By Light Interference (e.g., Interferometer) Patents (Class 356/450)
  • Patent number: 8670124
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program wherein the apparatus includes at least one interferometer where the at least one interferometer is configured to cause interference of an electromagnetic input signal; wherein the at least one interferometer is configured to receive at least one sensor input signal from at least one sensor such that the sensor input signal controls the interference of the electromagnetic input signal by the at least one interferometer; wherein the at least one interferometer is configured to provide a plurality of outputs where each of the plurality of outputs is provided by the at least one interferometer responding to the at least one sensor input signal with a different sensitivity; and at least one detector configured to detect the plurality of outputs of the at least one interferometer and provide a digital output signal indicative of the at least one sensor input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Antti Niskanen, Hongwei Li
  • Publication number: 20140063505
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a dividing unit configured to divide light from a light source into reference light and measurement light; a first dichroic mirror arranged in a measurement optical path for guiding the measurement light to an object to be examined; a second dichroic mirror arranged in a reference optical path for guiding the reference light to a reference object; and a light receiving unit configured to receive interference light between the measurement light passing through the first dichroic mirror and the reference light passing through the second dichroic mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomasz Bajraszewski, Hirofumi Yoshida, Marek Rózanski, Maciej Szkulmowski
  • Patent number: 8663563
    Abstract: A reflective diffractometric hydrogel sensor includes an upper layer, including a microfluidic chamber formed from a substantially transparent material and configured to contain a solution, a reflective diffraction grating positioned within the microfluidic chamber, the diffraction grating including a plurality of hydrogel strips configured to change in dimension in response to a stimulus, each hydrogel strip having a top surface coated with a reflective material and a bottom surface in contact with the upper layer substrate, and a reflective surface below the reflective diffraction grating wherein when a coherent light is incident upon and reflected from the upper layer at an angle substantially normal to the upper layer an interference diffraction pattern results, including a first diffraction mode, a light intensity of which indicates the relative distance between the top surfaces of the plurality of hydrogel strips and the reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Purdue Research Foundation, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Cagri Savran, Chun-Li Chang, Zhenwen Ding, Babak Ziaie, Andrew Ellington, Venkata Naga Lakshmi Rekha Patchigolla
  • Publication number: 20140055789
    Abstract: A tomographic image generation apparatus includes a light source unit configured to emit light to be used for scanning an object; an optical control unit configured to control a direction of propagation of light; an optical coupler configured to divide and combine incident light; a plurality of optical systems optically connected to the optical coupler; and a modulation and correction device configured to modulate and correct the light to be used for scanning the object. The modulation and correction device may be disposed between the optical control unit and the optical coupler, or may be included in an optical system that irradiates light onto the object among the plurality of optical systems. The modulation and correction device may only modulate light that is reflected to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicants: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-guyn Lim, Jae-duck Jang, Hyun Choi, Yong-keun Park, Hyeon-seung Yu, Seong-deok Lee, Woo-young Jang
  • Patent number: 8654339
    Abstract: A method for reducing fringe interference of light created in a passive cavity defined by partially reflecting optical surfaces in a laser spectroscopy system, wherein the optical path length of the cavity is varied with a triangular back-and-forth movement (x). In accordance with the invention, the spectroscopic measurement is performed in successive measurement cycles with a time interval between each two successive measurement cycles, the triangular movement is performed such that the turning points of the triangular movement (x) are positioned in successive ones of the time intervals, and after each or at each n-th measurement cycle, the time position of the turning points is moved relative to the measurement cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Pawel Kluczynski, Rikard Larking
  • Publication number: 20140036272
    Abstract: Volumetric distribution of a micromechanical parameter of a biological tissue, such as viscoelastic parameter or tissue stiffness, is determined, with microscopic resolution, from optical data representing light scattered by sequential layers of the tissue and, optionally, displayed to visualization. A particular layer of the tissue is defined through coherence-gating of light received at the optical detector. Coherence-gating is achieved with the use of an interferometer the sample arm of which contains the tissue, illuminated with defocused light, and an optical length of a reference arm of which is repeatedly adjusted, within a coherence length of used light, to ensure that each of the sequential optical interferograms represents light scattered only by a particular tissue layer a position of which is re-defined through the tissue via such adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: Seemantini K. Nadkarni
