LASER PATH LENGTH CONTROL RESET ACCELERATION CIRCUIT

Abstract

A ring laser angular rate sensor apparatus includes ring laser apparatus for generating a pair of counter-propagating laser beams about a closed-loop path where the laser beam intensity varies as a function of drive voltage. Path length control apparatus including a transducer drive amplifier apparatus provides a drive signal for variably adjusting the length of the closed loop path so as to acquire a peak laser intensity. Reset acceleration apparatus for selectively applying a bias signal to the path length control apparatus rapidly forces the drive signal in one direction thereby causing the laser intensity corresponding to the drive signal to increase and allows the path length control apparatus to acquire a laser intensity peak. In one embodiment of the invention the reset acceleration apparatus includes apparatus for comparing a predetermined reference signal with a laser intensity signal and switching apparatus, coupled to and controlled by the comparing apparatus, for applying the bias signal. The bias signal is applied by the comparing apparatus when the laser intensity signal falls below the level of the predetermined reference signal.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1ANDREW J. KARPINSKI

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