Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Honeywell International Inc.

Other

Clarence E Laskoskie

Glen Aaron Sanders

Lee Kevin Strandjord

Bogdan Szafraniec

Andrew W Kaliszek

Henry H Hung

Jerry L Page

John R Feth

Rudolf C Dankwort

Richard J August

Daniel L Sugarbaker

Kevin B Dimond

Tiequn Qiu

James N Blake

Neil A Krueger

Steven J Sanders

Yellapu Anjan

Matthew A Olson

Chellappan Narayanan

Edward Summers

An optical resonator is provided. The optical resonator comprises: an optical resonator coil comprising a first port and a second port; wherein the optical resonator coil comprises antiresonant nodeless fiber; a resonator loop closure optics system; and wherein the antiresonant nodeless fiber has a length such that the resonant frequencies the optical resonator of the desired polarization state of light and of the undesired polarization state of light are separated by between a tenth of a free spectral range and nine tenths of a free spectral range to minimize gyroscope errors.

Resonant fiber optical gyroscope using antiresonant nodeless fiber

A method comprises: receiving a first optical signal and a second optical signal; injecting a portion of the first optical signal into an optical resonator; injecting a portion of the second optical signal into the optical resonator, where the first optical signal and the second optical signal propagate in opposite directions in the optical resonator; emitting a portion of the first optical signal; emitting a portion of the second optical signal; coupling, by free space optics, a portion of the emitted first optical signal to a first power detector; coupling, by free space optics, a portion of the emitted second optical signal to a second power detector; adjusting the power level of the received first optical signal based upon a first detected power level detected by the first power detector; and adjusting the power level of the received second optical signal based upon a second detected power level detected by the second power detector.

Apparatus and method for optical power control

A dispersion managed interferometric fiber optic gyroscope comprising: a coupler coupled to the broadband light source via a first input fiber; an IOC comprising: a beamsplitter that directs the input signal to a first output and a second output; a combiner configured to combine a first return signal from the first output and a second return signal from the second output into a combined return signal; an integrated optical circuit input coupled to the coupler via a second input fiber; a fiber optic gyroscope sensing coil coupled to a first pigtail fiber and second pigtail fiber, the sensing coil comprising sensing fibers, wherein at least one dispersion slope of at least one of the first input fiber, second input fiber, first pigtail fiber, second pigtail fiber, and the sensing fibers is selected such that the signals at the IOC input has a second order coherence substantially equal to two.

Dispersion managed interferometric fiber optic gyroscope

A sensing coil is provided for optically guiding counter-propagating light beams in a fiber optic gyroscope. The sensing coil comprises a plurality of layers of an optical fiber having a winding direction. The plurality of layers comprises inner layers, middle layers, and outer layers. The middle layers comprise first and second input ends configured to receive the counter-propagating light beams. At least one of the inner layers, middle layers, and outer layers is coupled with a different one of the inner layers, middle layers, and outer layers while maintaining the winding direction. A method is provided for winding an optical fiber, having first and second connecting ends, to form a sensing coil for a fiber optic gyroscope having a winding direction. The method comprises excluding first and second segments from a middle layer of the sensing coil to produce first and second inputs and third and fourth connecting ends respectively adjacent to the first and second inputs, and coupling each of the connecting ends with a different one of the connecting ends while maintaining the winding direction.

Method for winding sensing coils and sensing coil for fiber optic gyroscopes

A variable chirp optical modulator is provided in which an optical waveguide is split for part of its length into first and second waveguide arms. Electrode pairs are utilized to provide modulating electric fields in a portion of the first and second waveguide arms. The optical lengths of the portions of the first and second waveguide arms that are subject to the modulating electric fields are different and are selected to provide a predetermined level of chirp. By controlling the optical power split from the optical waveguide to the first and second arms, the chirp is varied from the predetermined level.

Variable chirp optical modulator

A variable chirp optical modulator is provided. An optical waveguide is split for part of its length into first and second waveguide arms. Electrode pairs are positioned to be proximate a first portion of corresponding waveguide arms. The lengths of each of the electrodes are different and are selected to provide a predetermined level of chirp.

Variable chirp optical modulator having different length electrodes

A rectification error reducer for a fiber optic gyroscope, which is an intensity servo or compensator for reducing vibration effects in the optical signals caused by modulation at vibration frequencies induced by the gyroscope-operating environment. The vibration effects may be detected in signals from the photodiode output in amplitude form, which is used in a control system to null out optical intensity variations at the frequencies of vibration.

