Patent · US Expired

Pathlength matched beam splitter and method and apparatus for assembly

US6809874B1 · kind B1 · utility

0Cited by
33References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2002
Grant dateOct 26, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B2207/117
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Pathlength matched optical devices (such as beam splitters) are produced by viewing optical paths through the optical devices and adjusting relative positions of optical components of the optical devices until the viewed optical paths are equivalent. The optical paths begin at markings at different locations on the optical device. The optical pathlengths are equivalent when both markings are in focus in a limited field of view camera or lens. In a beam splitting cube constructed of two prisms, markings located at precisely similar locations on different prisms are pathlength matched when coincident as viewed at a reference face of the cube. The prisms are abutted at their diagonals and are adjusted by sliding the prisms along the diagonals to the pathlength matched position. Optical adhesive between the prisms is cured after fixing the prisms at the pathlength matched position.

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