Patent · US Expired

Wave front sensing method and apparatus

US7649160B2 · kind B2 · utility

113Cited by
1References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 17, 2006
Grant dateJan 19, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03H2001/0883
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A new way of mixing instrumental and digital means is described for the general field of wave front sensing. The present invention describes the use, the definition and the utility of digital operators, called digital wave front operators (DWFO) or digital lenses (DL), specifically designed for the digital processing of wave fronts defined in amplitude and phase. DWFO are of particular interest for correcting undesired wave front deformations induced by instrumental defects or experimental errors. DWFO may be defined using a mathematical model, e.g. a polynomial function, which involves coefficients. The present invention describes automated and semi-automated procedures for calibrating or adjusting the values of these coefficients. These procedures are based on the fitting of mathematical models on reference data extracted from specific regions of a wave front called reference areas, which are characterized by the fact that specimen contributions are a priori known in reference areas. For example, reference areas can be defined in regions where flat surfaces of a specimen produce a constant phase function. The present invention describes also how DWFO can be defined by extracting …

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