Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods of attaching an optical line to a phase modulator in a fiber optic gyroscope. The methods include positioning at least one end of the optical line relative to a side of the phase modulator. The end of the optical line may have a first non-perpendicular angle and the side of the phase modulator may have a second non-perpendicular angle. The end of the optical line may be attached to the side of the phase modulator with the end of the optical line being non-parallel to the side of the phase modulator. The optical line may be an optical coil or a light path.

Abstract: A compact fiber optic gyroscope including a first housing; a transceiver module disposed in the first housing, the transceiver module including a second housing; a non-coherent light source disposed in the second housing for producing a first beam of light; a single lens for focusing the first beam of light; an optical circulator disposed in the second housing and in the path of the first beam of light to produce polarized second and third beams respectively, with polarization orthogonal to each other; and first and second photodiodes disposed in the second housing and coupled to the optical circulator, wherein the first photodiode is a transmit monitor photodiode coupled to the second beam, and the second photodiode is a receiver photodiode.

Abstract: Methods of attaching an optical line to a phase modulator in a fiber optic gyroscope. The methods include positioning at least one end of the optical line relative to a side of the phase modulator. The end of the optical line may have a first non-perpendicular angle and the side of the phase modulator may have a second non-perpendicular angle. The end of the optical line may be attached to the side of the phase modulator with the end of the optical line being non-parallel to the side of the phase modulator. The optical line may be an optical coil or a light path.

Abstract: A fiber optic gyroscope including an optical circulator in the path of said first and second beams for providing polarized first and second beams of identical polarization. A phase modulator couples the first and second beams to the first and second end respectively of the fiber loop, and couples for receiving the return first and second beams from the second and first ends respectively of the fiber loop. First and second photodiodes are coupled to the optical circulator for receiving the optical signal from the first and second return beams.

Abstract: An interferometric rotation rate sensor is arranged to overcome effects of the unavoidable generation of intensity spikes in the modulated optical output. An electrooptical device is located within the optical path of the sensor for receiving the optical output signal from the sensor coil and transforming it prior to application to the photodetector. The electrooptical device is driven by a periodic electrical signal with a period equal to the loop transit time of light traveling through the sensor coil. By synchronizing the periods of attenuation with the predictable presence of spikes in the optical output, valid optical signal information is preserved while gyro electronics are sheltered from the results of optical intensity spiking.