Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Nxtphase Corporation

Nxtphase Technologies, Srl

Randy P Goettsche

Ralph A Bergh

Glen Aaron Sanders

John H Shannon

Karl A Fetting

Tracy L Hawk

Damon H Duncan

The polarization state of a light wave is changed by a fiber polanrzation retardation device constructed by a method including employment of a pair of clamping fixtures, and a series of steps including clamping, cleaving, splicing, releasing, clamping, and cleaving, so as to achieve precise optical fiber lengths to achieve a desired polarization retarding device.

Method for fabrication of an all fiber polarization retardation device

In many optics applications, it is desirable to retard the polarization of a light wave, i.e., to change the polarization state of a light wave. In a method for retarding polarization of a light wave, a first linear polarization-maintaining fiber having a first beat length is spliced to a second polarization-maintaining fiber having a high birefringence and a second beat length. The second fiber is then cleaved to a length which is a fraction of the second beat length. The first fiber and the second fiber may be secured in a removable or permanent capillary. A light wave is transmitted into the first fiber and the polarization state of the light wave is determined. To adjust the polarization state, the second fiber may be lapped against an abrasive substance. The second fiber may be repeatedly lapped until a desired polarization state is achieved. In an alternate method, a first linear polarization-maintaining fiber is spliced to a second polarization-maintaining fiber having a high birefringence and a beat length. The second fiber is cleaved to a length which is a fraction of the beat length and a third fiber is spliced to the second fiber. A light wave is transmitted through the fibers and the polarization state of the light wave is determined. All or part of the second fiber may be heated to adjust the polarization state of a light wave. The second fiber may be repeatedly heated until a desired polarization state is achieved.

In a fiber optic coil arrangement for use in rotation sensors, for example, axial or radial errors can be reduced or substantially eliminated by negatively trimming the fiber optic coil. As a result of the negative trimming, a sufficient amount of the predictable turns of the optical fiber is removed from the fiber optic coil so as to interrupt the predetermined pattern with which the fiber optic coil is wound in order to thereby reduce axial or radial related errors which would have otherwise resulted. Alternatively, the fiber optic coil may be negatively trimmed by terminating winding of the fiber optic coil before the predetermined pattern of the fiber optic coil has been completed. The point at which winding is terminated may be selected so as to reduce axial or radial related errors to a desired level.

Negative trimming of fiber optic winding

A light coupler comprises a light source and a light conductor coupled together by a housing. The housing is permanently deformed to increase light coupling between the light source and the light conductor.

Micro-alignment method

In a optical fiber coil arrangement for use in rotation sensors, for example, axial and/or radial errors can be reduced or substantially eliminated by employing trimming lengths of the first and second ends of the optical fiber used to wind the coil. The first and second ends are spatially separated from one another so as to reduce such errors. The trimming lengths may be in the form of trimming turns. To eliminate axial errors, the first end is formed into a first number of trimming turns and the second end is formed into a second number of trimming turns so that the first and second number of trimming turns are spatially offset from each other in an axial direction. To eliminate radial errors, the first end is formed into a first number of trimming turns and the second end is formed into a second number of trimming turns so that the first and second number of trimming turns are spatially offset from each other in a radial direction. Radial and axial compensation may be combined.

Trimming of fiber optic winding and method of achieving same

Apparatus and method for trimming of fiber optic winding

In a optical fiber coil arrangement for use in rotation sensors, for example, errors resulting from axial and/or radial time varying temperature gradients can be minimized or substantially eliminated by employing reverse quadrupoles for the sensor coil. One of the quadrupoles is wound in a + - - + winding configuration. However, the next adjacent quadrupole is wound in a - + + - winding configuration. This reverse quadrupole arrangement substantially eliminates radial time varying temperature gradient dependent errors and reduces axial time varying temperature gradient dependent errors. The axial time varying temperature gradient dependent errors can be substantially eliminated by winding a reverse octupole arrangement. Accordingly, a reverse octupole arrangement is wound with a + - - + - + + - - + + - + - - + winding configuration. Alternatively, the axial time varying temperature gradient dependent errors can be substantially eliminated by providing extra lengths of the '+' and '-' ends which are axially displaced so as to substantially eliminate this axial time varying temperature gradient dependent error.

Optical fiber sensor coil using reverse quadrupoles and method of

A two-degree of freedom, open loop, spring restrained rate gyro apparatus includes a motor mounted in a housing with a conductive device provided for conducting operating voltages into and out of the housing. A shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing and is connected to be driven by the motor. A ring, having a hub, is connected to the shaft. The ring and hub are interconnected by a torsion bar. A stop is connected to the shaft adjacent the ring so as to define an air gap between the ring and the stop. A pair of variable reluctance pickoffs are mounted in the housing adjacent the ring. The pickoffs also define an air gap between each of the pickoffs and the ring. An optical pickoff is also mounted adjacent the ring. A signal processor is connected to the pair of variable reluctance pickoffs and to the optical pickoff for measuring the rate of the gyro.

Growing community of inventors

Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Randy P Goettsche