Compound resonator for improving optic gyro scale factor

摘要

Method and apparatus for tuning an optical gyroscope, such as a MOG, to an operating frequency within a predetermined range of operating frequencies. The method includes an initial step of providing a compound resonator structure having a first optical waveguide resonator [16] optically coupled to a laser [14]. There is also provided a second optical waveguide resonator [18] optically coupled to the first resonator. The second resonator is constructed to extract a significant amount of energy from the first resonator when a coresonance frequency condition exists with the first resonator and to extract an insignificant amount of energy from the first resonator when a coresonance frequency condition does not exist. The method includes a step of varying an output frequency of the laser to a first frequency where a coresonance frequency condition exists. The method also includes a step of further varying the output frequency of the laser to a second frequency where a resonance frequency condition exists within the first resonator and a coresonance frequency condition does not exist between the first and the second resonators. The second frequency is within the predetermined range of frequencies and is selected to provide a desired gyroscope scale factor.