US3692385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rotation sensitive retarder system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A rotation sensitive retarder system comprising an optical loop around which two orthogonal linear polarized light beams are guided in opposite directions. A splitting and reunifying device is utilized in the optical loop for producing two orthogonal components and reunifying the components. Rotation in inertial space produces polarization-form convertion in the reunified beam which then is analyzed to determine the extent of the rotation.
Inventors
- 👤 John George Gievers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:07
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A rotation sensitive system comprising a source of light, means for polarizing said light, a splitting and reunifying device for splitting a beam of polarized light from said source into two orthogonal linear polarized components, comprising an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray, and for reunifying said components, and a plurality of mirrors positioned in a manner such as to produce identical closed paths for said components of light in opposite directions, said device being positioned in said paths, means in said paths for changing the planes of polarization of the emerging orthogonal components by 90* for reunification, and means for analyzing the polarization form conversion of said light after it passes through said loop and emanates from said splitting and reunifying device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A rotation sensitive system comprising a source of light, means for polarizing said light, a splitting and reunifying device for splitting a beam of polarized light from said source into two orthogonal linear polarized components, comprising an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray, and for reunifying said components, and a plurality of mirrors positioned in a manner such as to produce identical closed paths for said components of light in opposite directions, said device being positioned in said paths, means in said paths for changing the planes of polarization of the emerging orthogonal components by 90* for reunification, and means for analyzing the polarization form conversion of said light after it passes through said loop and emanates from said splitting and reunifying device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for changing the planes of polarization comprises a retarder like a half wave plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said splitting and reunifying device produces the two orthogonal components by reflection and comprises two birefringent monoaxial prisms separated by a gap filled with a medium of smaller optical density preferably air, at least the first prism being isosceles and from which the ordinary ray emerges at the same angle as it was incident thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the optic axes of said two prisms are perpendicular to the incident light from the source and perpendicular to the apex line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said prisms have surfaces from which the ordinary and extraordinary rays emerge at equal angles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said splitting and unifying device comprises a Wollaston polarizer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein sAid plurality of mirrors comprises an odd number of reflections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 including a second device externally of the closed path and in the path of the polarized beam for passing the light from said source to the splitting and reunifying device and for filtering out the major portion of the component of light returning from the splitting and reunifying device which is in the same direction of polarization as the linearly polarized light passing to said splitting and reunifying device and for passing all of the other components of light returning from the splitting and reunifying device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned device comprises an element wherein the optic axis is positioned in such a way that the two components of light emerge parallel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination set forth in claim 9 including an additional filtering prism or partial polarizer in the path of light emanating from said last-mentioned device to further reduce the background light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for polarizing said light and said second device comprises two birefringent monoaxial prisms separated by a gap filled with a medium of smaller optical density preferably air, at least the prism which receives the light from the splitting and reunifying device being isosceles from which the ordinary ray emerges at the same angle at which it was incident thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said first prism of said second device has its optic axis other than parallel to the surface receiving light from the source and other than perpendicular to the apex line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein the optic axis of said other prism of said second device is parallel to the surface receiving light from the source and parallel to the apex line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination set forth in claim 13 including an additional retarder device in the path of the light emanating from the second device toward the analyzing means for further filtering out a portion of the one component of light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein the axis of said other prism of said second device is parallel to the internal reflecting surface at the air gap and perpendicular to the apex line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 15 including another device in the path of the light passing to the analyzing means from the second device for compensating for parallel separation caused by said second device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein the axis of said other prism of said second device is perpendicular to the internal reflecting surface at the air gap and perpendicular to the apex line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 17 including another device in the path of the light passing to the analyzing means from the second device for compensating for parallel separation caused by said second device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
For use in a rotation sensitive system, the combination comprising a splitting and reunifying device for splitting a beam of polarized light into two orthogonal linear polarized components, comprising an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray, and for reunifying said components, and a plurality of mirrors positioned in a manner such as to produce identical closed paths for said components of light in opposite directions, said device being positioned in said paths.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
