For example, the coupler may include one or more of an optical fiber coupler, a prism coupler and a directional coupler. In another exemplary embodiment, a coupler within the closed optical path splits the first and second light beams such that the first light beam propagates in a first direction in the coupler and the second light beam propagates in a second direction in the coupler and then recombines the first and second light beams at the detector to create an interference pattern thereon. In an exemplary embodiment, a mirror that is at least partially transmissive within the closed optical path directs the first and second light beams towards the detector. In yet another embodiment, the RLG further includes a detector coupled to the closed optical path to detect a beat pattern caused by the first and second light beams counter-propagating through the closed optical path and a processor coupled to the detector to determine an angular rotation rate based on the beat pattern. When the active gain medium is fabricated on a separate SOI wafer, the closed optical path may further include an optical fiber coupled between the two SOI wafers.
The active gain medium may be further fabricated on the SOI wafer or on a separate SOI wafer. In still a further embodiment, the first and second mirrors and the MEMS actuator may be fabricated on a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer. In such an embodiment, the first and second minors may be corner cube minors. In a further embodiment, one or more additional mirrors may be placed in the closed optical path to direct the light beams.
In addition, a single MEMS actuator may control both the first and second minors or each mirror may be separately controlled by a different MEMS actuator. In either embodiment, the first and second mirrors may be metallic or dielectric and may be moveable in the same direction or in opposite directions. In another embodiment, the active gain medium includes a fiber amplifier.
In one embodiment, the active gain medium includes a semiconductor laser. إعجاب (7) 48 مشاهدة طلب معلومات اكثر الوصفĮmbodiments of the present invention provide a ring laser gyroscope including an active gain medium for generating first and second light beams, a closed optical path through which the first and second light beams counter-propagate, first and second moveable mirrors within the closed optical path and a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) actuator coupled to the first and second moveable minors to cause a respective displacement thereof that induces a phase modulation on the first and second light beams relative to one another, thereby creating an optical path difference between the first and second light beams corresponding to a virtual rotation to reduce the lock-in.
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