Patent · US Active

Compound reference interferometer

US7978338B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
214References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 14, 2009
Grant dateJul 12, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 14, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49002
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Interferometry system are disclosed that include a detector sub-system including a monitor detector, interferometer optics for combining test light from a test object with primary reference light from a first reference interface and secondary reference light from a second reference interface to form a monitor interference pattern on a monitor detector, wherein the first and second reference interfaces are mechanically fixed with respect to each other and the test light, a scanning stage configured to scan an optical path difference (OPD) between the test light and the primary and secondary reference light to the monitor detector while the detector sub-system records the monitor interference pattern for each of a series of OPD increments, and an electronic processor electronically coupled to the detector sub-system and the scanning stage, the electronic processor being configured to determine information about the OPD increments based on the detected monitor interference pattern.

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