Basic investigations on an angle measurement system using a laser

Author

Takano, Tadashi ; Yonehara, Satoshi

Author_Institution

Inst. of Space & Astronaut. Sci., Sagamihara, Japan

Volume

26

Issue

4

fYear

1990

fDate

7/1/1990 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

657

Lastpage

662

Abstract

A novel, precise angle gauge is proposed. Incoming laser light is fed to the system through two separate condensing lenses. The phase difference between two rays is compensated by a phase modulator to hold a constant interference condition. The angle of the incoming light is measured by the modulation voltage. In comparison with conventional angle gauges, its advantages are high measurement accuracy, simple structure, and compatibility to feedback control systems. Because of these advantages, the angle gauge is suitable for navigation using angular information. Some examples of possible applications are provided. The experimental system was formed to be compatible with practical conditions and performance were verified experimentally. It is shown that an angle resolution less than 1×10^-7 rd can be expected

Keywords

angular measurement; light interferometry; measurement by laser beam; navigation; nonelectric sensing devices; He-Ne laser; angle gauge; angle measurement; attitude measurement; compatibility; condensing lenses; constant interference; feedback control; interferometer; machinery; modulation voltage; navigation; phase difference; phase modulator; spacecraft tracking; Extraterrestrial measurements; Goniometers; Interference; Laser theory; Lenses; Navigation; Optical modulation; Phase measurement; Phase modulation; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9251

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/7.55558

Filename

55558