Patent · US Expired

Interferometer having a micromirror

US6025912A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
8References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 1997
Grant dateFeb 15, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01J9/02
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An interferometer includes a beamsplitter for splitting a source beam into a test beam and a reference beam, an imaging device for detecting an interference pattern, a mirror disposed in a path of the test beam for reflection of the test beam toward the imaging device, a micromirror disposed in a path of the reference beam for reflection of a portion of the reference beam toward the imaging device, and a focusing mechanism disposed for focusing the reference beam on the micromirror. The micromirror has a lateral dimension not exceeding the approximate lateral dimension of a central lobe of the reference beam focused thereon by the focusing mechanism. A spatial filter for reducing effects of aberration in a beam includes a reflector disposed upon a transparent base wherein the reflector has a lateral dimension not exceeding the approximate lateral dimension of a central lobe of the spatial intensity distribution of the beam focused upon the reflector. A method of filtering a beam in a wavefront measurement system is also provided. This method includes focusing the beam, reflecting a particular first portion of the focused beam, and transmitting a second portion of the beam. In accor…

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