Abstract: Extended laser life may be obtained by measuring, with an ammeter AM, the discharge current applied to a laser (either linear or a ring laser gyro RLG), measuring the intensity of the resulting light beam with an intensity monitor IM, calculating the noise with an integrated circuit IC, and maintaining the discharge current at the lowest level possible which is consistent both with maintaining the intensity above the intensity service limit and the noise below the noise service limit.

Abstract: An alignment and path length control apparatus having a mirror housing having a base and a closed wall. The base has a mirrored external surface. The closed wall has a central axis. The closed wall is joined to the base at a base end of the closed wall by a flexible web. The closed wall extends above the base and terminates at a rim defining an aperture. The base has a central region coupled to the cylindrical wall. A post extends from the central region of the base within the cylindrical wall to a top end. A mirror axis extends from the mirrored external surface through the post. The central axis is substantially parallel to the mirror axis. An alignment transducer responds to a first alignment control signal by applying at least a first force between the post and the wall to deflect the mirror axis with respect to the central axis. A linear transducer responds to a linear displacement control signal by applying an axial force to the post to displace the central region longitudinally along the central axis.

Abstract: A laser accelerometer comprises a frame having three orthogonal input axes and multiple proof masses, each proof mass having a predetermined blanking surface. A flexible beam supports each proof mass. The flexible beam permits movement of the proof mass on the input axis. A laser light source provides a light ray. The laser source is characterized to have a transverse field characteristic having a central null intensity region. A mirror transmits a ray of light to a detector. The detector is positioned to be centered to the light ray and responds to the transmitted light ray intensity to provide an intensity signal. The intensity signal is characterized to have a magnitude related to the intensity of the transmitted light ray. The proof mass blanking surface is centrally positioned within and normal to the light ray null intensity region to provide increased blanking of the light ray in response to transverse movement of the mass on the input axis.

Abstract: A readout apparatus responsive to clockwise and counter-clockwise counter-rotating light beams that have a frequency difference relatable to the rate of rotation of a ring laser gyroscope, the readout apparatus comprising means for removing a portion of the light beams from the ring of the ring laser gyroscope; means for displacing the removed counter rotating beams to overlap a portion of the light of the removed beams to form a first spot beam having fringe motion characterized by an array of co-parallel alternating stripe regions of high and low intensity light within the spot; a mask having an array of co-parallel, rotated, alternating transparent and opaque stripes; the mask being positioned to direct the fringe motion of the spot beam through the mask, the mask array of alternating and opaque stripes being aligned to form a second spot beam having a moire fringe motion characterized by an array of co-parallel alternating stripe regions of high and low intensity light within the spot moving transverse to

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope includes a laser ring having at least three reflective surfaces. At least one of the reflective surfaces is partially reflecting and partially transmissive for removing a portion of the laser light within the ring, and for directing the removed light onto an output detector. Optical elements are provided for displacing the light directed on the output detector in a fashion by which a portion of the light from one of the counter rotating beams only partially overlaps the light from the other beam. A detector is provided for detecting the intensity of each of the counter rotating beams from the nonoverlapping beam portions on the detector and for detecting the fringe motion of the interfacing beams produced by the overlapping portions of the beams on the detector.

Abstract: A detector structure for use in a ring laser gyroscope includes a partially reflective surface on an inside face of a carrying substrate for passing a portion of each of the counter rotating gyroscope beams for detection and for reflecting a portion of each of the beams into a light path of the laser gyroscope without passing any optical elements of the detector structure. A detector substrate is spaced with respect to said partially reflective surface to receive the portions of the beams passing the partially reflective surface with patterns formed by the respective beams only partially overlapping.