  • Publication number: 20140038315
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring the dimensions of 1-dimensional and 0-dimensional nanostructures on semiconductor substrates in real-time during epitaxial growth. The method includes either assigning a pre-calculated 3D-model from a data base to the sample or calculating a 3D-model of the sample using the measured optical reflectances of the plurality of different measuring positions of the sample, where calculation or pre-calculation of the 3D-model includes calculation of the interference effects of light reflected from the front and back interfaces of the nano-structure and calculation of the interference effects due to superposition of neighbouring wave-fronts reflected from the nano-structure area and wave-fronts reflected from the substrate area between the nano-structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Nicklas ANTTU, Magnus HEURLIN, Magnus BORGSTRÖM, Lars SAMUELSON, Hongqi XU
  • Publication number: 20140029009
    Abstract: A frame for optics used in interferometers that may include different materials having substantially similar, identical, or as close as practicable coefficients of thermal expansion from the material(s) used to make the beamsplitter and/or compensator without warping, bending, tilting or distorting the optics. The beamsplitter and/or compensator are mounted onto the frame of the interferometer using a three-point method of mounting, preferably using three pins for each component. Preferably, the pins are made of the same material as the beamsplitter and compensator, and all three components are made of Potassium Bromide (“KBr”) or Calcium Fluoride (“CaF2”) such that the optic instrument can operate to scan into the mid or far infrared. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring the optic instrument include only one material. The invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: PLX, Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Bleier, Alexander Jacobson, Itai Vishnia
  • Publication number: 20140029010
    Abstract: A frame for optics used in interferometers that may include different materials having substantially similar, identical, or as close as practicable coefficients of thermal expansion from the material(s) used to make the beamsplitter and/or compensator without warping, bending, tilting or distorting the optics. The beamsplitter and/or compensator are mounted onto the frame of the interferometer using a three-point method of mounting, preferably using three pins for each component. Preferably, the pins are made of the same material as the beamsplitter and compensator, and all three components are made of Potassium Bromide (“KBr”) or Calcium Fluoride (“CaF2”) such that the optic instrument can operate to scan into the mid or far infrared. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring the optic instrument include only one material. The invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: PLX, Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Bleier, Alexander Jacobson, Itai Vishnia
  • Publication number: 20140023835
    Abstract: A device including an imaging optical unit (9) imaging an object field (5) in an image field (10), a structured mask (7), arranged in the region of the object field (5) via reticle holder (8) displaceable in a reticle scanning direction (21), and a sensor apparatus (25), arranged in the region of the image field (10) via a substrate holder (13) displaceable in a substrate scanning direction (22). The mask (7) has at least one measurement structure (27; 33) to be imaged on the sensor apparatus (25), wherein the sensor apparatus (25) includes at least one sensor row (28) with a multiplicity of sensor elements (29), and affords the possibility of testing the imaging optical unit (9) during the displacement of the substrate holder (13) for exposing a substrate (12) arranged on the substrate holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf FREIMANN, Heiko FELDMANN
  • Publication number: 20140022554
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to generate tomography images that performs the method. The apparatus and method are configured to determine a basis pattern from modulated phases of incident rays from a spatial light modulator according to a pattern of arranged pixels. The apparatus and method are further configured to perform spatial shift modulation shifting an arrangement of the pixels vertically or horizontally with respect to the basis pattern to obtain shift patterns of the basis pattern. The apparatus and method are configured to generate tomography images for the basis pattern and the shift patterns using spectrum signals of rays obtained from the incident rays passing through the spatial light modulator and entering a subject. The apparatus and method are configured to select a pattern that generates a clearest tomography image of the subject based on the generated tomography images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Jae-guyn LIM, YongKeun PARK, Jae-duck JANG, Hyeon-seung YU, Seong-deok LEE, Woo-young JANG
  • Patent number: 8630697
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the detection and display of polarization scrambling tissue without resolving the polarization state of the backscattered imaging beam. In one embodiment, we illuminate the tissue using two different polarizations. A first polarization determines a first image of high intensity while the second polarization determines a second image of low intensity. Comparison and combination of the first and second images determines tissue which scrambles the polarization in neighboring detection cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Meyer, Xing Wei
