Patent ID: 9389080
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: G01C,H01S

Claim Text:
1. A ring laser gyroscope, comprising: a laser block that defines an optical cavity having an optical closed loop pathway configured to contain a lasing gas; a plurality of mirror structures respectively mounted on the laser block, each of the mirror structures having a respective reflective surface that is in optical communication with the optical closed loop pathway, wherein each of the mirror structures has a nonmagnetic construction; a plurality of electrodes coupled to the laser block, the electrodes configured to generate a pair of counter-propagating laser beams from the lasing gas in the optical closed loop pathway; at least one optical sensor coupled to one of the mirror structures, the optical sensor in optical communication with the optical closed loop pathway; and a polarizer directly coupled to the optical sensor outside of the optical cavity, the polarizer configured to pass laser light having substantially one polarization mode to the optical sensor; wherein the ring laser gyroscope is in a nonmagnetic configuration, and the optical sensor is configured to measure intensity of the laser light having substantially one polarization mode, which allows a length of the optical closed loop pathway to be adjusted.