Methods and apparatus for fiber optic gyroscope dead band error suppression modulation

A fiber optic gyroscope with dead band suppression, said fiber optic gyroscope comprising:

• an electro-optic crystal phase modulator, said electro-optic crystal modulator generating a modulated signal;
• a first phase jump signal added to said modulated signal;
• a photo detector coupled to said electro-optic crystal phase modulator, said photo detector detecting said modulated signal;
• an amplifier coupled to said photo detector, said amplifier amplifying said modulated signal;
• an analog-to-digital converter, said analog-to-digital converter converting said modulated signal to a digital modulated signal;
• a phase jump amplitude and timing controller, said phase jump amplitude and timing controller generating a phase jump amplitude signal, said phase jump amplitude signal being combined with said modulated signal to create a feedback signal;
• and
• wherein said feedback signal is coupled to an input of said electro-optic crystal phase modulator.

A method comprising the steps of:

• creating a plurality of phase steps for determining a rate of rotation signal in a fiber optic gyroscope;
• accumulating said plurality of phase steps to create an accumulated phase step signal;
• creating a phase jump amplitude signal for enabling dead band suppression;
• and
• summing said phase jump amplitude signal with said accumulated phase step signal to create a feedback signal for said fiber optic gyroscope.

A method for suppressing dead band error in a fiber optic gyroscope, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of feedback signals for a loop closure circuit in said fiber optic gyroscope;
• selectively enabling or disabling a dead band suppression status;
• adding a phase jump amplitude signal to at least one of said plurality of feedback signals if said dead band suppression status is true, thereby altering said at least one of said plurality of feedback signals, thereby creating an altered feedback signal;
• and
• providing said altered feedback signal to said loop closure circuit.