Abstract: A modulator for controlling the frequency of the power applied to a gyroscope to rotate the seismic mass (wheel) of the gyro so as to compensate for movement of the gyro case about the spin axis of the gyro is disclosed. The modulator includes a slow acting phase-locked loop that includes: a high frequency (e.g., 20 MHz) crystal controlled voltage controlled oscillator (VCXO); a divider for dividing the VCXO frequency down by several orders of magnitude (e.g., six); a phase comparator for comparing the relatively low frequency output of the divider with a low frequency reference signal; a loop filter for filtering the output of the phase comparator so as to give the loop its desired dynamic response chacteristic and bandwidth; and, a summing amplifier for summing the output of the phase comparator with a rate signal having a voltage level linearly related to the rate of movement of the gyro case about its spin axis.

Abstract: A plurality of inertial measuring unit (IMU) modules (41A, B, C and D) each comprising gyros and accelerometers (61, 65 and 67) for sensing inertial information along two orthogonal axes, are strapdown mounted in an aircraft, preferably such that the sense axes of the IMUs are skewed with respect to one another. Inertial and temperature signals produced by the IMU modules, plus pressure signals produced by a plurality of pressure transducer modules (43A, B and C) and air temperature signals produced by total air temperature sensors (45A and B) are applied to redundant signal processors (47A, B and C). The signal processors convert the raw analog information signals into digital form, error compensate the incoming raw digital data and, then, manipulate the compensated digital data to produce signals suitable for use by the automatic flight control, pilot display and navigation systems of the aircraft.

Abstract: A modulator for controlling the frequency of the power applied to a gyroscope to rotate the seismic mass (wheel) of the gyro so as to compensate for movement of the gyro case about the spin axis of the gyro is disclosed. The modulator includes a slow acting phase-locked loop that includes: a high frequency (e.g., 20 MHz) crystal controlled voltage controlled oscillator (VCXO); a divider for dividing the VCXO frequency down by several decades (e.g., six decades); a phase comparator for comparing the relatively low frequency output of the divider with a low frequency reference signal; a loop filter for filtering the output of the phase comparator so as to give the loop its desired dynamic response characteristic and bandwidth; and, a summing amplifier for summing the output of the phase comparator with a rate signal having a voltage level linearly related to the rate of movement of the gyro case about its spin axis.