Method for tuning fiber optic sensor coils
AssigneeLitton Systems, Inc.
InventorsRalph A. Patterson, John D. Wilde
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Abstract
A method for tuning a sensor coil for a fiber optic gyroscope. The coil is initially wound in a known pattern. One end of the fiber of the wound coil is then adjusted relative to the other end so that a known differential is obtained that effectively displaces the midpoint of the winding pattern. The coil is then attached to an interferometer test apparatus and performance measured. After successive observations a "trimmed" coil is obtained of acceptable performance characteristics.
Claims16
A method for tuning a sensor coil of the type that includes an optical fiber of known length arranged into a winding pattern, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) adjusting one end of said wound coil by a known amount with respect to the other end so that the length of fiber between the midpoint of said winding pattern and one end differs from that between said center and the other end by said amount;
- then
- b) attaching said adjusted coil to test apparatus arranged so that the performance of said coil in an interferometer may be ascertained;
- then
- c) observing the performance of said adjusted coil in said apparatus;
- then
- d) repeating steps a through c until an acceptable level of bias error is observed;
- and then
- e) removing said adjusted coil from said test apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.