Radio frequency excited ring laser gyroscope
First Claim
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1. A ring laser gyroscope, comprising:
- a resonant optical cavity formed within a monolithic block, said block defining a closed optical path, defined by at least three legs, having a gain medium therein; and
,a closed Radio-Frequency cavity resonator positioned along a portion of said closed optical path, including at least one of said legs, which applies a localized longitudinal radio frequency signal for exciting discharge of the gain medium;
said closed Radio-Frequency cavity resonator having a helical coil powered up by a power source exhibiting reduced power dissipation surrounding a portion of said closed optical path; and
,said helical coil contained within an enclosed conductive resonator shield, said helical coil and enclosed conductive resonator shield forming a high-Q, distributed parameter coaxial Radio-Frequency resonator assembly, and substantially aligned according to the following equations;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">Q.sub.u =50 D f.sub.o.sup.1/2 ;
and,
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">N=(1900/f.sub.o D) turns;
where,Qu is unloaded Q (quality factor);
D is the inside diameter of the resonator shield;
fo is a resonant frequency (MHz) of said resonator assembly; and
,N is the total number of windings of said helical coil.
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Abstract
A radio frequency excitation system is disclosed for use in conjunction with a ring laser gyroscope. The radio frequency excitation system is comprised of a closed resonant cavity which surrounds a helical coil driven at a high radio frequency at a range of 5 to 550 megahertz. This closed resonant coil surrounds one leg of a ring laser gyroscope which is carved out and exposed so that it may be surrounded by the resonant cavity. Using such a radio frequency excitation system eliminates the need for high power DC discharge components such as cathodes and anodes, as well as problems inherent with properly sealing the cathodes and anodes to the monolithic frame of the ring laser gyroscope.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A ring laser gyroscope, comprising:
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a resonant optical cavity formed within a monolithic block, said block defining a closed optical path, defined by at least three legs, having a gain medium therein; and
,a closed Radio-Frequency cavity resonator positioned along a portion of said closed optical path, including at least one of said legs, which applies a localized longitudinal radio frequency signal for exciting discharge of the gain medium; said closed Radio-Frequency cavity resonator having a helical coil powered up by a power source exhibiting reduced power dissipation surrounding a portion of said closed optical path; and
,said helical coil contained within an enclosed conductive resonator shield, said helical coil and enclosed conductive resonator shield forming a high-Q, distributed parameter coaxial Radio-Frequency resonator assembly, and substantially aligned according to the following equations;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">Q.sub.u =50 D f.sub.o.sup.1/2 ;and,
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">N=(1900/f.sub.o D) turns;where, Qu is unloaded Q (quality factor); D is the inside diameter of the resonator shield; fo is a resonant frequency (MHz) of said resonator assembly; and
,N is the total number of windings of said helical coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a split gain multi-mode ring laser gyroscope, including a resonant cavity defining a cloed out-of-plane optical path having a gain medium therein, comprising:
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an optical pathway having at least four legs; at least on of said legs of said optical pathway being carved out to form an exposed leg that is integral with a ringe laser gyroscope frame; said exposed leg having a radio frequency helical coil wound around its length; said radio frequency helical coil surrounded by a closed resonant shield forming a resonant cavity around said radio frequency coil; a permanent magnet surrounding said resonator shield, said coil and said resonator shield being concentric within said permanent magnet; whereby, a radio frequency-excited split gain multi-mode ring laser gyroscope is provided where a permanent magnet necessary to achieve split gain within the ring laser gyroscope is positioned along the same axis as the radio frequency helical coil and closed resonant shield so that the excited active medium which arises is confined to the length of said permanent magnet.
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11. A ring laser gyroscope comprising:
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a resonant cavity defining a closed optical path having a gain medium therein; a closed Radio-Frequency cavity resonator which applies a radio frequency signal for exciting discharge of the gain medium, including; a helical coil surrounding a portion of said closed optical path; said helical coil contained within an enclosed conductive resonator shield; an RF oscillator connected to said closed Radio-Frequency cavity resonator to supply radio frequency signals to said resonant cavity; means for regulating said RF oscillator to provide a radio frequency signal to said helical coil within a predetermined range; said regulating means including frequency control means further comprising frequency detection coupling and amplification means coupled to phase lock loop means, said phase lock loop means controlling regulation of frequency provided by said RF oscillator to said helical coil; and means for controlling power provided to said closed Radio-Frequency cavity resonator including photodetection means coupled to a signal comparator means, said signal comparator means adjusting an attenuator means with reference to a pre-determined optimum power supply level; whereby, discharge of the gain medium of the ring laser gyroscope is achieved.
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Specification