A sensing coil is provided for optically guiding counter-propagating light
beams in a fiber optic gyroscope. The sensing coil comprises a plurality
of layers of an optical fiber having a winding direction. The plurality
of layers comprises inner layers, middle layers, and outer layers. The
middle layers comprise first and second input ends configured to receive
the counter-propagating light beams. At least one of the inner layers,
middle layers, and outer layers is coupled with a different one of the
inner layers, middle layers, and outer layers while maintaining the
winding direction. A method is provided for winding an optical fiber,
having first and second connecting ends, to form a sensing coil for a
fiber optic gyroscope having a winding direction. The method comprises
excluding first and second segments from a middle layer of the sensing
coil to produce first and second inputs and third and fourth connecting
ends respectively adjacent to the first and second inputs, and coupling
each of the connecting ends with a different one of the connecting ends
while maintaining the winding direction.