Interferometric sensors using time domain measurement techniques

摘要

An interferometer used as a rotation sensor is constructed using a strand of optical fiber, a portion of which is formed into a sensing loop. A pair of light waves are caused to counterpropagate in the sensing loop and are combined to form an optical output signal that has an intensity that varies in accordance with the difference in the phases of the two counterpropagating light waves. A phase modulator is positioned on the optical fiber in the sensing loop at a location such that the two counterpropagating light waves are modulated approximately 180 degrees out of phase. The time-varying phase modulation causes a time- varying phase difference that is combined with a rotationally-induced Sagnac effect phase to provide a total phase difference that is detected by a photodetector. The photodetector provides an electrical output signal this is differentiated to provide a differentiated output signal that has zero-crossings that correspond to maxima and minima of the electrical output signal. The time intervals between selected zero- crossings are measured and the rotationally-induced phase difference caused by the Sagnac effect is calculated from the measured time intervals. The rotation rate is then calculated from the Sagnac phase difference.