Revised minimum reciprocity configuration and actualization methodology of interferometric all-fiber-optic gyroscopes.

We propose a revised minimum reciprocity configuration (MRC) of an interferometric all-fiber-optic gyroscope (all-fiber I-FOG), based on our design of a fused-taper polarization-maintaining fiber coupler. This MRC reduces the insertion loss and production cost of the optical path, yet maintains the principle of reciprocity. Experimental results show that this I-FOG with five optical components exhibits better performance than a conventional I-FOG with six optical components. Using the revised MRC, the angle random walk and the bias instability of an I-FOG are improved from 0.025 deg/√hr to 0.011 deg/√hr, and 0.48 deg/hr to 0.21 deg/hr, respectively.