US Patent 7746475 Microgyroscope

A new high-performance, compact microgyroscope is implemented using a microlaser such as a microsphere laser or a microdisc laser that can be easily reduced in size. The microgyroscope includes a pumping unit for inputting pumping light for optical pumping, at least one microsphere or microdisc for oscillating a laser beam by performing optical pumping using light received from the pumping unit, an output coupler for receiving the oscillated laser beam from the microsphere or microdisc, and a photodetector for calculating a beat frequency due to interference between beams output from the output coupler to measure rotation. The pumping unit and the output coupler are constructed using a tapered optical fiber.