Abstract: An optical gyroscope includes, in part, an optical switch, a pair of spiral optical rings and a pair of photodetectors. The optical switch supplies a laser beam. The first spiral optical ring delivers a first portion of the beam in a clockwise direction during the first half of a period, and a first portion of the beam in a counter clockwise direction during the second half of the period. The second spiral optical ring delivers a second portion of the beam in a counter clockwise direction during the first half of the period, and a second portion of the beam in a clockwise direction during the second half of the period. The first photodetector receives the beams delivered by the first and second optical rings during the first half of the period. The second photodetector receives the beams delivered by the first and second optical rings during the second half of the period.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography system for imaging a sample is configured so as to illuminate a region of interest of the sample with incident light from an optical source. The optical coherence tomography system is further configured so as to interfere, on an optical detector, reference light from the optical source with offset returning light emerging from the sample along an offset collection path which is spatially offset from the region of interest of the sample, thereby creating interference on the optical detector.

Abstract: The Fabry-Perot interference filter includes: a substrate having a first surface, a first laminate having a first mirror portion disposed on the first surface, a second laminate having a second mirror portion facing the first mirror portion with an air gap interposed therebetween, and an intermediate layer defining the air gap between the first and second laminate. The substrate has an outer edge portion positioned outside an outer edge of the intermediate layer when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first surface. The second laminate further includes a covering portion covering the intermediate layer and a peripheral edge portion positioned on the first surface in the outer edge portion. The second mirror portion, the covering portion, and the peripheral edge portion are integrally formed so as to be continuous with each other. The peripheral edge portion is thinned along an outer edge of the outer edge portion.

Abstract: A method for measuring a property of a test object with an interferometer includes: a) providing calibration information relating a focus setting for the interferometer to a position of the test object relative to a reference surface of the interferometer; b) determining the position of the test object relative to the reference surface; and c) using the interferometer to collect interferometric images of the test object for use in measuring the property of the test object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for monitoring at least one parameter of an object. There is provided an imaging system for monitoring at least one parameter of movement of a moving object, the system comprises at least one imaging unit comprising an optical transformer configured and operable for applying spatial image space transformation of at least one parameter of movement into geometric relation, by translating different components of six degrees of freedom of movement in a three-dimensional space into a lateral translation; wherein the imaging unit is configured and operable for imaging the moving object on an image plane and generating image data indicative of the moving object in an x-y plane; the imaging system generating motion data indicative of the six degrees of freedom of movement.

Abstract: A method of configuring an optical system to reduce variations in measured properties of an analyte includes selecting a number of beams into which radiation from a source of radiation is to be split, wherein, upon irradiating the analyte from a plurality of directions by the number of beams, a variation of a resulting measurement of the analyte is at or below a threshold. The method further includes aligning the source of radiation and a plurality of optical elements optically coupled to the source of radiation such that the selected number of beams irradiate the analyte upon emission of radiation by the source of radiation.

Abstract: A common path interferometer is disclosed. The interferometer is arranged to divide an input beam into first and second beam portions directed in opposite directions around a cyclic path to form an interference pattern at a detector. The cyclic path is defined by at least two mirror regions curved in the plane of the cyclic path, such that the interference pattern represents path difference variations between the first and second beam portions. The interferometer further includes an input optic arranged in the beam path before division of the input beam into the beam portions. The input optic is configured to provide convergence to reduce the extent transversely to the plane of the cyclic path of the interference pattern at the detector. The beam and beam portions have different convergence requirements in the plane of, and transverse to the plane of, the cyclic path, which are addressed separately by the mirror regions and the input optic.

Abstract: A LIDAR sensing system includes a light source that is controlled to project a collimated beam at various wavelengths. An interferometer receives the collimated beam and projects an object beam corresponding to the collimated beam at a diffraction grating. The object beam is diffracted from the diffraction grating at different angles corresponding to the wavelength of the collimated beam, creating a two dimensional scan along a first axis. The object beam is also controlled along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. As a result, the LIDAR sensing system generates a horizontal and vertical scan (e.g., a three-dimensional scan) of the external environment.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method according to the present disclosure are provided. For example, an apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation to a structure can be provided. The exemplary apparatus can include a first arrangement having at least two wave-guides which can be configured to provide there through at least two respective electro-magnetic radiations with at least partially different wavelengths from one another. The exemplary apparatus can also include a dispersive second arrangement structured to receive the electro-magnetic radiations and forward at least two dispersed radiations associated with the respective electro-magnetic radiations to at least one section of the structure. The wave-guide(s) can be structured and/or spatially arranged with respect to the dispersive arrangement to facilitate at least partially overlap of the dispersed radiations on the structure.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a first optical signal and a second optical signal at or near an optical resonator, where the first optical signal includes a clockwise (CW) optical signal and the second optical signal includes a counter clockwise optical signal; injecting the first optical signal and the second optical signal into a resonator loop closure optics system of the optical resonator; sampling a portion of the first optical signal and a portion of the second optical signal; combining the portion of the first optical signal and the second optical signal; converting the combined optical signals to an analog electrical signal; digitizing the analog electrical signal; storing an estimated frequency of a beat signal created by a combination of the CW optical signal and the CCW optical signal; and using the stored estimated beat signal frequency, digitally phase lock to a frequency of the beat signal.

