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Compact three-axis ring laser gyroscope

  • US 5,757,490 A
  • Filed: 07/31/1996
  • Issued: 05/26/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A ring laser gyroscope for measuring rotation about three orthogonal axes comprising, in combination:

  • a) a three-dimensional frame;

    b) the exterior of said frame comprising a plurality of planar surfaces defining a rhombic dodecahedron;

    c) three intersecting closed non-planar cavities within said frame;

    d) each of said cavities comprising four straight segments of equal lengths that converge at planar surfaces of said frame;

    e) straight segments of at least two cavities converging at at least one planar surface of said frame;

    f) means for creating nonreciprocal splitting of modes in accordance with the Faraday effect being fixed to each of three planar surfaces of said frame; and

    g) each of said means includes (i) a disk-shaped mirror substrate, said substrate having opposed upper and lower surfaces, and being fixed to a planar surface of said frame, (ii) said upper surface of said substrate being substantially totally reflective and (iii) a pill-shaped permanent magnet being fixed to the upper surface of and coaxial with said substrate.

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