Patent · US Expired

Reduced complexity fourier transform spectrometer

US5774215A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
5References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 9, 1996
Grant dateJun 30, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01J3/4537
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A Fourier transform spectrometer for use, among others, for sensing gases or liquids includes two polarizers, a birefringent optical component interposed between the two polarizers and a detector. Light from an extended source is substantially polarized by a first of the two polarizers, split into divergent beams by the birefringent optical component, and again caused to converge by the birefringent optical component so that, after passing through a second of the two polarizers, the light forms an interferogram in a plane behind the birefringent optical component where the detector is situated. The Fourier transform spectrometer is thereby provided with a way of forming an interferogram of the light from the extended source without a lens or a second birefringent optical component. This improves the field of view of the spectrometer and is likely to reduce its cost.

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