Abstract: A closed loop gain circuit controls the gain of a variable gain amplifier and provides a stable AGC response irrespective of the actual gain level. The amplifier may be arranged to amplify electrical signals output from a fiber optic gyroscope. A perturbation injection circuit provides a perturbation signal ±d to a phase modulator connected to the fiber optic gyro. A perturbation compensation circuit applies perturbation compensation signals to signals output from the variable gain amplifier and produces a compensated signal by reducing the magnitude of the perturbation in the amplified signal output from the variable gain amplifier. A gain error circuit connected to the perturbation compensation circuit produces a gain error signal that indicates the magnitude of the perturbation signal remaining in the amplified signal after perturbation compensation. A feedback system provides a gain control signal to the variable gain amplifier to reduce the magnitude of the gain error signal.

Abstract: A closed loop gain circuit controls the gain of a variable gain amplifier and provides a stable AGC response irrespective of the actual gain level. The amplifier may be arranged to amplify electrical signals output from a fiber optic gyroscope. A perturbation injection circuit provides a perturbation signal ±d to a phase modulator connected to the fiber optic gyro. A perturbation compensation circuit applies perturbation compensation signals to signals output from the variable gain amplifier and produces a compensated signal by reducing the magnitude of the perturbation in the amplified signal output from the variable gain amplifier. A gain error circuit connected to the perturbation compensation circuit produces a gain error signal that indicates the magnitude of the perturbation signal remaining in the amplified signal after perturbation compensation. A feedback system provides a gain control signal to the variable gain amplifier to reduce the magnitude of the gain error signal.

Abstract: The invention is a method for improving the performance of a fiber-optic gyro comprising counter-propagating light beams from a broadband source in an optical fiber configured as a coil. The fiber-optic gyro is of the type where the phases of the light beams are step-modulated at one or both ends of the optical fiber at time intervals equal to the light propagation time .tau. through the optical fiber, the step being in the range from 0 to 2.pi.-.delta. radians where .delta. is an infinitesimal. The step is the sum of an estimate of the Sagnac phase residual .phi..sub.SE with reversed sign and the quantity (2.pi.k+j.phi..sub.M) where the index k can take on the values -1, 0, and 1, and the index j can take on the values -1 and 1. The phase angle .phi..sub.M is a positive constant less than .pi. radians. The method comprises the steps of determining the interferometer output light intensity, determining the Sagnac fringe number n, calculating the error P.sub.