Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Robert W Derry

Timothy J Callaghan

Bruce A Seiber

Joseph E Killpatrick

Theodore J Podgorski

Steven C Albers

Theodore A Toth

Richard L Langton

A path length control driver apparatus includes a base plate having a first central member having first and second opposite ends, a first outer rim membr and a first flexible annular diaphragm area having first and second opposite sides. The first flexible annular diaphragm area is between and integral with the first central member and the first outer rim member. A central axis passes centrally through the first and second opposite ends of the first central member. A first piezoelectric ceramic material has first and second opposing sides and the first side of the first piezoelectric ceramic material is rigidly affixed to the first flexible annular diaphragm area's first side. A second piezoelectric ceramic material has first and second opposing sides and the first side of the second piezolectric ceramic material is rigidly affixed to the first flexible annular diaphragm area's second side. A first annular ring electrode is rigidly affixed to the second side of the first piezoelectric ceramic material, and a second annular ring electrode is rigidly affixed to the second side of the second piezoelectric ceramic material. The first and second electrodes have selected annular ring widths of different sizes to provide a selected temperature sensitivity of movement of the central member along the central axis.

Apparatus for thermal tuning of path length control drivers

Disclosed is a housing and support plate assembly for use with a dithered ring laser gyroscope which attenuates thermal and structural changes due to a varying environment. A dither mechanism is structurally supported between a housing and a support plate in a manner which serves to attenuate cross-axis movement and input axis tilting of the gyro assembly, and torsional stress.

Housing and support assembly for ring laser gyroscope

A header assembly for use in making electrical contact through the wall or bulkhead of a device such as a laser gyro which utilizes standard available components and is constructed in accordance with standard available procedures so as to effectuate a lower cost-effective header.

Method and apparatus for microminiaturized header assembly

A thermally neutralized ring laser gyro with a dither spring mounted into a central bore of a gyro block which permits dither of the block about an axis of the spring with thermal expansion effects being minimized. The dither spring has a central mounting member, a tubular outer ring member with outer surface segments secured to the block bore, radial members adjoined to and extending outward from the central member to the ring member, generally T-shaped junctions in the ring member and between adjacent ones of the outer surface segments with the radial members being adjoined to the inside of the junctions and an outer surface of each junction being spaced inwardly toward the axis from a major outer diameter defined by the segments and being in non-contact with the block bore. A method of obtaining improved thermal neutrality in a dither gyro includes the steps of leaving a void between each junction and the block bore, and then the further step of expanding the junctions into the voids when the gyro temperature changes.

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Stacy, MN, United States of America

Robert W Derry