Honeywell International Inc.

Matthew A Olson

Charles H Lange

Andrew W Kaliszek

Clarence E Laskoskie

Matthew Brady McEwen

Jesse A Vaught

Wesley H Williams

Esten S Heringer

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

Methods and apparatus are provided for a seal assembly that includes a first plate, a second plate, and compliant material. The first and second plates each have a first side, a second side, and a channel extending therebetween. The channel includes a first cross-sectional area proximate the first side and a second cross-sectional area that is proximate the second side. The first cross-sectional area is greater than a second cross-sectional area. The compliant material is disposed between the first and second plates and is at least partially within the first plate channel and the second plate channel.

Hermetic seal for optical fibers

A fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) includes a sensing coil with a particular magnetic sensitivity magnitude and direction with respect to the geometric axis of the sensing coil. The FOG also includes a plurality of magnetic compensators. Each magnetic compensator is fabricated so as to have a particular magnetic sensitivity magnitude and direction, the magnitude being comparable to that of the sensing coil, with large tolerances relative to the magnitude and direction. The compensators are positioned relative to one another and to the sensing coil such that the combined magnetic sensitivities of the compensators cancel the magnetic sensitivity of the sensing coil.

Magnetic compensators for fiber optic gyroscopes

A magnetic shielding system for a fiber optic gyroscope is disclosed. The fiber optic gyroscope may have a sensing coil with a sensing axis. An exemplary magnetic shield may enclose the sensing coil and have a layer including a plurality of pieces connected at a seam. A portion of the seam may be substantially parallel to the sensing axis of the sensing coil. Also, the pieces may be connected together such that each piece has a portion of each of two sides and a wall of the magnetic shield. Additionally, multiple layers having orthogonal seams may be utilized with the magnetic shield.

Magnetic shield for a fiber optic gyroscope

An adhesive system for use in minimizing the negative environmental influences on a fiber optic gyroscope comprises a free-standing substantially cylindrical sensing coil having an inner coil surface, a rigid substantially cylindrical coil-supporting structure or hub having a cylindrical wall and an outer surface, a plurality of grooves formed into the hub's outer surface, a plurality of slots formed into the outer surface of hub and an adhesive affixing hub to coil . Adhesive may be injected into manifolds located in the cylindrical wall of hub , travel through the slots into a gap existing between coil and hub . Excess adhesive may flow into grooves . Different orientations and sizes of grooves and slots , different types and amounts of adhesive , and different thicknesses of adhesive between the coil and hub may be used to achieve suitable adhesion. The adhesive system may further include a stress buffer and an additional adhesive to further minimize environmental influences on coil . Specifically, a first adhesive affixes the inner surface of buffer to the outer surface of hub . A second adhesive affixes the outer surface of buffer to the inner surface of coil

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Glendale, AZ, United States of America

Matthew A Olson