Extremely compact three-axis interferometric fiber optic gyroscope based on a novel time division multiplexing approach

This study presents an extremely compact three-axis interferometric fiber optic gyroscope (IFOG) based on a time division multiplexing (TDM) approach. In contrast to the traditional TDM methods, this scheme concurrently multiplexes the optical source, photodetector, signal processing circuit, and multifunctional integrated optics circuit (MIOC), thereby further enhancing the size, weight, power consumption, and cost of the three-axis IFOG. Furthermore, the three axes are modulated by a single MIOC, and by adjusting the length ratios of the three fiber coils the axes are inherently modulated at distinct time segments, which eliminates the requirement for intricate modulation sequences. Experimental findings indicate that this innovative three-axis IFOG functions effectively, yielding angular random walk values of 0.195∘/h, 0.031∘/h, and 0.014∘/h, respectively.