FIBER-OPTIC GYROSCOPES FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

We review recent developments in interferometric fiber-optic gyroscopes for automotive applications. These gyroscopes use only elliptical-jacket or elliptical-core polarization-maintaining fibers to make their optical systems immune to environmental effects, and all of them use open-loop phase-modulation signal processing circuitry. We have begun mass-production of a gyroscope for automotive navigation and location systems. Another gyroscope employing an application specific integrated circuit developed for reducing size, cost and power consumption outputs the rotation rate as an analog voltage, and can be used for automotive chassis control and navigation systems. A more accurate gyroscope and a three-axis FOG system combined with clinometers can be applied to motion measurement systems for chassis development and testing. For further enhancement in terms of size, cost, and accuracy, we have developed an integrated optical circuit and a gyroscope that uses it.