For use in a rotation sensitive system, the combination comprising a splitting and reunifying device for splitting a beam of polarized light into two orthogonal linear polarized components, comprising an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray, and for reunifying said components, and a plurality of mirrors positioned in a manner such as to produce identical closed paths for said components of light in opposite directions, said device being positioned in said paths.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination set forth in claim 19 including means in said paths for changing the planes of polarization of the emerging orthogonal components by 90* for reunification.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination set forth in claim 19 wherein said splitting and reunifying device produces the two orthogonal components by reflection and comprises two birefringent monoaxial prisms separated by a gap filled with a medium of smaller optical density preferably air, at least the first prism being isosceles and from which the ordinary ray emerges at the same angle as it was incident thereto.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination set forth in claim 21 wherein the optic axes of said two prisms are perpendicular to the incident light from the source and perpendicular to the apex line.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
83 words
A splitting and reunifying device for use with an optical loop for splitting a beam of polarized light from said source into two orthogonal linear polarized components, comprising an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray, and for reunifying said components which comprises two birefringent monoaxial prisms separated by a gap filled with a medium of smaller optical density preferably air, at least the first prisms being isosceles and from which the ordinary ray emerges at the same angle as it was incident thereto.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
83 words
A splitting and reunifying device for use with an optical loop for splitting a beam of polarized light from said source into two orthogonal linear polarized components, comprising an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray, and for reunifying said components which comprises two birefringent monoaxial prisms separated by a gap filled with a medium of smaller optical density preferably air, at least the first prisms being isosceles and from which the ordinary ray emerges at the same angle as it was incident thereto.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein the optic axes of said two prisms are perpendicular to the incident light from the source and perpendicular to the apex line.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination comprising a source of light, a retarder for receiving light and returning it in modified condition, and a device between said source and said retarder for passing the light from said source to said retarder and for filtering the major portion of the component of light returning from the retarder which is in the same direction of polarization as the light passing to the retarder and for passing all the other component of light returning from the retarder.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination comprising a source of light, a retarder for receiving light and returning it in modified condition, and a device between said source and said retarder for passing the light from said source to said retarder and for filtering the major portion of the component of light returning from the retarder which is in the same direction of polarization as the light passing to the retarder and for passing all the other component of light returning from the retarder.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination set forth in claim 25 wherein said last-mentioned device comprises an element wherein the optic axis is positioned in such a way that the two components of light emerge parallel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination set forth in claim 25 including an additional filtering prism or partial polarizer in the path of light emanating from said last-mentioned device to further reduce the background light.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination set forth in claim 25 wherein said means for polarizing said light and said device comprises two birefringent monoaxial prisms separated by a gap filled with a medium of smaller optical density preferably air, at least the prism which receives the light from the splitting and reunifying device being isosceles from which the ordinary ray emerges at the same angle at which it was incident thereto.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination set forth in claim 25 wherein said first prism of said device has its optic axis other than parallel to the surface receiving light from the source and other than perpendicular to the apex line.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination set forth in claim 29 wherein the optic axis of said other prism of said device is parallel to the surface receiving light from the source and parallel to the apex line.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination set forth in claim 30 including an additional retarder device in the path of the light emanating from the device toward the analyzing means for further filtering out a portion of the one component of light.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination set forth in claim 29 wherein the axis of said other prism of said device is parallel to the internal reflecting surface at the air gap and perpendicular to the apex line.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination set forth in claim 32 including another device in the path of the light passing to the analyzing means from the device for compensating for parallel separation caused by said device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination set forth in claim 29 wherein the axis of said other prism of said device is perpendicular to the internal reflecting surface at the air gap and perpendicular to the apex line.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination set forth in claim 32 including another device in the path of the light passing to the analyzing means from the device for compensating for parallel separation caused by said device.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
82 words
The method of determining rotation in inertial spacing which comprises splitting a beam of light into two orthogonal polarized components comprising an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray, directing said ordinary ray and said extraordinary ray in identical opposed closed paths whereby any rotation in inertial space will be evideNced by a phase shift of the two polarized form components, reunifying said ordinary ray and said extraordinary ray after passage through said closed paths, and analyzing polarization-form conversion of said reunited rays.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
82 words
The method of determining rotation in inertial spacing which comprises splitting a beam of light into two orthogonal polarized components comprising an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray, directing said ordinary ray and said extraordinary ray in identical opposed closed paths whereby any rotation in inertial space will be evideNced by a phase shift of the two polarized form components, reunifying said ordinary ray and said extraordinary ray after passage through said closed paths, and analyzing polarization-form conversion of said reunited rays.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method set forth in claim 36 including the step of splitting said reunited beam of light and filtering out the major portion of one of the components of light while permitting the light in the orthogonal plane of polarization to pass.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |