Dither suspension mechanism for a ring laser angular rate sensor
First Claim
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1. In a laser angular rate sensor having a laser block driven about an axis by a dither suspension mechanism, the dither suspension mechanism comprising:
- a first flexure plate having a central axis, said first flexure plate having,a central member, anda first plurality of spring members having first and second ends, each of said first plurality of spring members extending from said central member with said first ends of said spring members rigidly fixed to said central member;
a housing having an aperture for receiving said laser block, said housing aperture being bounded by an annular inner wall about a central axis therethrough, said aperture capable of receiving said laser block and said first flexure plate;
means for rigidly securing together said laser block and said central member of said first flexure plate; and
means for rigidly securing said second ends of said first plurality of spring members to said annular inner wall.
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Abstract
A pair of flexure plates having an outer toroidal rim extended from a hub by a plurality of radial springs are utilized to rigidly sandwich a laser block. A housing having an aperture for receiving the sandwiched assembly is welded to the outer toroidal rims to provide a dither suspension mechanism for a ring laser angular rate sensor.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. In a laser angular rate sensor having a laser block driven about an axis by a dither suspension mechanism, the dither suspension mechanism comprising:
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a first flexure plate having a central axis, said first flexure plate having, a central member, and a first plurality of spring members having first and second ends, each of said first plurality of spring members extending from said central member with said first ends of said spring members rigidly fixed to said central member; a housing having an aperture for receiving said laser block, said housing aperture being bounded by an annular inner wall about a central axis therethrough, said aperture capable of receiving said laser block and said first flexure plate; means for rigidly securing together said laser block and said central member of said first flexure plate; and means for rigidly securing said second ends of said first plurality of spring members to said annular inner wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. In a laser angular rate sensor having a laser block driven about an axis by a dither suspension mechanism, the dither suspension mechanism comprising:
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a first flexure plate having a central axis, said first flexure plate having, an outer toroidal rim concentric with said central axis; a central member; a plurality of springs extending between said outer toroidal rim and said central member; a housing having an aperture for receiving said laser block, said housing aperture being bounded by an annlar inner wall about a central axis therethrough, said aperture capable of receiving said laser block and said first flexure plate; means for rigidly securing together said laser block and said central member of said first flexure plate; and means for rigidly securing said toroidal rim of said first flexure plate to said annular inner wall. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. In a laser angular rate sensor having a laser block driven about an axis by a dither suspension mechanism, the dither suspension mechanism comprising:
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first and second flexure plates each having a central axis, each of said flexure plates having, an outer toroidal rim concentric with said central axis; a central member; a plurality of radial springs extending from said central member to said outer toroidal rim; a housing having an aperture for receiving said laser block, said housing aperture being bounded by an annular inner wall about a central axis therethrough, said aperture capable of receiving said laser block and said first flexure plate; means for rigidly securing said laser block between said central member of said first and second flexure plates and in which said central axes thereof are coaxial; and means for rigidly securing said toroidal rim of each of said first and second flexure plates to said annular inner wall. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A dither suspension mechanism for transmitting circumferential motion about an axis to a driven member, said dither suspension mechanism comprising:
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a first flexure plate having a central axis, said first flexure plate having, a central member, and a plurality of spring members having first and second ends, each of said plurality of spring members extending from said central member with said first ends of said spring members rigidly fixed to said central member; a housing having an aperture for receiving said driven member, said housing aperture being bounded by an annular inner wall about a central axis therethrough, said aperture capable of receiving said laser block and said first flexure plate; means for rigidly securing together said driver member and said central member of said first flexure plate; means for rigidly securing said second ends of said springs to siad annular inner wall; and electrical transducers rigidly fixed to selected ones of said spring members to cause said springs to flex in response to an electrical signal and cause said circumferential motion.
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Specification