Method and apparatus for interferometric rotation sensor phase modulation, intensity demodulation, and control

摘要

A method and apparatus are disclosed for closed-loop phase modulation, intensity demodulation, control, and estimation of the non-reciprocal phase shift induced in a rotation sensing interferometer with a reciprocal phase modulator (18) near one end of a closed light path. A bias modulation signal and a feedback modulation signal are generated, the two signals are summed to form a summed signal which is applied to the phase modulator (18), the intensity interference signal is demodulated to generate a Sagnac phase estimate signal and bias modulation gain error estimate signal, the phase modulator (18) is corrected for gain variation, and the Sagnac phase estimate signal is extracted to provide an estimate of inertial rotation of the closed light path. The waveform of the bias modulation signal consists of a sequence of periodic step transitions between two or more signal levels, each with a duration of preferably 2T_o, where T_o is the time required for light to travel once around the closed optical path of the interferometer. The difference between any two adjacent levels corresponds to a phase difference of approximately π /2 radians. Transitions from one level to another introduce instantaneous non-reciprocal phase shifts at the photodetector of the interferometer of -3π/2, -π/2, +π/2, or +3π/2 radians. The step transition frequency of the bias modulation signal is chosen so as not to fall on even harmonics of the proper frequency f_p = 1/2T_o. The feedback modulation signal can consist of any periodic amplitude modulated square wave with spectral frequency components at harmonics of the bias modulation step transition frequency. The spectral power of the feedback modulation signal must be distributed across frequencies other than even harmonics of the proper frequency f_p.