Litton Systems, Inc.

Robert P Goldman

Donald A Frederick

Akbar Arab-Sadeghabadi

Steven J Maas

John G Larson

Anselm Francis Varni

John E Mansell

A fiber optic hydrophone is formed as a single interferometer having widely separated interferometer segments formed in each of a pair of optical fibers. The interferometer segments are designed to allow averaging of the effects of local noise sources over a broad area in order to increase the acoustic signal-to-noise ratio. The interferometer segments also allow deployment of the hydrophone around sharp bends. A first optical fiber is formed into a plurality of spatially separated outer coils. A second optical fiber is formed into a plurality of inner coils corresponding to the outer coils. The inner and outer coils are preferably arranged in concentric pairs to form a plurality of sensor segments. A plurality of spacers is arranged such that a spacer is between successive sensor segments. The spacers are formed to guide the outer and inner optical fibers between successive sensor segments such that changes in the physical parameter between the sensor segments produce no phase difference between optical signals guided by the outer and inner fibers. The outer and inner coils are preferably arranged for exposure to the parameter such that changes in the parameter at each sensor segment produce opposite phase changes between the optical signals in the outer coils and the corresponding outer coil.

Extended, flexible, spatially weighted fiber optic interferometric

A connector for making and securing low loss optical contact between a first plurality of optical fibers, each including a ferrule-encapsulated terminal end, and a second plurality of optical fibers, each also including a ferrule-encapsulated terminal end. Each of the ferrules is individually fixed to a cap that includes an asymmetrical keying member. Male and female connector members include internal channels for accepting ferrule-fixed cups with predetermined angular orientations. Springs are axially aligned within the channels for independently urging each cup-fixed ferrule into optical contact with a mating ferrule. In this way, multiple rotational and axial alignments are simultaneously and independently achieved and maintained between mated pairs of optical fibers.

Multichannel fiber optic connector

Disclosed herein in a side mounted aperture and a Faraday rotator assembly useful in conjunction with an out-of-plane multi-oscillator ring laser gyroscope. The aperture and Faraday rotator assemblies contain components which are optically contacted to one another as well as the ring laser gyroscope frame. The assemblies disclosed herein provide a simplified construction designed to fixture the Faraday rotator element in order to minimize handling and facilitate alignment to the ring laser gyroscope cavity, free from contamination and in proper alignment for optimum use of the Faraday rotator component and aperture needed for proper operation of an out-of-plane multi-oscillator ring laser gyroscope.

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Woodland Hills, CA, United States of America

Robert P Goldman