The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 1986
Filed:
Feb. 24, 1984
William K Burns, Alexandria, VA (US);
Robert P Moeller, Fort Washington, MD (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A gyroscope system for obtaining an extended linear dynamic range for platform rotation rate measurements comprising a first fiber optic gyroscope with a first optical fiber coil described by a first quantity L.sub.1 R.sub.1 /.lambda..sub.1 where L.sub.1 is the length of the first optical fiber coil, R.sub.1 is the radius of the first fiber coil, and .lambda..sub.1 is the light source wavelength, this first quantity being chosen to provide a linear output for a first range of small rotation rates of the platform; a second fiber optic gyroscope with a second optical fiber coil described by a second quantity L.sub.2 R.sub.2 /.lambda..sub.2 with this second quantity being chosen to provide a linear output for a second range of large rotation rates of the platform, with this second range partially overlapping the first range; voltage controlled oscillators for converting the gyroscope signals to pulse frequency signals; a circuit for determining whether a reference rotation rate within the overlap between the first and second ranges has been reached and generating a control signal in accordance therewith; a pulse counter; and a switch for switching one or the other of the pulse frequency signals to the pulse counter in accordance with the control signal so that a gyroscope which is operating within its linear range is utilized.