Abstract:
A ring laser gyroscope (RLG) is configured with control circuits that are capable of automatic calibration. The RLG generates two laser beams in opposite directions around a closed loop path to determine angular rotation of the RLG. The laser beams propagate in a laser gain medium, and a laser intensity monitor circuit is operatively connected to the laser gain medium to monitor an intensity of the laser beams propagating in the laser gain medium. A dithering circuit is provided, including a dithering motor for mechanically oscillating the RLG at a controlled frequency and dither angle. A gain circuit is operatively connected to a detector array of the RLG to amplify a detector signal therefrom. According to the present invention, an automatically variable resistance is provided to calibrate the laser intensity monitor circuit of the RLG, to control the dither angle at which the dithering motor mechanically oscillates the RLG, and/or to calibrate the gain circuit of the RLG. In one embodiment, the automatically variable resistance(s) is provided by one or more digital potentiometers connected to the relevant control circuitry.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a ring laser gyroscope, and more particularly to an improved apparatus and method for calibrating and testing a ring laser gyroscope utilizing nonvolatile digital potentiometers to trim the control circuits of the ring laser gyroscope. 
     Ring laser gyroscope (RLG) devices for measuring angular rotation rates are known in the art. In these devices, two laser beams are generated in opposite directions around a closed loop path about the axis of rotation of the device. Rotation of the apparatus causes the effective path length for the two beams to change, thus producing a frequency difference between the two beams since the frequency of oscillation of the laser beams is dependent upon the length of the lasing path. The frequency difference between the beams causes a phase shift between the beams that changes at a rate proportional to the frequency difference. The interaction of the beams produces an interference fringe pattern which is observed to move with a velocity proportional to the rate of angular rotation of the device about the axis. 
     In order to ensure accurate operation of the ring laser gyroscope, a number of initial calibration steps must be performed. In particular, there are three calibrations that are especially important —the laser intensity monitor (LIM), the dithering motor, and the SIN A and SIN B gain circuits of the device. The LIM senses the output intensity of the laser utilized in the ring laser gyroscope, so as to provide a signal indicative of the relative health and remaining life of the laser. The dithering motor of the RLG is a mechanical device that oscillates the RLG at a predetermined frequency and with a predetermined range of angular rotation, known as a dither angle. Dithering of the RLG prevents an undesirable phenomenon known to those skilled in the art as “lock-in” which hinders the operation of the RLG. The dither angle is calibrated specifically for each individual RLG to ensure proper operation. The operation of the RLG may be diagnostically evaluated by charting certain characteristics of the laser output in a lissajous pattern, as is known in the art. The shape of the lissajous pattern provides an indication of the phasing of the lasers utilized in the RLG as well as the general health of the lasers, and is best viewed when the SIN A and SIN B gain circuits are adjusted to reduce the gain of the circuit below the level of clamping of the signal producing the lissajous pattern. 
     All of the calibrations described above are labor-intensive processes that require a skilled technician to manually adjust certain components of the RLG to perform the required calibration. These manual adjustments typically necessitate breaking of the RLG&#39;s seal, which then must be re-done after calibration with considerable expenditure of time and money. It would therefore be a significant improvement in the art to provide a mechanism for performing the required calibrations of ring laser gyroscopes automatically. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a ring laser gyroscope (RLG) having control circuits that are capable of automatic calibration. The RLG generates two laser beams in opposite directions around a closed loop path to determine angular rotation of the RLG. The laser beams propagate in a laser gain medium, and a laser intensity monitor circuit is operatively connected to the laser gain medium to monitor an intensity of the laser beams propagating in the laser gain medium. A dithering circuit is provided, including a dithering motor for mechanically oscillating the RLG at a controlled frequency and dither angle. A gain circuit is operatively connected to a detector array of the RLG to amplify a detector signal therefrom. According to the present invention, an automatically variable resistance is provided to calibrate the laser intensity monitor circuit of the RLG, to control the dither angle at which the dithering motor mechanically oscillates the RLG, and/or to calibrate the gain circuit of the RLG. In one embodiment, the automatically variable resistance(s) is provided by one or more digital potentiometers connected to the relevant control circuitry. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partially broken away diagram illustrating a ring laser gyroscope as is known in the art. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the portions of a ring laser gyroscope utilizing digital potentiometers for automatic calibration according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a partially broken away diagram illustrating a ring laser gyroscope (RLG) as is known in the art. Laser gain medium  80  is shown supported on a rotatable base  82  which is mounted by means of three pegs  84 ,  86  and  88  to three leaf springs  90 , 92  and  94  which are in turn mounted to three mounting blocks  96 ,  98  and  100 . Blocks  96 ,  98  and  100  are securely fixed to base  102  so that rotatable base  82  may vibrate back and forth as indicated by arrow  104 . Laser intensity monitor  81  is operatively connected to monitor the beam intensity in laser gain medium  80 , as the medium amplifies and generates laser light about a closed triangular loop in the direction indicated by arrows  106  and  108  in a manner known a in the art of RLGs. At a partially transparent corner mirror  110  the two beams partially pass through and are combined by an internally reflecting right angle prism  112  and projected onto a detector array  114 . The slight difference in angle between the beams, based on the rotation rate of the RLG, causes a fringe pattern to be formed on detector array  114  which is indicative of the rotation of the RLG. Gain circuit  116  is operatively connected to detector array  114  to amplify the detector signal in a manner suitable for output  118 , in condition for analysis to determine the rotation of the RLG in a manner known in the art. 
