DIAGONAL PATHLENGTH CONTROL

Abstract

A ring laser gyro uses a nonplanar path having at least one plane of mirror symmetry and two pathlength control mirrors in order to reduce scatter variations occurring during the operation of the laser gyro. The mirrors used to produce such path are fixed to an isotropic supporting block having passages therein that define the path segments and the mirrors are moved out or in by the expansion or contraction of the block. The two pathlength control mirrors are disposed diagonally opposite each other on the plane of mirror symmetry, and are placed on substrates whose positions are controllable, each substrate being coupled to means for controlling the positions of the substrates as a function of the pathlength. With such a mirror configuration, the pathlength may be held constant by a suitable control means and the relative movement of the mirrors constrains movement, with respect to the mirrors, of the beams circulating in the path to directions perpendicular to the planes of incidence on the mirrors. This causes the beams to sample substantially the same scatter points, normally present on the mirror surfaces, with substantially the same phase throughout the range of movement of the beams.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1IRL W. SMITH

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