Sagnac effect rf based electromagnetic gyroscope using pulsed excitation

Abstract

A novel and useful electronic gyroscope exploits the Sagnac resulting in a detectable phase or frequency shift when an electromagnetic wave travels inside a rotating medium. These shifts in phase or frequency are measured and used to determine the angular velocity of the rotating medium. Three such media can be positioned in mutually perpendicular planes to detect 3D rotational movement. At least one loop acts as an RF transmission media that accommodates simultaneous bidirectional propagation of RF signals while being capable of separating between signals counter propagating in two opposite directions through the use of a switching matrix. A switching matrix and loop buffer function to sample pulses, amplify them, and reinject them back into one of the loops. A time measurement unit functions to detect the time difference between the counter propagating pulses which is used to calculate the rotation rate of the loop.