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:
Apr. 25, 1989
Filed:
Jul. 28, 1987
Werner Schroeder, Umkirch, DE;
LITEF GmbH, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE;
Abstract
A rotation rate readout method employing a passive optical resonator. The ring resonator is operated at approximate resonance in reflection and rotation rate-dependent phase shifts are detected, in particular as first harmonics, in the resonator. Two partial light beams are first frequency shifted by equal and opposite amounts, such frequency shift being modulated. Light components coupled out of the resonator pass through a mode filter in the opposite direction and are detected as an interference signal by an opto-electronic converter. The latter signal is demodulated with respect to the modulation frequency or its harmonics and the rotation rate signal obtained therefrom. Self-compensation of the optical and electronic readout systems may be attained by periodic brief and strong damping of the ring resonator. In contrast with known methods wherein two channels are separately processed and two mode filters required, the interference signal is processed in accordance with the invention requiring only a single mode filter.