Interferometric signal conditioner for measurement of the absolute length of gaps in a fiber optic Fabry-Perot interferometer
US7355684B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 2005 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B2290/45
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for quantitatively measuring the distance of an unknown variable gap is disclosed. Light is provided to two Fabry-Perot interferometers arranged in a series, one spanning the unknown gap and the other spanning a controllably variable gap. Means for verifying the positioning of the Fabry-Perot interferometer having the controllably variable gap work in conjunction with a signal processor, a correlation burst signal detector and means for conveying the light to the various system elements to perform a comparison of detector signals from the two interferometers and quantitatively establish the gap distance. The invention may also be varied to function on a time basis, include more than one source of light, possess filter means to distinguish between light sources and/or include one or more reference interferometers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.