Multi-axis fiber optic gyroscope with single light source

摘要

A fiber optic gyroscope including a non-coherent light source for producing a first beam of light, an optical circulator in the path of said first beam for providing polarized second and third beams, respectively, with polarization orthogonal to each other, and a time division multiplexer in the path of the second and third beams. A first planar optical fiber loop is coupled to the time division multiplexer and has a first end and a second end coupled to the second and third beams respectively during a first time period. A second planar optical fiber loop is coupled to the time division multiplexer and has a first end and a second end coupled to the second and third beams respectively during a second time period subsequent to the first time period.

主权项

1. A fiber optic gyroscope subassembly comprising:
a non-coherent light source for producing a first beam of light; an optical subassembly in the path of the first beam for providing polarized second and third beams of light; a time division multiplexer in the path of the second and third beams; a first planar optical fiber loop coupled to the time division multiplexer, wherein the time division multiplexer is configured to optically couple the optical subassembly to a first end and a second end of the first planar optical fiber loop for transmitting the second and third beams to the first end and the second end, respectively, of the first planar optical fiber loop and for transmitting fourth and fifth beams of light from the first end and the second end, respectively, of the first planar optical fiber loop to the optical subassembly only during a first time period; and a second planar optical fiber loop coupled to the time division multiplexer, wherein the time division multiplexer is configured to optically couple the optical subassembly to a first end and a second end of the second planar optical fiber loop for transmitting the second and third beams to the first end and the second end, respectively, of the second planar optical fiber loop and for transmitting fourth and fifth beams of light from the first end and the second end, respectively, of the second planar optical fiber loop to the optical subassembly only during a second time period subsequent to the first time period.