Abstract: A resilient serpentine shaped tungsten wire is formed to match a short wire section to hold a ring laser gyroscope getter. The getter-holder assembly is positioned within a stepped oblong bore so that the getter is in firm contact with the bore surface at two points. This prevents resonances of the getter or holder that might otherwise destroy the getter while subjected to vibrations.

Abstract: A shaft state sensor includes a rotating member having a miniaturized lamp mounted thereto. A rotary transformer is connected to the lamp and supplies it with power. A number of optic fibers are arranged in a circular configuration on a stationary member of the sensor. The center of the circular configuration is coaxial with the shaft of the rotating member. As the shaft turns, the lamp becomes sequentially aligned with each of the fibers thereby indicating changes in shaft position. The fibers are connected to an optical coupler which is in turn connected to an optical density discriminator for detecting when the light passing through a particular optic fiber exceeds the required threshold level. The output from the discriminator is optical and may travel over substantial cable distances to a computer location without the introduction of electrical noise so that shaft position or velocity may be computed.

Abstract: A circuit for duplicating the function of an incremental shaft encoder comprises a rugged resolver connected to a hybrid digital-analog circuit which generates output signals identical to those of a counterpart incremental encoder. The digital portion of the circuit includes terminals whereat absolute angle measurements of a shaft may be made.

Abstract: A monolithic ring laser gyroscope is formed by six mirrors mounted to the respective center of each face in a cube. Bores in the cube interconnect each of the mirrors. Three orthogonal planes are defined within the cube, each of which contains a laser cavity. Accordingly, three orthogonal beam paths exist, each responsive to rotational inputs about three orthogonal axes.

Abstract: Two of the three reflecting mirrors in a ring laser gyroscope are provided with transducers permitting the mirrors to control the ring laser gyroscope laser path. The third mirror is partially reflecting to permit some cavity radiation to exit. The radiation includes winking signal components which are related to laser beam lock-in. By controlling the phase difference between the signal components, minimum lock-in may be achieved.

Abstract: A universal joint hinge assembly for a tuned rotor gyroscope is insensitive to restraint changes due to spin axes accelerations. The hinge assembly is readily trimmable at the gyroscope wheel assembly to permit adjusting of the axial compliance of the gyroscope wheel thereby reducing the rectified torques due to linear acceleration.

Abstract: A digitized pickoff system is provided for sensing displacement of complementary elements of a dual element pickoff assembly in an inertial sensor for use in an inertial navigation system comprising a relaxation oscillator adapted to sequentially select each of the pickoff elements with the reactance of the selected element determining the oscillating frequency thereof, a data converter adapted to measure the oscillating period thereof, and logic means having an output of a digital number which is proportional to the difference of oscillator periods of the two elements of the dual element pickoff assembly and which is a digital representation of the pickoff displacement.

Abstract: A computer system is provided for reconstructing a word, which is altered during cycling of the computer memory when a nuclear event occurs. The computer system includes a nuclear event detector, a circuit for setting flags in response to the detection of an event, a generating circuit for generating a random variable time interval in response to the flags, a circuit for performing block parity on the data in the memory in response to the flags, and correcting circuit for correcting the altered word in the memory in response to the block parity circuit. The computer system further includes a circuit for correcting multiple memory word upsets in response to the block parity circuit and an updating circuit for performing block parity during sequential storage or random storage of the data words before or after an event.

Abstract: During assembly of a motor, a stator winding is installed in a jig in preparation of cleaning. A brush is moved axially through the central space of the winding. The shaft of the brush is equipped with fluid jets which direct solvent against the winding as it is being brushed. Dislodging of foreign matter from the winding is enhanced by pumping the solvent through the brush shaft in a pulsating manner.

Abstract: The torquer section of a gyro includes a plurality of torquer coils symmetrically positioned within a flywheel. A pair of parallel spaced radially oriented salient torquer magnets are located within the flywheel and are equidistant to each respective coil. The magnet pairs increase the flux density within the operating gap between coil and magnets while minimizing fringing flux. The torquer section is secured to the gryoscope housing by mounting materials which reduce unwanted thermal gradients during rapid warmup and high torquing rates thus virtually ensuring consistent torquer coil position over the operating temperature range.

Abstract: A braking mechanism for a rotating shaft includes a corrugated wheel keyed to the shaft. A polyurethane pad mounted on a spring-biased plunger contacts the wheel corrugations creating non-permanent mating formations in the pad. Thus, upon contact between the two, the wheel and pad mesh thereby preventing wheel rotation until the pad is withdrawn.

Abstract: A single beam force transducer is provided with integrally affixed isolation springs which are axially compliant and unbalanced in their spring rates so as to induce beam bending due to applied tension and compression. The amount of bending introduced due to applied tension will be of a precise magnitude so as to substantially cancel undesirable non-linear vibration effects.

Abstract: An electromechanically dithered ring laser gyroscope includes a beam combiner utilizing optical fibers instead of conventional optics. This permits a beam measuring photodetector and associated electronics to be positioned outside the gyroscope or its enclosure. The invention further includes a dither compensator using optical fibers thereby replacing sensitive electronic or optical dither compensating components.

Abstract: A single beam force transducer has a beam characterized by a thickened central portion and tapered outward portions. The support members of the transducer are thickened and are thus stiffer while the isolator masses are shortened. These critical configuration changes raise the undesirable "tuning fork" resonant frequency of the beam supporting structure far above that of the beam and ensures that the isolating structure behaves as a rigid body.

Abstract: A torsional hinge is axially mounted within a central bore of a ring laser gyroscope body. The hinge comprises a plurality of angularly spaced wing sections having generally radially extending slits therein for permitting torsional motion of the gyroscope about the hinge. A plurality of spaced arcuate segments bridge a gap between the wing sections and the confronting surface of the bore and are cemented to the surface for securement of the hinge. By properly dimensioning and positioning the subtending contact areas of the hinge within the bore, the effects of thermal expansion of the hinge are minimized thereby inhibiting distortion of the gyroscope body as well as path length changes with temperature.

Abstract: A hysteresis synchronous motor in which a rotor includes arcuate permanent magnets mounted adjacent to the hysteresis ring material. Permanent magnetic poles are induced in the ring material by the rotating electromagnetic stator field. After start-up, the rotor remains synchronized with the rotating field due to the mutual attraction of opposite magnetic poles.

Abstract: A feedback control system for maintaining the intensity and spectral distribution of light at a predetermined level at a wavelength characteristic of the excited source. Control of that intensity, which exhibits a systematic but not necessarily a monotonic relation with excitation, is achieved by measuring and controlling the intensity of flux at another characteristic wavelength which is both systematic and monotonic.

Abstract: A piezoelectric pick-off transducer is used for sensing dither velocity in a ring laser gyroscope. The pick-off transducer is mounted on a spoke connecting the hub and rim of the gyroscope and it comprises two spaced electrodes equidistant about the point of inflection of the spoke. A differential amplifier is connected at its input to the electrodes for generating a signal proportional to dither velocity.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance gyroscope has auxiliary coils mounted adjacent the coils which normally produce the DC H.sub.o field for the gyro spin generators. The auxiliary coils establish an inhomogeneous H.sub.o field which results in a reduction of the rate bias shifts due to readout lamp plasma shifts. Alternately, rate bias shifts may be reduced by introducing a temperature differential between the two absorption cells employed in the gyro.