Laser sensor using optical feedback-induced frequency modulation
US5808743A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 5, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/50
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention provides an inexpensive, sensitive sensor to measure target position, velocity and vibration based on optical feedback-induced fluctuations in the operating frequency of a diode laser. The sensor comprises a diode laser, an optical frequency discriminator to measure the laser operating frequency, and an electronic signal analyzer to obtain the modulation frequency of the laser operating frequency. This invention further includes two calibration mechanisms for vibration amplitude measurement. In a first calibration mechanism the diode laser is mounted on a laser vibrator, which vibrates the laser relative to the target. In a second calibration mechanism a frequency modulator is coupled to the diode laser to modulate the operating frequency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.