US 8,274,659 B2Granted

Resonator fiber optic gyroscopes with reduced rotation rate instability from back reflections

AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.

InventorsTiequn Qiu, Lee K. Strandjord, Glen A. Sanders

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Abstract

A resonator fiber optic gyroscope (RFOG) is disclosed that reduces rotation rate error instability. In one embodiment, the RFOG comprises a resonator optical ring cavity, a first light source in optical communication with the ring cavity and configured to generate a clockwise optical signal, and a second light source in optical communication with the ring cavity and configured to generate a counter-clockwise optical signal. The RFOG also includes a first optical component in optical communication with the first light source and the ring cavity. The first optical component is configured to prevent the clockwise optical signal from being back-reflected to the first light source. A second optical component is in optical communication with the second light source and the ring cavity. The second optical component is configured to prevent the counter-clockwise optical signal from being back-reflected to the second light source. In addition, a first optical detector and a second optical detector are optically coupled to the ring cavity.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A resonator fiber optic gyroscope, comprising:

a resonator optical ring cavity;
a first light source in optical communication with the ring cavity and configured to generate a clockwise optical signal that is transmitted to the ring cavity;
a second light source in optical communication with the ring cavity and configured to generate a counter-clockwise optical signal that is transmitted to the ring cavity;
a first optical isolator in optical communication with the first light source and the ring cavity, the first optical isolator configured to prevent the clockwise optical signal from being back-reflected to the first light source;
a second optical isolator in optical communication with the second light source and the ring cavity, the second optical isolator configured to prevent the counter-clockwise optical signal from being back-reflected to the second light source;
a first optical detector optically coupled to the ring cavity;
a second optical detector optically coupled to the ring cavity;
a third optical isolator optically coupled between the ring cavity and the first optical detector, the third optical isolator configured to prevent the clockwise optical signal from being back-reflected to the ring cavity;
and
a fourth optical isolator optically coupled between the ring cavity the second optical detector, the fourth optical isolator configured to prevent the counter-clockwise optical signal from being back-reflected to the ring cavity.

7 more elements

A resonator fiber optic gyroscope, comprising:

a resonator optical ring cavity;
a first laser device in optical communication with the ring cavity and configured to generate a clockwise optical signal that is transmitted to the ring cavity;
a second laser device in optical communication with the ring cavity and configured to generate a counter-clockwise optical signal that is transmitted to the ring cavity;
a first optical detector optically coupled to the ring cavity and configured to receive the clockwise optical signal;
a second optical detector optically coupled to the ring cavity and configured to receive the counter-clockwise optical signal;
a first optical circulator configured to direct the clockwise optical signal from the first laser device to the ring cavity, and to direct the counter-clockwise optical signal from the ring cavity to the first optical detector;
and
a second optical circulator configured to direct the counter-clockwise optical signal from the second laser device to the ring cavity, and to direct the clockwise optical signal from the ring cavity to the second optical detector;
wherein the first optical circulator is configured to prevent the clockwise optical signal from being back-reflected to the first laser device and the ring cavity, and the second optical circulator is configured to prevent the counter-clockwise optical signal from being back-reflected to the second laser device and the ring cavity.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.