Steven Todd Sanders

US Patent:

7356207, Apr 8, 2008

Filed:

Jul 19, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/489822

Inventors:

Steven J. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International, Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G02B 6/00

US Classification:

385 12

Abstract:

A method and a system for adjusting the sensitivity of an optical sensor are provided. A first beam of light in an optical fiber is separated into first and second portions propagating therethrough at a first speed. A second beam of light is directed into the optical fiber to interact with the first beam of light such that the first and second portions propagate through the optical fiber at a second speed. The propagation speed in turn influences the sensitivity of the optical sensor.

US Patent:

7777889, Aug 17, 2010

Filed:

Aug 7, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/187932

Inventors:

Tiequn Qiu - Glendale AZ, US
Steven J. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US
Sorin Mosor - Peoria AZ, US
Glen A. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G01C 19/72

US Classification:

356460, 356464

Abstract:

A computer-implementable method of reducing bias instability in a fiber optic gyroscope includes receiving, with a computer, a first data set enabling the computer to generate a model of the gyroscope, including a light source, a photodetector, and a plurality of optical components and fiber sections coupling the light source to the photodetector, and a light signal to be propagated from the light source to the photodetector. The light signal has an associated wavelength spectrum. For each wavelength of the spectrum, the relative lightwave intensity reaching the photodetector is calculated. A signal-wave intensity and a spurious-wave intensity are determined from the calculated relative lightwave intensities. A scale factor is determined from the signal-wave intensity. The spurious-wave intensity is integrated over the wavelength spectrum of the light source to obtain a total spurious-wave intensity.

US Patent:

7894073, Feb 22, 2011

Filed:

Aug 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/848592

Inventors:

Tiequn Qiu - Glendale AZ, US
Steven J. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US
Sorin Mosor - Peoria AZ, US
Glen A. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G01C 19/72

US Classification:

356460

Abstract:

Apparatus for providing Bias-Instability reduction in Fiber Optic Gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, an optical circuit for a fiber optic gyroscope having a broadband light source and an optical fiber loop comprises: a PM fiber of length v; an IOC coupled to the PM fiber via a pigtail of length d, a second pigtail with length of d, and a third pigtail with length of d; a splitter that splits light received from the first pigtail into a first and second beams directed to the second and third pigtails; and a depolarizer circuit coupled to said fiber loop including a first fiber section of length x, a second fiber section of length z, a third fiber section of length w and a fourth fiber section of length y; and wherein the lengths of v, x, y, dand dare proportioned to avoid regions of high bias instability.

US Patent:

7973938, Jul 5, 2011

Filed:

Sep 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/236644

Inventors:

Tiequn Qiu - Glendale AZ, US
Steven J. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US
Sorin Moser - Peoria AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G01C 19/72

US Classification:

356460

Abstract:

A fiber optic gyroscope includes a light source, a coupler coupled to the light source, a photodetector coupled to the coupler, an integrated optic circuit (IOC) coupled to the coupler by a first element, and a sensing loop coupled to the IOC by second and third elements. At least one of the first, second and third elements includes a polarizing element.

US Patent:

8213018, Jul 3, 2012

Filed:

Nov 10, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/943352

Inventors:

Douglas E. Smith - Phoenix AZ, US
Steven J. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US
Derek Mead - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G01C 19/72

US Classification:

356460, 356464

Abstract:

Systems and methods for fiber-optic gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, a fiber-optic gyroscope comprises: a light source current servo coupled to a light source that transmits light through an optic path, wherein the light source current servo controls intensity of light through the optic path via a light source current drive that supplies current to power the light source; and an intensity control signal processor coupled to the optic path via a photo detector, wherein the intensity control signal processor outputs an intensity control signal to the light source current servo, wherein the intensity control signal is a function of intensity of light as received at the photo detector; wherein the light source current servo compares the intensity control signal against a stable analog voltage reference to adjust the light source current drive and drive optical power at the photo detector towards a constant level.

US Patent:

8208503, Jun 26, 2012

Filed:

May 26, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/787935

Inventors:

Tiequn Qiu - Glendale AZ, US
Steven J. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

H01S 3/30

US Classification:

372 6, 372 32, 372 70, 372 98, 372108

Abstract:

A broadband light source configured to emit a stable broadband optical beam is provided. The broadband light source includes at least one optical pump source, an optical system including a polarization beam combiner, and a solid state laser medium. The optical system is configured to receive at least one optical pump beam from a respective one of the at least one optical pump source. The solid state laser medium receives a substantially unpolarized pump beam from a first output of the optical system. Stable broadband amplified spontaneous emission is output from a second output of the optical system.

US Patent:

20100284018, Nov 11, 2010

Filed:

May 11, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/463887

Inventors:

Tiequn Qiu - Glendale AZ, US
Steven J. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US
Chellappan Narayanan - Anthem AZ, US

Assignee:

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G01C 19/72

US Classification:

356464

Abstract:

Effective relative intensity noise (RIN) subtraction systems and methods for improving ARW performance of a depolarized gyros. This invention taps the RIN detector light in the sensing loop, after the light transmits through the depolarizer and the coil but before it combines with the counter propagating lightwave. The tapped RIN lightwaves are polarized with pass-axis orientated in the same direction as that of the IOC, so that the RIN detector receives lightwaves with spectrum substantially identical to that of the rate detector, leading to more effective RIN subtraction.

US Patent:

20130044328, Feb 21, 2013

Filed:

Aug 17, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/211658

Inventors:

Steven J. Sanders - Scottsdale AZ, US
Jeffrey E. Lewis - Phoenix AZ, US
Sorin Mosor - Peoria AZ, US
David A. Doheny - Clearwater FL, US
Norman Gerard Tarleton - Glendale AZ, US
Austin Taranta - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G01C 19/72

US Classification:

356464

Abstract:

Systems and methods for environmentally insensitive high-performance fiber-optic gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, a loop closure electronics apparatus for a fiber optic gyroscope having an optical phase modulator characterized by a transfer function that includes an error component of at least second order is provided. The apparatus comprises: a first digital circuit that generates a digital bias modulation signal; a second digital circuit that generates a digital feedback signal; at least one digital-to-analog converter that produces an electrical signal that drives the phase modulator from the digital bias modulation signal and the digital feedback signal; and a compensator that includes an analog filter of at least second order and a digital filter of at least second order, wherein the analog filter and the digital filter pre-filter the electrical signal to compensate for the error component.