Abstract: A bicycle storage rack has at least one bicycle tire receiving channel member which is an elongated channel having a width and a depth, and a channel mounting frame adapted to accommodate a plurality of channel members. A holding arrangement is provided for holding a wheel of a bicycle to a channel at any of a plurality of positions along the length of the channel.

Abstract: A bicycle storage rack has at least one bicycle tire receiving channel member which is an elongated channel having a width and a depth, and a channel mounting frame adapted to accommodate a plurality of channel members. A holding arrangement is provided for holding a wheel of a bicycle to a channel at any of a plurality of positions along the length of the channel.

Abstract: A sensor which makes use of a non-reciprocal optical effect, such as the Sagnac effect has a passive ring resonator defining a closed light path. Light from a broadband light source is coupled to the passive ring resonator by 2.times.2 couplers in a first direction of propagation and a second direction of propagation opposite thereto. The 2.times.2 couplers also couple light out of the passive ring resonator. A 3.times.3 optical coupler is provided, by which light having circulated in said ring resonator in the first direction of propagation is superimposed to light having circulated in the ring resonator in the second direction of propagation to provide interference. The detector is exposed to this interfering light.

Abstract: A sensor is to measure a physical quantity which causes a non-reciprocal effect, such as the Sagnac-effect, in an optical ring resonator. This effect provides a difference of clockwise and counter-clockwise optical path lengths in the ring resonator. The difference is proportional to the physical quantity, such as rotation rate in the case of the Sagnac-effect. A semiconductor laser is coupled to the ring resonator and generates clockwise and counter-clockwise beams therein. The laser frequency is modulated by directly energizing the semiconductor laser such that sidebands of the frequency-modulated laser beams are in resonance with the ring resonator. A detector device responds to the difference of the clockwise and counter-clockwise light beams and generates a signal indicative of the measured physical quantity.

Abstract: A gas ring-laser comprises a ceramic block containing a closed gas-filled channel (12) which extends along the sides of an equilateral triangle and forms a resonant cavity. An anode (64) and cathodes (76, 78) permit the creation of two gas discharges. With the aid of dielectric mirrors (26, 28 and 30), two light beams circulating in opposite directions are guided through the channel. In order to simplify construction, the ceramic block (10) consists of a glass ceramic which is produced from a green ceramic body by sintering. The mirrors (26, 28, 30) are located in adjustable metal holders (80, 82, 84) and fixed in the ceramic block (10) by means of glass solder (98). In addition, the other electrical connections for the electrodes in the cavity are sealed in place by glass solder. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a gas ring-laser. The gas ring-laser may serve as an inertial sensor for measuring angular velocities by means of the Sagnac-effect.

Abstract: A measuring device for angular rates making use of the Sagnac-effect comprises a ring resonator (12) and a laser (10). The ring resonator (12) forms a part of the resonator cavity of the laser (10). Thereby no precautions to achieve an optical insulation between laser and ring resonator have to be taken. A semiconductor laser serves as laser. Different embodiments of the ring resonator having mirrors, an integrated optical system and a fiber optical system are described.

Abstract: A two-axis platform comprises an azimuth gimbal rotatable about an azimuth axis. In the azimuth gimbal an inner gimbal is mounted about an axis. A two-axis gyro having input axes and a spin axis is located in the inner gimbal. The spin axis is always maintained horizontal by a torquer which is controlled by a level sensor. By the horizontal component of the rotary speed of the earth, which acts on the input axis of the gyro, the spin axis is rotated into North through the torquer. The azimuth angle of the spin axis is measured in a first position for elimination of the influence of gyro drifts including axial mass unbalance. Then, azimuth gimbal and inner gimbal are simultaneously rotated by 180.degree. about their axes. Subsequently, the azimuth angle is measured again, to which the spin axis is adjusted. The middle between these positions provides a North indication compensated for gyro drifts.

Abstract: Mirror carriers (14,16,18) with resonator mirrors (30,32,34) are adjusted relative to a base (10) by means of a manipulator and are durably affixed to a surface (12) of the base (10) in their adjusted positions by attachment by optical contact. Several designs of mirror carriers and bases are described. A wet attachment method for initiating the process of attachment by optical contact is described, wherein a drop of an auxiliary liquid (acetone) creeps into the gap between the surfaces of the mirror carrier and the base and then evaporates.

Abstract: The bicycle storage rack has a member which is provided with a channel for receiving a bicycle tire. The member is adapted to be vertically mounted on a wall, the upper end of the member being provided with means, such as a hook portion, which is to support the bicycle from the wall by means of its front wheel. The hook portion is preferably integrally formed with the member. To support the small-wheeled bicycle, a hanger element is provided to cooperatively interengage with the member.