic field;
• radiantly illuminating the wire substantially in a plane of vibrational movement of the wire within the magnetic field for forming a shadow of the wire on a surface spaced from the wire;
• detecting variations in radiation upon the surface indicative of movement of the wire in a second direction parallel to the magnetic field;
• and,
• forming a first displacement signal as a function of the variation in radiation upon the surface.

A device for measuring orientation and attitude including

• a frame;
• first tensioned wire and second tensioned wire supported on the frame and axially disposed perpendicularly with respect to each other;
• a source of oscillating electrical signal for each wire connected to supply oscillating current through respective first and second wires;
• first and second magnetic field sources positioned in fixed relation to the frame for developing first and second magnetic fields about portions of the first and second wires for producing vibrations of the first and second wires in respective first and second directions perpendicular to the respective first and second magnetic fields in response to the oscillating current supplied to the respective first and second wires;
• first and second sensors connected to the respective first and second tensioned wires for sensing counter-potentials thereon that are representative of vibrating velocities of the first and second tensioned wires, respectively, in the first and second directions for producing first and second velocity signals therefrom;
• a light source for illuminating the first and second wires and casting a shadow image thereof onto a plane spaced away from the first and second tensioned wires;
• and
• a light sensor disposed on the plane to receive the shadow image for developing first and second sensor signals indicative of fluctuations of the shadow images of the first and second tensioned wires, respectively, the first and second sensor signals being proportional to the deflections of the respective first and second tensioned wires in directions parallel to the respective first and second magnetic fields.

A method for measuring motions with a vibrating wire comprising the steps of:

• suspending the wire having ends, under tension within a magnetic field perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wire;
• applying an oscillating current to the wire to vibrate the wire perpendicular to the magnetic field;
• sensing counter-potential across the wire representative of vibrational velocity of the wire in the magnetic field;
• forming from the counter-potential across the wire a first velocity signal representative of a first direction of movement of the wire perpendicular to the magnetic field;
• illuminating the wire substantially in parallel with the plane of vibration toward a detection surface to cast a shadow of the wire onto the surface;
• detecting variations in illumination upon the surface indicative of movement of the wire in a second direction parallel to the magnetic field;
• and
• producing a first displacement signal representative of the variations in illumination upon the surface.