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Interface configuration for rate sensor apparatus

  • US 5,157,461 A
  • Filed: 06/14/1990
  • Issued: 10/20/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A rate sensor for use in inertial reference systems to detect angular rotations and measure magnitudes and directional sense of the rates of angular rotations, said rate sensor comprising:

  • optical source means for generating an incoming optical source wave signal having a predetermined wave length;

    at least one gyroscope channel comprising;

    an optical fiber ring;

    optics circuit means for splitting said source wave signal into a pair of counter-propagating optical waves, and for recombining said counter-propagating optical waves into an outgoing wave signal wherein resultant fringe patterns are representative of the relative phases of said counter-propagating waves; and

    optical path means for interconnecting said optical source means, said optics circuit means, and said optical fiber ring so as to apply said incoming optical source wave signal to said optics circuit means, to apply said counter-propagating optical waves through said optical fiber ring and to apply said counter-propagating optical waves emerging from said optical fiber ring back to said optics circuit means;

    detection circuit means connected to said gyroscope channel for generating an intensity signal indicative at least in part of said resultant fringe patterns; and

    signal processing means connected to said detection circuit means and responsive to said intensity signal for generating output signals corresponding at least in part to said rate of angular rotation;

    characterized in that said optical path means further comprises;

    first path means comprising at least in part a pair of first optical waveguides, each of said pair of first optical waveguides having substantially identical first indices of refraction and forming a first plane;

    second path means comprising at least in part a pair of second optical waveguides, each of said pair of second optical waveguides having substantially identical second indices of refraction different from said first indices of refraction; and

    said second pair of optical waveguides is coupled to said first pair of optical waveguides so that a boundary formed between said first and said second pairs of optical waveguides is angled within said first plane and relative to a plane passing transversely through longitudinal axes of each of said first pair of optical waveguides.

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