Apparatus for precision slewing of flatform-mounted devices

• US 6,789,437 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Wyse, Stanley F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Saúl
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, David D.
• Application Number:
  US09/919,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20030024333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 74/54, 74/55, 74/54.6, 74/54.7, 74/56.E, 74/57, 74/52.2
• US Class Current: 74/5.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/30 Erection devices, i.e. devices for restoring rotor axis to a desired position for instrument indicating the vertical G01C19/46
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1218 Combined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1229 Gyroscope control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/125 by magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1254 by motor torque
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1257 Damping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1279 Electrical and magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1282 with rotor drive

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for controlling the path of oscillatory travel of a device within a two-axis system. A device, such as a camera, is held in a two axis gimbal system having motors for driving the azimuth and pitch axes. A two degree-of-freedom gyroscope is fixed to the case of the device. A first derivative circuit is interposed between a first input port for a loop for controlling device movement with respect to a first axis and a second input port for a loop for controlling device movement with respect to a second axis. Likewise, a second derivative circuit is interposed between the two input ports so that a periodic signal driving with respect to one axis generates a derivative function for driving with respect to the cross-axis. The cross axis signal is scaled to counteract the direct torquing of the gyro rotor that otherwise prevents smooth oscillatory slewing or scanning by the device.

Claims

1. Apparatus for oscillating a device fixed to a two degree of freedom gyroscope having a spinning rotor, said device being associated with a two-axis system said apparatus comprising, in combination:

a) said gyroscope including a first forcer for applying a first torque with respect to a first rotor axis in response to a first alternating signal and a second forcer for applying a second torque to said rotor with respect to a second, orthogonal rotor axis in response to a second signal;

b) a first pickoff for detecting deflection of said rotor about said first rotor axis and generating a first pickoff signal in response and a second pickoff for detecting deflection of said rotor about said second rotor axis and generating a second pickoff signal in response;

c) a first motor for driving said device about a first device axis in response to said first pickoff signal and a second motor for driving said device about a second device axis in response to said second pickoff signal; and

d) a cross-axis circuit for receiving said first signal and deriving the second signal as the derivative thereof.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said device is a camera.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a gain of said at least one cross-axis circuit is inversely proportional to a nutation frequency of said rotor.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a transfer function T(s) of said at least one cross-axis circuit is

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one cross-axis circuit comprises an operational amplifier.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said at least one cross-axis circuit comprises said operational amplifier including a feedback resistor in parallel with a feedback capacitor.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second cross-axis circuit arranged to receive said second signal and to generate said first signal in response thereto.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each cross-axis circuit generates an output signal comprising a derivative of an input signal.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein a gain of each cross-axis circuit is inversely proportional to a nutation frequency of said rotor.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein a transfer function T(s) of each of said cross-axis circuits is

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said cross-axis circuits comprises an operational amplifier.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said cross-axis circuits comprises said operational amplifier including a feedback resistor in parallel with a feedback capacitor.