US 6,685,128 B2 · Systems and methods of winding optical fiber

Abstract

A method and system for winding optical fiber. In an embodiment, the method and system can be used to tune a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) for a desired eigenfrequency and/or scale factor. A FOG assembly can include an inner coil that can have a normal and a reverse breakout point, a normal and a reverse lead emanating therefrom, and a normal and a reverse splice that can be connected at normal and reverse connection points. The coil can be wrapped to include a reversal where the reverse section of fiber changes direction in which it is wrapped on a spool. The fiber length can be adjusted based on the desired eigenfrequency. Furthermore, based on a scale factor, a forward (plus) and reverse (minus) fiber length can be computed and at least one of several lengths that can be defined by the ends of the normal and reverse splices, the normal and reverse connection points, the normal and reverse leads, the normal and reverse breakout points, and the reversal, can be adjusted to further attain the scale factor and/or eigenfrequency.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A method for winding optical fiber to an eigenfrequency, the method comprising:

providing, for the optical fiber, a normal end and a reverse end, a normal breakout point and a reverse breakout point, a normal lead and a reverse lead provided from the normal and reverse breakout points toward the normal and reverse fiber ends, and a normal and a reverse connection point for connecting a normal and a reverse splice to at least one of normal and reverse leads and normal and reverse ends,
wrapping the optical fiber between the normal breakout point and the reverse breakout point, around a spool,
wrapping the optical fiber from the normal and reverse breakout points, to the normal and reverse ends, around the spool, to cause a reversal of wrapping direction of at least one of the reverse splice, the reverse connection point, and the reverse lead,
providing a first length between the reversal and the reverse breakout point,
providing a second length between the reversal and the reverse connection point,
providing a third length between the normal connection point and the normal breakout point,
providing a fourth length between the normal breakout point and the reverse breakout point,
providing a fifth length between the reverse end and the reverse connection point,
providing a sixth length between the normal end and the normal connection point,
adjusting at least one of the first length, second length, third length, fourth length, fifth length, and sixth length based on the eigenfrequency.

7 more elements

A method for wrapping optical fiber for a desired eigenfrequency where the optical fiber has a normal end and a reverse end, a normal breakout point and a reverse breakout point, a normal lead and a reverse lead provided from the normal and reverse breakout points toward the normal and reverse fiber ends, and a normal and a reverse connection point for connecting a normal and a reverse splice to at least one of normal and reverse leads and normal and reverse ends, the method comprising:

obtaining a measured eigenfrequency,
determining an excess length based on the measured eigenfrequency and the desired eigenfrequency,
adjusting at least one of the normal and reverse leads and the normal and reverse splices based on the excess length,
wrapping the optical fiber from the normal and reverse breakout points, to the normal and reverse ends, around a spool, to cause a reversal of wrapping direction of at least one of the reverse splice, the reverse connection point, and the reverse lead, and,
adjusting a location of the reversal based on the eigenfrequency.

2 more elements

A method for winding optical fiber around a spool for an eigenfrequency and a scale factor, the method comprising,

providing a target length of the optical fiber,
providing a target diameter of the optical fiber winding,
providing a factor based on a product of an inner product length and an effective mean diameter of an incremental portion of the inner coil,
providing an excess fiber length,
providing a plus length based on the excess fiber length, the factor, the target diameter, and the target length,
providing a minus length based on the excess fiber length, the factor, the target diameter, and the target length,
equating at least one of the plus length and the minus length to a sum of lengths, and,
adjusting at least one of the sum of lengths to provide the determined plus length and minus length.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods of winding optical fiber

Life of this patent

Systems and methods of winding optical fiber

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39