Interferometric resonator optical gyroscope with optical frequency comb
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsJianfeng Wu, Steven Tin, Matthew Wade Puckett, Tiequn Qiu
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Abstract
An interferometric resonator optical gyroscope includes an optical frequency comb generator configured to generate an optical frequency comb. Optical signals representative of the optical frequency comb pass through an optical resonator in different directions, and a rotation rate is determined based on the extent of interference between the optical signals. Parameters of the optical frequency comb generator can be controlled by a control servo based on an intensity of the optical signals after propagating in the optical resonator. Utilizing an optical frequency comb generator reduces the bias error during gyroscope operation.
Claims10
An interferometric resonator optical gyroscope, comprising:
- an optical frequency comb generator configured to generate an optical signal, wherein the optical signal is representative of an optical frequency comb;
- at least one optical coupler, wherein the at least one optical coupler is configured to split the optical signal into a first optical signal and a second optical signal;
- an optical resonator coupled to the at least one optical coupler and configured to receive the first optical signal and the second optical signal, wherein the first optical signal propagates through the optical resonator in a first direction, wherein the second optical signal propagates through the optical resonator in a second direction;
- and
- a rate calculation circuit coupled to the optical resonator, wherein the rate calculation circuit is configured to:
- determine phase shift between the first optical signal and the second optical signal;
- and
- determine a rotation rate based on the phase shift;
- a control servo comprising at least one processor coupled to the optical frequency comb generator, wherein the control servo is configured to:
- determine at least one parameter of the optical frequency comb generator based on an intensity noise of the first optical signal or the second optical signal, and
- control the optical frequency comb generator based on the at least one parameter;
- a first relative intensity noise (RIN) detector and a second RIN detector coupled to the optical resonator;
- wherein the first RIN detector is configured to receive the first optical signal after propagating in the optical resonator, and to determine the intensity noise of the first optical signal;
- wherein the second RIN detector is configured to receive the second optical signal after propagating in the optical resonator, and to determine the intensity noise of the second optical signal;
- wherein one of the first RIN detector and the second RIN detector is configured to provide the intensity noise of the first optical signal or the second optical signal to the control servo.
A method for operating an interferometric resonator optical gyroscope, the method comprising:
- generating, with an optical frequency comb generator, an optical frequency comb;
- transmitting a first optical signal and a second optical signal from the optical frequency comb;
- coupling the first optical signal into an optical resonator in a first direction;
- coupling the second optical signal into the optical resonator in a second direction;
- coupling the first and the second optical signals out of the optical resonator;
- determining a phase shift between the first and the second optical signals;
- determining a rotation rate based on the phase shift;
- determining an intensity of the first optical signal or the second optical signal after propagating in the optical resonator;
- determining that the intensity is outside a set level;
- determining adjusted parameters of the optical frequency comb in response to determining that the intensity is outside the set level;
- and
- controlling the optical frequency comb generator with the adjusted parameters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.