Ruggedized structure for fiber optic gyroscope

A rectification error reducer for a fiber optic gyroscope, which is an intensity servo or compensator for reducing vibration effects in the optical signals caused by modulation at vibration frequencies induced by the gyroscope operating environment. The vibration effects may be detected in signals from the photodiode output in amplitude form which is used in a control system to null out optical intensity variations at the frequencies of vibration.

Vibration error reduction servo for a fiber optic gyroscope

Fiber optic gyroscope vibration error compensator

A pumped rare-earth fiber source wavelength control device, having source wavelength control effected by pump source wavelength and power control. The maintaining of pump wavelength and power control can be attained several ways such as by use of a wavelength sensitive coupler, a short length of fiber having an embedded grating, and a modulated grating embedded fiber.

Fiber optic gyroscope source wavelength control

A method for damping an optical fiber on a bias optical phase modulator having two optical fiber leads comprises the steps of securing the bias phase modulator, applying a silicone or acrylate type of substance to an outward facing surface of the fiber wound on the bias phase modulator means, applying the silicone or acrylate type of substance on the two optical fiber leads for at least 0.5 inch (1.28 cm.) along each lead which is apart from the place where the optical fiber wound on the bias phase modulator, frequently brushing or smoothing out the applied silicone or acrylate type of substance until the substance beings to set, and drying the substance on the optical fiber until the substance is cured. The applied damping material significantly reduces an amplitude of a frequency caused by mechanical vibrations in a rotation sensor.

Method for damping optical fiber on a bias optical phase modulator

A rotation sensor for sensing rotation, particularly about an axis of a coiled optical fiber, wherein the coiled optical fiber has with light waves propagating in opposite directions in the coiled optical fiber, the phase relationship of the counter-propagating light waves providing a basis for indicating rotation of the sensor. A portion of the coiled optical fiber is a part of and affected by a bias optical phase modulator which causes a varying phase relationship between the light waves at a fundamental frequency. However, the varying phase relation ship has at least one harmonic which is due to mechanical vibration of the optical fiber that is a part of the modulator. This harmonic contributes to an erroneous indication of rotation. The amplitude of such harmonic is reduced by lowering the Q of the resonating fiber. This is effected by applying a damping material to the optical fiber and a portion of the modulator. A photodetector detects the counter-propagating waves and sends a corresponding electrical signal on to a signal component selection device that provides an indication of sensed rotation, including error due to the mechanically resonating optical fiber of the modulator.

Harmonic phase modulation error reducer

A spectrum stabilizer for stabilizing the wavelength of light emitted by a source for use in an optical system where the source can have that wavelength altered by varying one or more source parameters, such as source current, temperature and/or alignment of the output end of the source with an optical fiber of the optical system, and wherein light from a selected point in the optical system is coupled to a double mode waveguide for wavelength sensing.

Emission source spectrum stabilizer

An axis alignment detector for aligning axes of two birefringent components or fibers at forty-five degrees relative to each other. Polarized light is put into one axis of one of the two components or fibers to be aligned. The light goes from the one fiber through a junction where the two components or fibers are to be aligned at forty-five degrees, into the axes of the other component or fiber. The other component or fiber is temporarily connected to a third birefringent component or fiber wherein light moves on into the third component or fiber. The light from the third component or fiber goes on through a polarizer on to a mirror or integrated optic interferometer. The interferometer provides an interference output that reveals when the two components or fibers have a forty-five degree axis alignment. Also, the interferometer output may be used to measure other angles of axis alignment. One light path of the interferometer is modulated and the interferometer output is converted to an electrical signal which is electronically processed to improve detection of an accurate forty-five degree alignment of the to-be-joined or spliced pair of birefringent components or fibers.

Birefringent component axis alignment detector

An optical source emits a source optical signal having a source optical signal power and a wavelength. A splitter or other similar device splits the source optical signal into a first optical signal having a first optical signal power and into a second optical signal having a second optical signal power such that the source optical signal power is split between the first optical signal power and the second optical signal power. This split is dependent upon the wavelength of the source optical signal. A first detector detects the first optical signal power and a second detector detects the second optical signal power. A controller responds to the first and second detectors in order to control the wavelength of the source optical signal.

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Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America

Clarence E Laskoskie