Abstract: Systems and methods for improved ring laser gyroscope devices through mix ratio optimization are provided. In one embodiment, a ring laser gyroscope device comprises: a laser block assembly having a cavity therein that defines a ring shaped laser beam path around the laser block assembly, the cavity containing a fill gas mixture comprising Helium and Neon, wherein the laser block assembly is characterized as having a Neon depletion life limiter; and a readout assembly optically coupled to the laser block assembly. The readout assembly outputs a laser intensity monitor (LIM) voltage that represents optical energy within the cavity. The fill gas mixture has a Helium to Neon ratio richer in Neon than a ratio that would produce a peak LIM voltage from the readout assembly.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for locating the position for a concave mirror alignment device on a RLG block, comprising the following steps: 1) mount a “log” onto a CNC machine, 2) select several points along the length of the log for measurement; 3) measure the mirror mounting surface radial distances at each of the several points from the “front” of the log; 4) measure the surface radial distances at each of the several points from the “rear” of the log; 5) determine the radius, and ultimately the diameter, of a circle tangent to the mirror mounting sides of the log, for each of the several selected points; 6) determine a “best fit” equation to describe the diameters as a function of position along the log; 7) determine the offset along the x axis for the mirror mounting device of each block within the log.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mirror mounting device and method for beam path alignment of an optical cavity for a ring laser gyroscope. The ring laser gyroscope is of the type that includes a block having an optical cavity that defines a closed loop optical path. A light source directs a light beam into the path. The block includes mounting surfaces for mirrors that reflect the light beam at the optical path corners. The mirror mounting device is associated with one of the block mounting surfaces and acts to orient a concave reflective surface of one of the mirrors such that the light beam is aligned within the closed loop optical path and is at its maximum intensity irrespective of the position of the concave reflective surface of the mirror relative to its mounting surface.