Patent ID: 6256101
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
A fiber optic gyroscope for measuring an ultra-high rotation rate of an object, said gyroscope comprising:a light source means for generating a beam of light;a bidirectional coupling means for receiving and forwarding the light beam generated by the light source means;a splitting means, which receives the light beam forwarded from the coupling means, for splitting the light beam into a first and a second beam;a fiber optic sense means for receiving the first and second beams;a phase modulator means for adjusting the phase of the first and second beams;a detector means for detecting the intensity of the first and second beams;a signal processing means for determining the rotation rate of the gyroscope based on the intensity detected by the detector means and for issuing an alarm signal, when the measured rotation speed of the gyroscope produces a phase shift responsive to the measured rotation speed exceeding a predetermined high speed threshold; and,a drive circuit means for driving the phase modulator means to adjust the phases of the first and second beams when the signal processor issues an alarm.