Apparatus and method for scale factor stabilization in interferometric fiber optic rotation sensors
US5949930A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C19/721
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fiber optic rotation sensor system having improved scale factor stability includes an optically pumped gain fiber arranged to provide optical signals to an integrated optics chip connected to a fiber optic sensing coil. An optical coupler receives optical signals from the gain fiber and provides the optical signals to an optical fiber. The optical fiber is arranged to guide optical signals from the optical coupler along an optical path toward the integrated optics chip such that optical signals from the gain fiber are input to the fiber optic sensing coil to form counter-propagating waves therein. The counter-propagating waves traverse the sensing coil and then combine in the integrated optics chip to form a gyro output signal. A depolarizer is placed in the optical path between the first optical coupler and the integrated optics chip to prevent random changes in the state of polarization of optical signals propagating between the gain fiber and the integrated optic chip.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.