MIDDLETOWN, R.I., Aug. 22, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highlighting the continued demand for precision pointing and stabilization as well as affordable, accurate navigation in a growing number of military and commercial applications, KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq:KVHI) today announced that it has produced its 50,000th fiber optic gyro (FOG). This milestone shows continued acceptance of the compact, affordable, and high-precision FOGs that KVH manufactures using its exclusive single-mode, polarization-maintaining E•Core™ and E•Core ThinFiber technology and digital signal processing (DSP) electronics.
KVH's FOG design allows customers a high degree of flexibility in terms of the FOG form factor, output type, number of axes, installation and mounting, and performance. Thanks to this innovative design and a commitment to ongoing research and development, KVH can claim:
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6,000 miles (10,000 km) of optical fiber created, enough to travel from Boston, MA, to Los Angeles, CA, and back
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More than 20 patents for FOG technology
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A 100,000-square foot manufacturing facility employing more than 120 people in Tinley Park, IL, and devoted primarily to FOG production
- A full FOG product line ranging from single- and dual-axis rate gyros and inertial measurement units to fully integrated inertial navigation systems
"KVH offers a unique combination of affordability and ongoing innovation in our FOG product line," explains Jeffrey Brunner, KVH's vice president of operations for military and fiber optic products. "The small size, precision, and affordability of these products are key reasons why they are rapidly becoming the gyro of choice in a growing universe of applications. This 50,000 unit milestone includes single-axis sensors used in weapon and optical stabilization as well as fully integrated multi-axis inertial measurement units (IMUs) used in torpedoes, dynamic surveying applications, and other projects requiring the level of precise measurement that only FOGs can offer. Engineers and system integrators regularly turn to KVH for reliable, innovative solutions like our new DSP-1750 to support everything from cutting-edge new programs and experimental projects to upgrades for existing systems."
KVH's newest FOG, the DSP-1750, began shipping in late June. This ultra-compact FOG offers maximum versatility for customers thanks to its single- and dual-axis configurations and optional magnetic shielding. Featuring a flexible design in which the optical sensor is separate from the control electronics, the DSP-1750 is composed of an optical sensor less than 1" high and 1.7" in diameter connected to power and processing electronics via a robust interlocking tether. This design allows for easy integration into a broad range of applications. Enhancements like KVH's new ThinFiber and improved signal processing contribute to key advancements in performance for KVH FOGs as well as the systems they support.
KVH is the only fiber optic gyro manufacturer in the world to create its own specially designed optical fiber, allowing for complete control over the entire production process. As a result, its open-loop fiber optic gyros offer outstanding accuracy and excellent durability thanks to innovations in several key fields, including proprietary D-shaped optical fiber with an elliptical core, innovative optical circuit design, optical component fabrication, and patented digital signal processing for improved performance. In addition to being lightweight and rugged, KVH's FOGs provide angular rotation data without any moving parts, which significantly improves the life span of the device and allows for excellent performance in applications with high shock and/or vibration.
Please visit www.fiberopticgyro.com for complete details about KVH's line of precision fiber optic gyros, or visit www.youtube.com/kvhindustries to take a video tour of KVH's FOG factory in Tinley Park, IL.
Note to Editors: High-resolution, press-ready images of KVH FOGs are available at http://press.kvh.com for download and editorial use.
About KVH Industries, Inc.
KVH Industries is a leading manufacturer of solutions that provide global high-speed Internet, television and voice services via satellite to mobile users at sea, on land, and in the air. KVH is also a premier manufacturer of high performance sensors and integrated inertial systems for defense and commercial guidance and stabilization applications. The company is based in Middletown, RI, with facilities in Illinois, Denmark, Norway, and Singapore.
This release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, for example, the functionality, characteristics, quality and performance of KVH's products and technology; anticipated innovation and product development; and customer preferences, requirements and expectations. The actual results could differ materially. Factors that may cause such differences include, among others, those discussed in KVH's most recent Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. KVH does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect new information or developments.
KVH and E•Core are trademarks of KVH Industries, Inc.