INERTIALLY STABILIZED GIMBAL PLATFORM

• US 3,875,488 A
• Filed: 02/15/1973
• Issued: 04/01/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Barry N. Levitt, Thomas H. Crocker
• Original Assignee: Barry N. Levitt, Thomas H. Crocker
• Inventors: Levitt, Barry N., Crocker, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dobeck, B.
• Application Number:
  US05/332,856
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 318/648,694 74/5,5.4,5.6 323/44
• US Class Current: 318/648
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/18 Stabilised platforms, e.g. by gyroscope
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1229 Gyroscope control

Abstract

An inertially stabilized gimbal platform is disclosed wherein the gyros used in such system operate about their mechanical null positions and control the gimbal drive means through an electronic control section. The electronic control section includes a control signal which is combined with the gyro output to provide a drive signal for the gimbal drive means. The control signal is proportional to the offset between the electrical null position and the mechanical null position of the gyro. The control signal may be modified in accordance with platform command signals to orient the platform in a desired attitude.

Claims

1. In an inertially stabilized gimbal platform system wherein a gimbal drive meAns is controlled through an electronic control section by the output of a gyro mounted on a platform in such system, such gyro having an electrical null position and, offset therefrom, a mechanical null position, to stabilize such platform, such electronic control section comprising:

a. a control signal source means, for providing a control signal representative of the offset between the electrical null position and the mechanical null position; and

b. means for combining the output signal of the gyro with the control signal to provide an output signal being coupled to the gimbal drive means.

2. The electronic control section recited in claim 1 including means for coupling a platform command signal into such electronic control section to change the control signal in accordance with such platform command signal.

3. The electronic control section recited in claim 1 wherein the control signal causes the gyro to operate about the mechanical null position.

4. The electronic control section recited in claim 3 wherein the inertially stabilized gimbal platform system includes a platform attitude sensing means coupled to the platform, and wherein the control signal source means includes an integrator, coupled between the platform attitude measuring means and the output of the control signal source means.

5. The electronic control section recited in claim 4 wherein the integrator includes means for storing a voltage representative of the control signal.