     In order to oscillate moving base  82  in a circular or rotational fashion, oscillator  120  is shown driving a piezoelectric element  122  so as to cause periodical vibration, with piezoelectric element  122  being attached to the end of leaf spring  90 . The resultant back and forth motion of leaf spring  90  causes base  82  to rotationally oscillate, which helps to avoid the “lock-in” effect associated with operation of the RLG, as is known in the art. The extent of rotation is known as the “dither angle” of the RLG, which is controlled by the driving signal provided to piezoelectric element  122  by oscillator  120 . 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the portions of a RLG utilizing digital potentiometers for automatic calibration according to the present invention. The digital potentiometers are implemented to calibrate the laser intensity monitor, the dithering motor, and the gain circuit of the RLG, as will be described in more detail below. 
     1. Laser Intensity Monitor 
     A digital potentiometer is utilized according to the present invention to calibrate the laser intensity monitor (LIM) of a RLG system. As shown in FIG. 2, digital potentiometer chip  150  is provided to present an automatically variable resistance to the LIM circuit. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, digital potentiometer chip  150  is a X9241 Quad E 2 POT Nonvolatile Digital Potentiometer manufactured by Xicor, 200   Inc. The LIM circuit includes operational amplifier U 1  having an output connected to the LIM preamplifier, with capacitor C 2  and series resistors R 3  and R 4  connected in parallel between the output and the inverting input of operational amplifier U 1 . The LIM sensor is connected between the inverting input and the non-inverting input of operational amplifier U 1 . The 2kilo-Ohm (kΩ) potentiometer pins of potentiometer chip  150  are utilized with the LIM circuit, with the VLO pin of potentiometer chip  150  being connected between resistors R 3  and R 4 , and the VWO pin of potentiometer chip  150  being connected through resistor R 2  to the non-inverting input of operational amplifier U 1 . 
     The SCL and SDA input lines to digital potentiometer chip  150  are manipulated by a computer program with the proper signals as described by the Xicor® Inc. X9241 data sheets to step up or step down the resistance of the 2 kΩ potentiometer output pins VLO and VWO. Proper selection of the resistance will result in the LIM monitor being adjusted to the nominal calibration level recorded in DC volts. An external computer allows for automatic calibration through the gyroscope interface connector to the X9241 potentiometer, and the potentiometer allows for high resolution resistance stepping. Both combined together allow for faster and more accurate calibration of the LIM circuit with the gyroscope either open or sealed. 
     2. Dithering Motor 
     A digital potentiometer is also utilized according to the present invention to calibrate the dithering motor of the RLG system. As shown in FIG. 2, digital potentiometer chip  150  is provided to present an automatically variable resistance to the dithering motor circuit. The dithering circuit includes a dither select terminal and a pickoff terminal, with the dithering motor pickoff piezoelectric element being connected between the pickoff terminal and a reference voltage level such as ground. The 50 kΩ potentiometer pins of potentiometer chip  150  are utilized with the dithering motor circuit, with the VL 3  pin of potentiometer chip  150  being connected to the dither select terminal and the VW 3  pin of potentiometer chip  150  being connected through resistor RI to the pickoff terminal. 
     The SCL and SDA input lines to digital potentiometer chip  150  are manipulated by a computer program with the proper signals as described by the Xicore® Inc. X9241 data sheets to step up or step down the resistance of the 50 kΩ potentiometer output pins VL 3  and VW 3 . Proper selection of the resistance will result in the dither angle being adjusted to the nominal calibration level recorded in arc seconds peak to peak. An external computer allows for automatic calibration through the gyroscope interface connector to the X9241 potentiometer, and the potentiometer allows for high resolution resistance stepping. Both combined together allow for simplified and more accurate calibration of the dither angle control loop circuit. Dither angle is calibrated with the gyroscope cover off since it is necessary to physically take an angle measurement with the appropriate test equipment. 
