Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation

Jeffrey A Eck

Eric Udd

Richard F Cahill

Keith H Wanser

John P Theriault

Philip A Turek

Gerald L Schwantz

Raymond E Wagoner

Russell W Johnston

A highly stable linear integrated circuit amplifier (11) is incorporated in a circuit (10) employing transformer (18) feedback providing thermal gain stability determined solely by the transformer turns ratio.

Ultra-stable gain circuit

A fiber-optic rotation sensor particularly adapted to be placed adjacent a drill head to measure the orientation of a drill string with respect to the axis of rotation of the earth during or after drilling for minerals such as oil and gas. The analog sensor is based on a Sagnac interferometer and uses light beams counterrotating in one or more oblong circular shaped coils of optical fiber in which dual phase modulators are used to generate an AC signal to enable detection of a rotation rate output. The sensor also includes means to mechanically or electrically flip to sensitive axis of the rotation sensor to null out bias drift. If one coil is used, the flipping is in 90.degree. segments. When two coils at 90.degree. to each other are used, they are flipped 180.degree..

Method of terminating an optical fiber

A fiber-optic rotation sensor particularly adapted to be placed adjacent a drill head to measure the orientation of a drill string with respect to the axis of rotation of the earth during or after drilling for minerals such as oil and gas. The analog sensor is based on a Sagnac interferometer and uses light beams counterrotating in one or more oblong circular shaped coils of optical fiber in which dual phase modulators are used to generate an AC signal to enable detection of a rotation rate output. The sensor also includes means to mechanically or electrically flip the sensitive axis of the rotation sensor to null out bias drift. If one coil is used, the flipping is in 90.degree. segments. When two coils at 90.degree. to each other are used, they are flipped 180.degree..

Fiber optic earth rotation gyro compass

Growing community of inventors

Yorba Linda, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey A Eck