Honeywell International Inc.

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Christina Marie Schober

James A Vescera

Jennifer S Strabley

Delmer L Smith

Terry Dean Stark

Rodney H Thorland

Kenneth Salit

Chad J Langness

Danielle D Oscarson

Robert R Divine

Daniel J Murray

Bernard S Fritz

Karl D Nelson

Timothy J Callaghan

Timothy A Beckwith

Bruce A Seiber

Douglas P Mortenson

Daniel L Sittler

Lloyd Armogan

David O Fellows

Shari L Jossi

Thomas G Ostertag

Stuart D Olson

Ying Tan

Steven P Valley

Rodney Harold Thorland

Chad Labngness

Terry D Stark

James A Verscera

In some examples, the disclosure describes an accelerometer including a proof mass, and a housing enclosing the proof mass. The accelerometer includes a cold temperature sink defining a condensing surface. In some examples, the disclosure describes a technique for making an accelerometer. The example technique includes forming a cold temperature sink defining a condensing surface, and enclosing a proof mass in the housing. The condensing surface is configured to promote at least one of condensation or ice formation in an interior of the housing. The condensing surface is spaced from the proof mass to divert at least one of condensate or ice away from the proof mass.

Freeze-resistant accelerometers

One embodiment is directed towards a physics package of an atomic sensor. The physics package includes a plurality of panes of optically transparent material enclosing a vacuum chamber and one or more wedges attached to an external surface of one or more of the panes. The physics package also includes at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror attached to the one or more wedges, the light source configured to generate an input light beam for the vacuum chamber, the photodetector configured to detect an output light beam from the vacuum chamber, and the mirror configured to reflect a light beam from the vacuum chamber back into the vacuum chamber, wherein the wedge is configured to oriented such a light source, photodetector, or mirror such that a respective light beam corresponding thereto transmits through a corresponding pane at an acute angle with respect to the corresponding pane.

Atomic sensor physics package having optically transparent panes and external wedges

A ring laser gyroscope comprises a laser block that defines an optical closed loop pathway configured to contain a lasing gas. A plurality of mirror structures are respectively mounted on the laser block, with each of the mirror structures having a respective reflective surface that is in optical communication with the optical closed loop pathway. A plurality of electrodes are coupled to the laser block, with the electrodes configured to generate a pair of counter-propagating laser beams from the lasing gas in the optical closed loop pathway. At least one optical sensor is coupled to one of the mirror structures, with the optical sensor in optical communication with the closed loop pathway. A polarizer is in optical communication with the optical sensor. The polarizer is configured to pass laser light having substantially one polarization mode to the optical sensor.

Ring laser gyroscope with integrated polarization

One embodiment is directed towards a physics package of an atomic sensor. The physics package includes a frame composed of metal and including a plurality of slender support members extending between one another in a three dimensional structure. The support members define boundaries between adjacent apertures defined in the frame. The plurality of support members include a plurality of mounting surfaces adjacent to the apertures. The physics package also includes a plurality of panes attached to the mounting surfaces of the frame. The plurality of panes cover the apertures such that the frame and the plurality of panes define a vacuum chamber and provide three light paths that cross within the vacuum chamber at 90 degree angles with respect to one another. The physics package also includes a chamber evacuation structure for evacuating the vacuum chamber.

Atomic sensor physics package with metal frame

Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for external frit mounted components on a sensor device. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a sensor device comprises securing at least one component stack on a sensor body over at least one opening in the sensor body, wherein the at least one component stack comprises a plurality of components and applying a frit to the plurality of components in the at least one component stack and the sensor body. The method further comprises heating the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the frit melts and cooling the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the at least one component stack is secured to the sensor body.

