초록 ▼

Dither motor apparatus for oscillating a structure, such as a laser gyroscope 10, about a dither axis “A”. The dither motor apparatus includes a support 18 that passes through an opening 16 within the gyroscope. The apparatus further includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements 22 individual ones

Dither motor apparatus for oscillating a structure, such as a laser gyroscope 10, about a dither axis “A”. The dither motor apparatus includes a support 18 that passes through an opening 16 within the gyroscope. The apparatus further includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements 22 individual ones of which are interposed between an outer surface of the support and an inner surface of the opening such that an outer surface of each of the elements is rigidly coupled to the inner surface of the opening and an inner surface of each of the elements is rigidly coupled to the outer surface of the support. The apparatus further includes a source 24 of alternating current coupled to electrodes 26 for energizing the plurality of piezoelectric elements for causing each of the elements to shear such that the outer surface of each of the elements rotates alternately clockwise and counter-clockwise with respect to the inner surface of each of the elements, thereby imparting an oscillatory motion to the gyroscope about the dither axis.

대표청구항 ▼

In a laser gyroscope having an opening therethrough and a dither axis passing through the opening about which the gyroscope is oscillated, dither motor apparatus for oscillating the gyroscope about the dither axis comprising in combination: support means passing through the opening; a plurality of p

In a laser gyroscope having an opening therethrough and a dither axis passing through the opening about which the gyroscope is oscillated, dither motor apparatus for oscillating the gyroscope about the dither axis comprising in combination: support means passing through the opening; a plurality of piezoelectric elements interposed between an outer surface of said support means and an inner surface of the opening, an outer surface of each of said elements being rigidly coupled to the inner surface of the opening and an inner surface of each of the elements being rigidly coupled to the outer surface of the support means; and means for energizing said plurality of piezoelectric elements for causing each of said elements to shear such that the outer surface of each of the elements rotates alternately clockwise and counter-clockwise with respect to the inner surface of each of the elements, thereby imparting an oscillatory motion to the gyroscope.