Closed loop atomic inertial sensor
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for inertial sensing, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one atomic inertial sensor; and
one or more micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors operatively coupled to the at least one atomic inertial sensor through a calibration unit;
a plurality of laser devices in optical communication with the at least one atomic inertial sensor and configured to generate optical pulses that are directed to the at least one atomic inertial sensor;
wherein the calibration unit receives output signals from the at least one atomic inertial sensor and the one or more MEMS inertial sensors, and the at least one atomic inertial sensor receives output signals from the calibration unit, such that the at least one atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors operatively communicate with each other in a closed feedback loop;
wherein the output signals from the calibration unit are used to shift a relative phase between atoms and the optical pulses from the laser devices in the at least one atomic inertial sensor, the optical pulses from the laser devices each having frequencies that are shifted until the at least one atomic inertial sensor has substantially all of its atoms returned to their initial phase, the initial phase being mapped by a final laser pulse onto a distribution of atoms within a ground state hyperfine manifold.
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Abstract
An apparatus for inertial sensing is provided. The apparatus comprises at least one atomic inertial sensor, and one or more micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors operatively coupled to the atomic inertial sensor. The atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors operatively communicate with each other in a closed feedback loop.
36 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inertial sensing, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one atomic inertial sensor; and one or more micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors operatively coupled to the at least one atomic inertial sensor through a calibration unit; a plurality of laser devices in optical communication with the at least one atomic inertial sensor and configured to generate optical pulses that are directed to the at least one atomic inertial sensor; wherein the calibration unit receives output signals from the at least one atomic inertial sensor and the one or more MEMS inertial sensors, and the at least one atomic inertial sensor receives output signals from the calibration unit, such that the at least one atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors operatively communicate with each other in a closed feedback loop; wherein the output signals from the calibration unit are used to shift a relative phase between atoms and the optical pulses from the laser devices in the at least one atomic inertial sensor, the optical pulses from the laser devices each having frequencies that are shifted until the at least one atomic inertial sensor has substantially all of its atoms returned to their initial phase, the initial phase being mapped by a final laser pulse onto a distribution of atoms within a ground state hyperfine manifold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for inertial sensing, the method comprising:
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providing an inertial sensing apparatus comprising; at least one atomic inertial sensor; a plurality of micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors in operative communication with the at least one atomic inertial sensor through a calibration unit, wherein the MEMS inertial sensors comprise at least one MEMS gyroscope and at least one MEMS accelerometer; a master laser that emits a first beam and a second beam that establish a reference frequency; a first slave laser, offset in frequency a first amount from the reference frequency, that emits a first beam and a second beam; and a second slave laser, offset in frequency a second amount from the reference frequency, that emits a first beam and a second beam; wherein the calibration unit receives output signals from the at least one atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors, and the at least one atomic inertial sensor receives output signals from the calibration unit, such that the at least one atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors operatively communicate with each other in a closed feedback loop; directing the first beam from the master laser and the first beam from the first slave laser to interfere with one another and generate a first radio frequency signal at a first photodetector; directing the second beam from the master laser and the first beam from the second slave laser to interfere with one another and generate a second radio frequency signal at a second photodetector; converting a rotation rate signal received from the MEMS gyroscope into a first frequency offset; converting an acceleration signal received from the MEMS accelerometer into a second frequency offset; generating a frequency sweep signal from the first and second frequency offsets; comparing the frequency sweep signal to the first radio frequency signal to generate a first frequency offset lock signal; comparing the frequency sweep signal to the second radio frequency signal to generate a second frequency offset lock signal; sending the first frequency offset lock signal to the first slave laser to adjust its frequency such that the first slave laser emits a second beam at an adjusted frequency that is directed to the at least one atomic inertial sensor; and sending the second frequency offset lock signal to the second slave laser to adjust its frequency such that the second slave laser emits a second beam at an adjusted frequency that is directed to the at least one atomic inertial sensor; wherein the adjusted frequency of the first slave laser and the adjusted frequency of the second laser result in the at least one atomic inertial sensor having substantially all of its atoms returned to their initial phase, the initial phase being mapped by a final laser pulse onto a distribution of atoms within a ground state hyperfine manifold. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An inertial sensing apparatus comprising:
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at least one atomic inertial sensor comprising an atomic interferometer; a plurality of micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors in operative communication with the at least one atomic inertial sensor through a calibration unit, wherein the MEMS inertial sensors comprise at least one MEMS gyroscope and at least one MEMS accelerometer; and a plurality of laser devices in optical communication with the at least one atomic inertial sensor and configured to generate optical pulses that are directed to the at least one atomic inertial sensor; wherein the calibration unit receives output signals from the at least one atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors, and the at least one atomic inertial sensor receives output signals from the calibration unit, such that the at least one atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors operatively communicate with each other in a closed feedback loop; wherein the output signals from the calibration unit are used to shift a relative phase between atoms and the optical pulses from the laser devices in the at least one atomic inertial sensor, the optical pulses from the laser devices each have frequencies that are shifted until the at least one atomic inertial sensor has substantially all of its atoms returned to their initial phase, the initial phase being mapped by a final laser pulse onto a distribution of atoms within a ground state hyperfine manifold. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification