Patents by Inventor Rodney W. Benoist

Rodney W. Benoist 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).

  • Method and system for correcting random walk errors induced by rate reversals in a dithered ring laser gyroscope
    Patent number: 4844615
    Abstract: A correction to the output angle of the ring laser gyroscope is calculated as a function of the phase difference and the magnitude of coupling between the two counterpropagating beams when the dither oscillations change direction. A pair of heterodyne detectors produce heterodyne signals indicative of the interference pattern between the counterpropagating beams. A signal indicative of the sum of the separate beam intensities is demodulated with the heterodyne signals to determine the magnitude of coupling between the beams in the ring laser gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney W. Benoist
  • Simplified ring laser gyroscope dither control and method
    Patent number: 4801206
    Abstract: A dither flexure is mounted between a ring laser gyroscope body and a support such that the ring laser gyroscope may be dithered to have angular oscillations about a sensing axis. A sensor provides signals indicative of the amplitude of the oscillations of the ring laser gyroscope body relative to the support to a control circuit. The control circuit dithers the flexure to maintain the amplitude of the oscillations between a predetermined range at the resonant frequency of the flexure. The frequency of the dither oscillations is modulated about a tracking frequency, and the effect of frequency changes in the dither drive signal on the amplitude of the oscillations is demodulated to determine the resonant frequency of the dither flexure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney W. Benoist
  • Path length control method for ring laser gyroscope
    Patent number: 4755057
    Abstract: The present invention provides for initializing the particular intensity peak selected to operate about, based upon the initial temperature of the gyroscope in order to maintain a selected integer number of wavelengths as the initial cavity path length from start up to start up. In addition, the present invention provides an optimum available movement of the mirrors due to changing the voltage over the available voltage swing for the anticipated range and direction of temperature changes from the start up temperature, over which the gyroscope is expected to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Curby, Rodney W. Benoist, Masao Yashimoto
  • Pathlength controller for ring laser gyroscope
    Patent number: 4740083
    Abstract: The present invention provides for initializing the particular intensity peak selected to operate about, based upon the initial temperature of the gyroscope in order to maintain a selected integer number of wavelengths as the initial cavity path length from start up to start up. In addition, the present invention provides an optimum available movement of the mirrors due to changing the voltage over the available voltage swing for the anticipated range and direction of temperature changes from the start up temperature, over which the gyroscope is expected to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Curby, Rodney W. Benoist, Masao Yashimoto
  • Method and system for correcting random walk errors induced by rate reversals in a dithered ring laser gyroscope
    Patent number: RE34121
    Abstract: A correction to the output angle of the ring laser gyroscope is calculated as a function of the phase difference and the magnitude of coupling between the two counterpropagating beams when the dither oscillations change direction. A pair of heterodyne detectors produce heterodyne signals indicative of the interference pattern between the counterpropagating beams. A signal indicative of the sum of the separate beam intensities is demodulated with the heterodyne signals to determine the magnitude of coupling between the beams in the ring laser gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney W. Benoist