Fiber optic gyroscope with optical gating for spike suppression

Abstract

A fiber optic gyroscope includes an optical fiber coil, at least one optical circuit, and at least one optical gate. The at least one optical circuit is configured to receive input optical signals generated by at least one optical source, to split each input optical signal into first and second optical signals, to phase modulate one or both of the first and second optical signals, to transmit the first and second optical signals to the optical fiber coil such that the first and second optical signals counterpropagate through the optical fiber coil, to receive the first and second optical signals after counterpropagating through the optical fiber coil, to combine the first and second optical signals after counterpropagating through the optical fiber coil, and to transmit the combined first and second optical signals to at least one photodetector. The at least one optical gate is configured to controllably time modulate the input optical signals and/or the first and second optical signals prior to being combined, said time modulating synchronized with said phase modulating.