Optics: measuring and testing – By light interference – Rotation rate
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-07-10
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optics: measuring and testing
By light interference
Rotation rate
C356S459000, C356S369000, C372S087000, C372S088000, C372S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259528
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In ring laser gyros it is important for obvious reasons to have a gyro with a long lifetime. In the past, the goal was to create an ultra pure helium and neon gas environment inside the laser cavity of a ring laser gyro. However, it has been discovered that a slight oxygen background extends the life of the ring laser gyro by reducing degradation caused by the plasma. In present ring laser gyros
1
shown in
FIG. 1
, helium neon plasma
12
is introduced into a ring laser gyro block
2
to create lasing in the ring laser gyro
1
which in turn creates laser beams
16
in the ring laser gyro
1
. Mirrors
8
are placed at the ends of the ring laser gyro block
2
to keep the laser beams
16
traveling in the block
2
for ring laser gyro operation.
One of the key factors for a long life in ring laser gyros
1
is that the cathode
7
and mirrors
8
used in the ring laser gyro
1
have a long life. The plasma environment is important in preventing the degradation of the cathode
7
and mirrors
8
and extending the life of the cathode
7
and mirrors
8
. As stated previously, it has been discovered that a low level of oxygen in the plasma environment extends the life of the cathode
7
and mirrors
8
and thus, the life of the ring laser gyro
1
. However, it has been difficult if not impossible to create a slight oxygen background because there are multiple oxygen sinks inside the laser cavity of the ring laser gyro.
It would be beneficial to create an environment for the cathode
7
and mirrors
8
so that the cathode
7
and mirrors
8
would not deteriorate and have a long life. As a result of a longer life for the cathode
7
and the mirrors
8
, the life of the ring laser gyro
1
would be longer as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For the operation of ring laser gyros, plasma is placed in the ring laser gyro blocks to create laser beams. Mirrors are placed in the ring laser gyro block to keep the laser beams traveling for continued operation of the ring laser gyro. To keep the mirrors operating for a long period of time, the plasma is doped with a low level of oxygen to create an environment that will not deteriorate the cathode and mirrors, but ensure long life operation. As a result, the life of the ring laser gyro will be long as well.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4926437 (1990-05-01), Ford
patent: 5052012 (1991-09-01), Norvell
patent: 5867269 (1999-02-01), Albers et al.
Albers Steven C.
Callaghan Timothy J.
Ehlert Lawrence B.
Killpatrick Joseph E.
Font Frank G.
Fredrick Kris T.
Honeywell Inc.
Rodriguez Armando
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