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Abstract

An optical sensor for rotational movements is proposed that includes a semiconductor laser that is at least intermittently activated, and whose frequency-modulated beam is split into two partial beams that respectively pass through an annular optical fiber arrangement in opposite directions, are subsequently superposed as coupled-out signals and conducted to a photodetector that emits an output signal that has a predeterminable heterodyne frequency, and whose phase position permits the determination of the rate of rotation of the arrangement with respect to a reference signal. The sensor of the invention can be installed into integrated optics, wherein all of the optical beams can be guided in optical fibers. The sensor of the invention is particularly suited as an optical fiber gyro or a rotation rate sensor.

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First Claim