Systems and methods for external frit mounted components

Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for providing an atomic sensor device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a sensor body, the sensor body enclosing an atomic sensor, wherein the sensor body contains a gas evacuation site located on the sensor body, the gas evacuation site configured to connect to a gas evacuation device. The device also comprises a getter container coupled to an opening in the sensor body, an opening in the getter container coupled to an opening in the sensor body, such that gas within the sensor body can freely enter the getter container. The device further comprises an evaporable getter enclosed within the getter container, the evaporable getter facing away from the sensor body.

Systems and methods for gettering an atomic sensor

A method of forming a physics package for an atomic sensor comprises providing an expendable support structure having a three-dimensional configuration, providing a plurality of optical panels, and assembling the optical panels on the expendable support structure such that edges of adjacent panels are aligned with each other. The edges of adjacent panels are sealed together to form a physics block having a multifaced geometric configuration. The expendable support structure is then removed while leaving the physics block intact.

Hermetically sealed atomic sensor package manufactured with expendable support structure

In one embodiment, a block for a physics package of an atomic sensor is provided. The block comprises one or more sections of optically transparent material defining a vacuum sealed chamber, and including a plurality of transmissive and reflective surfaces to define a plurality of light paths intersecting the vacuum sealed chamber. The one or more sections of optically transparent material include a first monolithic section defining at least a portion of the vacuum sealed chamber. The first monolithic section includes a first portion disposed across a first light path of the plurality of light paths such that light in the first light path is incident on the first portion of the first monolithic section.

Atomic sensor physics package with integrated transmissive and reflective portions along light paths

A method for maintaining measurement accuracy of a ring laser gyroscope is disclosed. The method involves periodically measuring a path length control voltage in the ring laser gyroscope over a prescribed temperature range. When a first path length controlled by the path length control voltage deviates at least one wavelength from a nominal path length, the method detects the change in the path length as a mode shift. For each mode shift, the method applies a path length correction to maintain the first path length at a target path length over the prescribed temperature range. The method can apply a correction to a measurement signal output of the ring laser gyroscope by adjusting a calibrated scale factor depending on an actual integer number of wavelengths achieved during a mode shift.

Gyroscope mode shift detection and scale factor compensation

A piezoelectric transducer is described that is configured for use within a path length control apparatus of an optical device. The transducer comprises at least one void formed within a central region of the piezoelectric transducer, the one void or alternatively, the multiple voids, utilized at least in part to limit a curvature induced into a mirror during operation of the piezoelectric transducer.

Methods and systems for improving optical flatness in a path length control driver

A ring laser gyroscope is described that includes at least one laser gyroscope block and a dither motor, where the gyroscope blocks are configured to engage the dither motor. The dither motor has an outer ring, a hub section, at least one radially extending reed extending between the outer ring and the hub section, and at least one piezoelectric transducer attached the reed. The piezoelectric transducer includes a common piezo-ceramic having a contiguous void line that allows for a separate electrical connection to be made to electrode surfaces on each side of the void line.

Dither motor having integrated drive and pickoff transducers

A path length control apparatus (PLC) for a ring laser gyroscope (RLG) provides a flattened surface for reflecting a laser beam. The flattened surface is achieved by providing a void behind the mirror in the laser beam area thus separating this area from stresses induced by temperature, voltage and/or displacement.

Piezoelectric transducer configured for use as a path length control apparatus for an optical device comprising a central void region

A multi-layer PZT comprises a plurality of stacked ceramic layers. The stack of ceramic layers includes a top ceramic layer on which negative and positive contacts for electrically coupling the PZT to external circuitry are formed. The stack of ceramic layers also includes at least one negatively poled ceramic layer having a negative conductive pattern formed thereon and at least one positively poled ceramic layer having a positive conductive pattern formed thereon. The PZT also includes a negative pattern interconnect for electrically connecting the negative contact and the negative conductive pattern and a positive pattern interconnect for electrically connecting the positive contact and the positive conductive pattern. The multi-layer PZT can be fabricated using a ceramic co-firing process.

Growing community of inventors

St. Anthony, MN, United States of America

Christina Marie Schober