Patent · US Expired

Tracking assisted optical procedure

US6736508B2 · kind B2 · utility

45Cited by
7References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 2002
Grant dateMay 18, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 26, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B2290/65
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is an optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) application apparatus that performs an OCT application on an object. The OCT application apparatus includes: (a) an OCT scanning apparatus which outputs a scanning beam of OCT scanning radiation; and (b) an active tracking system that generates and scans a tracking beam of tracking radiation in a predetermined pattern over a region; wherein the active tracking system includes an analysis system that: (i) when the object is at a calibration position, scans the tracking beam about an irregular reference tracking feature in the region, and detects a calibration retro-reflected tracking beam to form calibration information; (ii) after the calibration information is formed, scans the tracking beam over the region, detects a displacement retro-reflected tracking beam, and analyzes the detected displacement retro-reflected tracking beam together with the calibration information to detect movement of the object; (iii) generates tracking signals; and (iv) applies the tracking signals to a tracking mechanism system to cause the tracking beam and the scanning beam to follow movement of the object.

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