     3. Gain Circuit 
     A digital potentiometer is also utilized according to the present invention to calibrate the gain circuit of the RLG system. As shown in FIG. 2, digital potentiometer chip  152  is provided to present an automatically variable resistance to the gain circuit. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, digital potentiometer chip  152  is a X9241 Quad E 2 POT Nonvolatile Digital Potentiometer manufactured by Xicor,® Inc. The gain circuit includes amplifier U 2  having an output connected to the SIN A signal of the processed detector output, and includes amplifier U 3  having an output connected to the SIN B signal of the processed detector output. Resistor R 9  is connected between the output pin of amplifier U 2  and the inverting input of amplifier U 2 . Resistor R 7  is connected between a positive voltage level (such as+ 5  volts) and the non-inverting input of amplifier U 2 , and resistor R 8  is connected between the positive voltage level and the inverting input of amplifier U 2 . Detector A is connected between the non-inverting input of amplifier U 2  and a return node. Resistor R 12  is connected between the output pin of amplifier U 3  and the inverting input of amplifier U 3 . Resistor RIO is connected between the positive voltage level and the non-inverting input of amplifier U 3 , and resistor R 11  is connected between the positive voltage level and the inverting input of amplifier U 3 . Detector B is connected between the non-inverting input of amplifier U 3  and the return node. 
     Digital potentiometer chip  152  includes four 50 kΩ potentiometer pin sets, with the VHO and VL 1  pins being tied together and connected to the output of amplifier U 3  and the VWO and VW 1  pins being tied together and connected to the inverting input of amplifier U 3 . Thus, the first and second potentiometers in digital potentiometer chip  152  are cascaded together to provide a larger top-end resistance to the gain circuit. Similarly, the VH 2  and VL 3  pins are tied together and connected to the output of amplifier U 2 , and the VW 2  and VW 3  pins are tied together and connected to the inverting input of amplifier U 2 , thereby cascading together the third and fourth potentiometers of digital potentiometer chip  152  to provide a larger top-end resistance to the gain circuit. 
     The gain circuit is connected to a clamping circuit that operates to clamp the SIN A and SIN B outputs at a predetermined level in order to preserve the life of the laser utilized in the RLG system. Specifically, the clamping circuit is connected to amplifiers U 2  and U 3  to clamp the amplitude of the sine waves generated thereby at the predetermined level. However, when performing a calibration to qualitatively test the RLG for proper operation of the laser and alignment of detectors A and B, it is important that the sine waves be analyzed without any clamping effects so that the true shape characteristics of the sine waves may be properly evaluated. Thus, the gain circuit must be adjustable to a level below the predetermined level where clamping will occur. This is achieved in the present invention by the provision of digital potentiometer chip  152 , which provides a variable resistance between the output and inverting inputs of amplifiers U 2  and U 3  to adjust the gain of those amplifiers, thereby enabling a selective reduction in gain to occur when a calibration level of the SIN A and SIN B outputs is appropriate. 
     The SCL and SDA input lines to digital potentiometer chip  152  are manipulated by a computer program with the proper signals as described by the Xicor® Inc. X9241 data sheets to step up or step down the resistance of the cascaded 50 kΩ potentiometer pairs. The cascaded 50 kΩ pairs are equally stepped so as to maintain equal resistance on their associated output pins (VHO, VWO, VL 1 , VW 1 , and VH 2 , VW 2 , VL 3 , VW 3 ) and thus maintain equal gain in each amplifier circuit involving U 2  and U 3 . Proper selection of the resistance will result in the SIN A and SIN B signals at the gyroscope interface connector being adjusted to the nominal calibration level (below the clamping level) and allow for true shape characteristics to be viewed on an oscilloscope. The position of Detector A and Detector B are then physically adjusted by a trained technician to the proper position, as reflected by the shapes of the SIN A and SIN B signals displayed on the oscilloscope. Once the detectors are properly positioned, an external computer is then commanded to step the resistance back up on digital potentiometer chip  152  to the required level for the normal operation mode in each gain circuit involving U 2  and U 3 . The external computer allows for automatic calibration through the gyroscope interface connector to potentiometer chip  152 , and the potentiometer allows for high resolution resistance stepping. Both combined together allow for simplified and more accurate calibration of the gain circuits. Detector A and Detector B are calibrated with the gyroscope cover off since it is necessary to physically adjust the positions of the detectors. 
     As a result of the implementation of the digital potentiometers of the present invention, several advantages in the calibration process of the RLG system are achieved. The resistances provided by the digital potentiometers are automatically variable by data signals connected on a dual wire serial interface. Therefore, calibrations may be performed under computer control rather than by manual adjustment, which substantially improves the accuracy, consistency and efficiency of the calibrations. In addition, the electronic variability of the resistances allows calibrations to occur without having to contaminate the seal of the RLG unit, which is particularly advantageous when performing calibrations on a finished RLG such as in the situation of a returned unit or as a part of a post-manufacture test procedure. The need for manually soldered resistors can be eliminated, which reduces labor and the need to stock large quantities of resistors for calibrations. Many other advantages of the digital potentiometer trimmed RLG according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.