Patents by Inventor Gerald R. Altmann

Gerald R. Altmann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Moat feature for a laser gyroscope block
    Patent number: 6429938
    Abstract: A centered annular ring, or moat, is disposed on each of the six planar sides of a RLG block. The surface of each moat is slightly below the surrounding surface of each side of the block. Because each moat is recessed relative to the respective side surface, the moat surface is less likely to become scratched, and therefore allows for a better seal between the block and the components attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald R. Altmann, Rodney H. Thorland
  • Measurement method to facilitate production of self-aligning laser gyroscope block
    Patent number: 6310904
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney H. Thorland, Daniel L. Sittler, David W. Carlson, Gerald R. Altmann
  • Device and method for achieving beam path alignment of an optical cavity
    Patent number: 5960025
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney H. Thorland, Daniel L. Sittler, David W. Carlson, Gerald R. Altmann
  • Low cost ring laser angular rate sensor
    Patent number: 4727638
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a plurality of ring lasers or ring laser blocks from a single block of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald R. Altmann, Mark W. Weber