Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-02
2001-03-06
Lee, John R. (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
C250S227140, C356S329000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198094
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a nested fiber optic gyro system.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In a conventional construction of fiber optic gyros for sensing angular rate in three axes, each fiber optic coil is mounted on one of three orthogonal surfaces. This allows each coil to be wound on a circular bobbin with the same dimensions so the coils for each axis are common and interchangeable. Each coil is typically individually packaged in a container that provides the necessary magnetic shielding and thermal isolation provisions. However, the separate mounting of each makes for a relatively large, heavy and costly gyro system.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a nested fiber optic gyro system.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a nested fiber optic gyro system which is lighter and more compact at any scale.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a nested fiber optic gyro system which is less expensive to build and inventory.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a nested fiber optic gyro system in which all the coils are the same size and shape.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a nested fiber optic gyro system which allows for the implementation of common thermal, magnetic and mechanical packaging.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a nested fiber optic gyro system which allows for gyro performance scaling by virtue of different fiber lengths and/or different size of coils, all identical.
The invention results from the realization that a truly simple yet effective gyro system can be achieved using two or more fiber optic coils of the same size and nested one within the other and mutually transverse to one another.
This invention features a nested multiaxis fiber optic gyro system including at least a first fiber optic coil having a predetermined shape and size and at least a second fiber optic coil having the same shape and size as the first coil and nested within and transversely to the first coil.
In a preferred embodiment there may be a third fiber optic coil nested with and transverse to the first and second coils. The third coil may surround the first and second coils. It may have the same shape and size as the first and second coils. The first and second coils may be oblong or elliptical and the third coil may be oblong or elliptical. The first and second coils may be rectangular and the third coil may be rectangular. The first and second coils may be arranged nominally orthogonally to one another. All three coils may be arranged mutually orthogonal to each other. There may be a support and an alignment structure having four spaced alignment elements defining two transverse mounting channels one for supporting each of the transverse nested first and second coils. The support and alignment structure may also include a base. The third coil may be mounted on the base surrounding and transverse to the first and second coils.
The invention also features a nested fiber optic gyro system including a first elliptical fiber optic coil having a predetermined size and a second elliptical fiber optic coil having the same size as the first coil and nested within and transversely to the first coil. In a preferred embodiment the coils may be orthogonal to one another.
The invention also features a nested fiber optic gyro system including first, second and third elliptical fiber optic coils having the same size and nested within and transversely to each other.
In a preferred embodiment the coils may be mutually orthogonal to one another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is three-dimensional view of a three-axis nested fiber optic gyro system according to this invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded three-dimensional view of
FIG. 1
showing each of the coils prior to assembly;
FIG. 3
is a three-dimensional view of a support and alignment structure for holding the coils of
FIGS. 1 and 2
;
FIG. 4
is a top plan view of the support and alignment structure of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a side elevational view showing the coils of
FIGS. 1 and 2
mounted in the support and alignment structure of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 6
is a schematic side elevational view with portions in cross section and portions broken away showing a more detailed construction of the gyro system of this invention;
FIG. 7
is a three-dimensional schematic view showing a simpler two-coil two-axis gyro system according to this invention using elliptical coils; and
FIG. 8
is a three-dimensional schematic view showing three equally sized oblong coils mounted mutually traverse to one another in accordance with this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5545892 (1996-08-01), Bilinski et al.
Freier Lawrence Joel
Gilmore Jerold Philip
Nolan Ernest Eugene
Iandiorio & Teska
Lee John R.
Pyo Kevin
System Engineering Solutions, Inc.
Teska Kirk
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