Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Manfred Schiruska

John P Rahn

Kurt R Carlson

Kristin C Cooley

Thomas McLean

Steven M Kim

Bassam S Dimashkie

Thomas Mclean

John Phillip Rahn

An apparatus includes a symmetrical wavelength multiplexor (SWM) that includes a first port that receives a depolarized beam of light of a first center wavelength for a first wavelength range. A second port of the SWM receives a second center wavelength of light for a second wavelength range that is greater than the first wavelength range. A third port of the SWM provides a substantially symmetrical wavelength output to drive a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) in accordance with the second center wavelength. The depolarized beam of light of the first center wavelength travels from the first port to the second port of the SWM and light of the second center wavelength travels from the second port to the third port of the SWM. The SWM mitigates spectral asymmetries between orthogonal axes of the second wavelength.

Symmetrical wavelength multiplexor for fiber optic gyro source

A plurality of voids are introduced into a polymeric material. One or more stress sensitive components in abutment with a portion of the polymeric material are buffered from one or more stresses through employment of the portion of the polymeric material that comprises one or more voids of the plurality of voids. A movement of the portion of the polymeric material is accommodated through compression of one or more of the one or more voids.

Introducing voids into polymeric material for buffering one or more stress sensitive components from one or more stresses

In one example, the voidscomprise one or more gas (e.g., air) bubbles in the solid material. In another example, the voidscomprise a structure that preserves a space in the solid material. In a further example, the voidscomprise hollow elastomeric bubbles, for example, hollow elastomeric microspheres. The hollow elastomeric microspheres comprise microballoons with tin walls that encapsulate a gas to allow for easy compression. For example, the walls of the hollow elastomeric microspheres are strong enough to avoid breakage under pressure, but thin enough to easily compress. In a further example, once cured in the solid material, the hollow elastomeric microspheres comprise substantially similar compressibility characteristics as gas bubbles. The voidsin one example are added to a resin of the solid materialin a substantially uniform distribution. For example, the hollow elastomeric microspheres are stirred into the resin of the solid material

Polymeric material with voids that compress to allow the polymeric material to absorb applied force and decrease reaction force to one or more sensor fibers

An apparatus in one example comprises a buffer layer located on a face that serves as a primary support for an optical fiber winding along a first general direction. The face is coupled with a body that serves as a primary support for the optical fiber winding along a second general direction. The optical fiber winding comprises an optical fiber wound about the body. The buffer layer serves to promote a decrease of one or more strain gradients among a plurality of portions of the optical fiber winding.

Buffer layer promotion of decrease of one or more strain gradients in optical fiber winding

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Woodland Hills, CA, United States of America

Manfred Schiruska