Abstract: A method is presented for determining a phase of an input beam (110, Ein) without a reference ray. In the method, an input beam (110, Ein) having a plurality of input rays is split into a main beam (112, E1) and a reference beam (114, E2) in such a way that each input ray is split into a main ray of the main beam (112, E1) and a comparative ray of the reference beam (114, E2). The main beam (112, E1) is propagated along a first interferometer arm, and the reference beam (114, E2) is propagated along the second interferometer arm. The propagated main beam (112, E1) and the propagated reference beam (114, E2) are superposed to form an interference beam having a plurality of interference rays.

Abstract: A light source capable of spectral modulation is modulated conventionally to produce a correlogram at the test surface position of an SCI interferometer. The mean wavelength of the light source is changed to obtain multiple corresponding phase-shifted correlograms that can be processed by applying conventional multiple-wavelength interferometric analysis to determine physical attributes of the test surface. One simple way to achieve this result is by splitting the light beam produced by the source into at least three simultaneous beams passed through filters with corresponding different mean-wavelength transmission bands. Because the correlograms are produced simultaneously, they can be used to practice instantaneous phase-shifting interferometry using conventional analysis algorithms.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes: a gas detection unit including a light source and a detector; and a gas passage including a first end, a second end and a hollow part. The hollow part has a shape in which a cross-sectional area of a flow passage grows smaller. The gas passage includes: a member that divides the hollow part into at least a first area and a second area; a gas inflow port; and a gas outflow port. The gas flows from the gas inflow port into the hollow part, flows in the first area to arrive at the gas detection unit, and the gas located in the gas detection unit flows in the second area and flows out from the gas outflow port.

Abstract: A heterodyne optical spectroscopy system comprises a light source that acts as a local oscillator (LO); a beam splitting component that generates a reference beam from the LO; a signal component that generates a sample signal from a sample; a beam blocker that can turn off the sample signal to generate blank shots; a composite signal detection subsystem that detects a heterodyned signal that is a mix of the sample signal and a portion of the LO; a composite reference detection subsystem synchronized to the signal detection subsystem to detect a portion of the reference beam; and a processor that processes digital signals from the signal detection subsystem and the reference detection subsystem. A very versatile reference scheme is developed to treat different heterodyne spectroscopies in a unified way, which achieves optimal noise suppression.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical systems and methods for determining a characteristic of a cell, such as cell type, cellular response to a biochemical event, biological state and the like. The methods typically involve using interferometry to observe membrane properties in a cell and then use this information to determine one or more characteristics of a cell. The methods of the invention are useful for applications such as drug screening as well as diagnostic techniques.

Abstract: A fringe projection method for determining the topography of a body (12) comprising the steps: projecting a series of sets of patterns (Ti) onto a surface (20) of the body (12), wherein each set has at least two patterns (Ti) and wherein each pattern (Ti) has S fringes; for each pattern (Ti), recording an image (24.i) of the surface (20) having the projected pattern, so that a sequence of recordings is formed; and calculating the topography from the images (24.i), wherein such patterns are projected in which each fringe has an intensity distribution perpendicular to the fringe longitudinal direction (L) and each intensity distribution can be expressed by a function (Q) which has a spatial phase position (?). According to the invention, the phase position (?) changes as a function of a code (g(s)) of the ordinal number (s) of the fringe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used for detecting gaseous chemicals. The method and apparatus use an interferometer to filter received light by wavelength, creating an image only using light with wavelengths that are affected by the presence of a gaseous chemical. A reference image composed of light with wavelengths unaffected by the presence of a gaseous chemical is also created and used as a reference. A gaseous chemical is detected where the ratio of the intensity of the two images changes. Despite the high spectral resolution of the filter, the system can operate with a very wide field of view.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for frequency-domain optical interferometry imaging. Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus comprising a line-shaping optical element for directing optical radiation into a line illumination, an imaging optical element for receiving optical radiation comprising radiation reflected from a target sample and a reference point associated with the target sample, and a detection unit for measuring common path interferences between a plurality of reflections from the target sample and the reference point. Embodiments of the invention include a method comprising directing radiation into a line illumination, directing the line illumination towards a target sample, receiving radiation reflected from the target sample at a detection unit, and measuring common path interferences between a plurality of reflections at the target sample and a reference point.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system electrically mixes a signature signal with an OCT signal (e.g., an interferogram) output by a photodetector of the OCT system. The signature signal may be a signal output by a photodetector that detects an optical signal from a fiber Bragg grating. The signature signal may then be time delayed before combination with the OCT signal. A series of interferograms are then aligned according to the signature signal. A rescaling signal may be similarly electrically mixed with the signature and OCT signals.

Abstract: Gas monitor based on tunable diode laser spectroscopy comprising at least one light source (1000) matched to at least one target gas (5000) and at least one light sensitive detector (3000), and optical means (2000; 2200) to form light beams and direct light beams through the target gas to be analysed as well as directing the light onto at least one detector (3000). The optical means comprise a retro reflector (2200) and a mirror arrangement comprising a central mirror (2100) and a surrounding mirror (2300) arranged with an offset angle between their optical axes, the central mirror (2100) being arranged for receiving light from the light source (1000) and directing light to the retro reflector (2200), the retro reflector (2200) arranged for returning the light to the surrounding mirror (2300), and the surrounding mirror (2300) arranged for reflecting the light into the detector (3000).