Apparatus to transform two nonparallel propagating optical beam components into two orthogonally polarized beam components
US6236507A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B2290/70
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention features systems and methods for generating optical beams having substantially orthogonal polarizations for use in distance measuring interferometry. In one embodiment, the invention features a system including a source which during operation generates two nonparallel propagating source beams; and a retarder element positioned to receive the two nonparallel propagating source beams and convert them into two nonparallel propagating output beams that are polarized substantially orthogonal to one another. The system can further include a birefringent prism positioned to receive the two nonparallel propagating output beams and produce two parallel output beams.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.