Patent · US Expired

Common optical path interferometric gauge

US4627731A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
4References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 3, 1985
Grant dateDec 9, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 3, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01J2009/0226
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A common optical path interferometric gauge comprises an optical beam that is split into two beams. Both beams are modulated and recombined after introducing an optical path length difference greater than the coherence length of the optical source. The combined beam is guided along a common optical path and is subsequently split into reference and measurement beams. The measurement beam is guided along a measurement optical path that includes a moving workpiece surface. Both beams are recombined after interposing an optical path length difference therebetween so as to reestablish coherence between portions thereof, producing optical interference indicative of the surface movement.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.