RING LASER GYRO GAS BYPASS WITH AUXILIARY DISCHARGE

Abstract

A ring laser gyro, having: an envelope for an optically resonant cavity having a gain bore section, the envelope containing an active gas medium. The envelope contains electrically gain bore energizable electrode means having at least two electrodes at electrode locations within the envelope for establishing an electrical discharge in an active gas medium between the electrode locations. The electrical discharge excites a pair of light beams along a lasing path between the electrode locations. The light beams counter-propagate in the optically resonant cavity. The envelope is coupled to means for generating an output signal for the gyro by measuring a difference in the frequencies of the light beams. The active gas medium has an axial current driven gas flow and a return gas flow induced by the electrical discharge in the gain bore. The resultant gas flow contributes to bias errors in the output signal. The envelope also comprises a gas bypass cavity adapted to pneumatically couple the electrode locations along the gain bore. The gas bypass cavity also has a length in excess of that of the gain bore, and second electrode means for an auxiliary discharge path within the bypass cavity to provide axial current driven gas flow between the second electrode means respective electrode locations. Adjustment of the auxiliary discharge current provides a means for adjusting the gyro bias to compensate for bias errors induced by the gain bore axial current driven gas flow. The gas bypass cavity reduces the differential pressure between the respective electrode locations.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1JAMES P. HAUCK

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