Bookham Technology Limited

Ralf-Dieter Pechstedt

Andrew George Rickman

Arnold Peter Harpin

James Stuart McKenzie

Yicheng Lu

An optical system comprises two optical paths P,, P,, and an optical path changer for changing the optical length of the two optical paths. The optical path changer includes two phase modulators M,, M,one coupled to each of the paths. A driving system is configured to apply power to the phase modulators to drive them in the same direction and to change the power applied to the phase modulators in opposite directions so as to change the length of each optical path in a different direction. As a result, the relationship between the changes in the power applied to the phase modulators and the resulting changes in the phase of light beams passing through the optical system becomes substantially linear.

Optical system and method for changing the lengths of optical paths and the phases of light beams

An integrated optical circuit for use in a fibre optic gyroscope which senses rotation rates by determining a phase shift due to the Sagnac Effect between light beams travelling around an optical fibre sensing loop (4) in opposite directions, the circuit being provided on a silicon-on-insulator chip comprising a layer of silicon separated from a substrate by an insulating layer, the circuit comprising: rib waveguides (11) formed in the silicon layer for receiving light from a light source (2) and transmitting light to a light detector (3), fibre optic connectors (9) in the form of grooves etched in the silicon layer for receiving the respective ends of the optical fibre sensing loop (4); rib waveguides (11) formed in the silicon layer for transmitting light to and from said fibre optic connectors (9) so as to direct light beams in opposite directions around the sensing loop (4) and receive light beams returning therefrom, phase determining means and (13,17,31) integrated in silicon layer for determining a phase shift between the light beams returning from the sensing loop (4).

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Wantage, United Kingdom

Ralf-Dieter Pechstedt