Abstract: An online purchasing system has a host server with a merchant's database of products, prices, and operations, and user identifiers and accounts, linked to a banking system for tracking financial transactions. Users access the server for reviewing the merchant database and pre-selecting a subset of products defining a personalized user interface for later online purchasing activities, and storing it on the server. A thin client application for a mobile device provides for communicating with the server and receiving an XML-formatted data file defining the user's personalized user interface, and repurposing the mobile device user interface accordingly. User commands generated using the repurposed interface are sent to the server, executed, and an XML file representing the resulting update to the personalized user display is sent back to the mobile device, updating its own interface, all in real time, such that the remote execution of the command is transparent to the user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Ring Laser Gyroscope Mount comprising a low coefficient of expansion metal Invar sleeve and mount coupler. The sleeve may be secured to the gyroscope pedestal by being screwed and affixed to a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion material pedestal, such as HyMu 80. The sleeve is attached also to the glass frame by cementing it at selected locations within the central mounting aperture of the gyroscope frame. This securement procedure makes the assembly stiffer in directions perpendicular to the axis of the coupler. At least one concentric groove which surrounds the coupler is machined into at least one side of the frame to reduce stress at gyroscope mirror surfaces during thermal excursions. The clearance gap where the cement is placed, the groove depth and shape, and the sleeve and coupler are designed to be stiff but not induce distortion.

Abstract: A device for driving a mirror of a laser cavity has a deflectable body which matches the mirror in coefficient of thermal expansion and acts in response to forces from one or more piezoelectric elements. The piezoelectric elements deflect a membrane of the driver body which acts on the mirror in an axial direction to control the path length of the cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the driver body is made of a low expansion glass-ceramic or fused quartz material and has a peripheral ring and an inner hub for transfer of deflection forces to the mirror in either of two opposite directions.

Abstract: A means for stressing the hub of a laser gyro dither mechanism is provided including a compression bolt passing through an aperture in the hub and having a nut threaded thereon for tightening against the hub until a desired dither frequency is achieved. In an alternative embodiment, the hub is stressed by placing it in tension using a rod within an aperture passing partway through the hub and having a set screw threaded into the aperture such that tightening the set screw forces the rod against the bottom of the aperture to place the hub in tension. The set screw is similarly tightened until a desired dither frequency is achieved. With either of these embodiments, dither frequencies of individual gyros can be adjusted after the gyro system is operational to separate dither frequencies to minimize mechanical frequency interference among the gyros.

Abstract: An improved laser gyro dither mechanism utilizing a three-spring suspension system which not only isolates dither vibrational energy generated within the gyro and prevents that energy from passing to the mounting case of the laser, but which, additionally, eliminates possible pendulous action by the suspended gyro mechanism. The gyro's ring laser is mounted about a center post in its case. A first spring member is connected between the ring laser an the center post at the top of the post. A second spring member is connected between a counterweight and the centerpost on the bottom of the post. A third spring member is connected between the ring laser and the counterweight on the bottom of the post to complete the suspension system.

Abstract: The invention uses a laser frame which has a central opening about its sensing axis. There is a structural support member in the shape of two substantially conical frustums attached together at their largest diameter portions, with their axes coaxial, and attached to the periphery of the central opening of the frame. The support member is slotted with axially and radially directed slots to form therebetween axially and radially directed struts. The struts have surfaces at their smallest diameter portions for attachment to a post member. The angles of the frustums and the struts are such that when the support member is attached to a post member, thermal expansion of such post member would produce substantially pure bending of the struts.