  • Patent number: 8622836
    Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system is configured to detect the presence of portable electronic devices and to determine whether to initiate a wireless communication session with the portable electronic device based on the strength of the signal received from the portable electronic device. If the signal strength exceeds a minimal threshold level, thereby indicating the portable electronic device is near a gaming device, a wireless communication session can be initiated. The signal strength transmitted from the portable electronic device can be monitored during a game play session to determine whether the wireless communication session should remain active or be terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne R. Nelson, Steven G. Lemay
  • Patent number: 8623588
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for writing patterns onto substrates. First and second beams of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation are produced. An exposure unit is used to project the first and second beams of EUV radiation onto a substrate. The first and second beams of radiation interfere with each other to expose a first set of parallel lines at an exposure field of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventor: Harry Sewell
  • Patent number: 8619261
    Abstract: A quantum dynamical non-locality device is provided for establishing a photon traveling along a path in a binary state. The device includes twin Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), a shutter and a detector. The twin MZI includes first and second right-isosceles triangle prisms, corresponding first and second trombone mirrors, and corresponding first and second spacers. The prisms join at a beam-splitter interface. The mirrors reflect the photon by an offset substantially perpendicular to photon's travel direction. The spacers are respectively disposed between their respective prisms and mirrors to produce corresponding spatial gaps. The path through the prisms includes traversing spacers and gaps. The detector detects a quantum state of the photon after passing the prisms and the mirrors. The shutter switches to one of disposed within and removed therefrom the first gap. The shutter shifts said quantum state of the photon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Allen D. Parks, Scott E. Spence
  • Patent number: 8619249
    Abstract: This invention relates to a light angle selecting light detector device comprising a detector unit which is arranged to receive light selected by a selector unit. The device comprising at least one set of light passing areas. Each set of light passing areas consists of a first light passing area having a first size, which first light passing area is located on a first surface, and a second light passing area having a second size, which second light passing area is located on a second surface. The first light passing area and the second light passing area are arranged with a lateral displacement and form a light path from the first surface to the second surface for light having an incident angle between a maximum angle and a minimum angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Eduard Johannes Meijer, Peter Vergeer, Rifat Ata Mustafa Hikmet
  • Publication number: 20130342846
    Abstract: Device and method for the nondestructive testing of a part made of a composite material reinforced with fibers, the device including: a) an energizing laser beam generator and elements for producing a photoelastic stress pattern of the surface of the part, in an energizing area, using the laser beam; b) elements for generating a first detection laser beam capable of illuminating the part in a target area; c) elements for generating a second reference detection laser beam, whose characteristics can be controlled independently of those of the detection laser beam; d) a two-wave photoreactive detector including a photorefractive crystal pumped by the reference laser beam; e) elements for collecting the beam reflected by the target area of the first detection laser and conveying the beam into the photorefractive detector; and f) elements for modifying the characteristics of the reference laser so as to adjust the bandwidth of the photorefractive detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company EADS France
    Inventors: Benjamin Campagne, Hubert Voillaume
  • Publication number: 20130335747
    Abstract: Method of determining a property of a sample from a correlogram obtainable by scanning of a surface of the sample through a focal plane of an objective using broad-band interferometry is provided. The correlogram may be displaying interference radiation intensity as a function of the scanning distance from the surface. The correlogram may be correlated with a secondary correlogram to obtain a cross correlogram or with the same correlogram to obtain an autocorrelogram. A property of the sample may be determined from the auto or cross correlogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Han HAITJEMA, Johannes Anna QUAEDACKERS
  • Publication number: 20130335745
    Abstract: A property measurement system for a metal material includes: a laser oscillator that emits a pulse laser beam; a lens array that has small lenses with a same shape, the small lenses being laid in a matrix on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the pulse laser beam, and arranged so that a part of a cross section of the pulse laser beam can be made incident onto each of small lenses; a condensing lens that overlaps and condenses emitted beams coming from the small lenses on a same region of a surface of a metal material as a measurement target; a laser interferometer that detects, as an electric signal, a pulse ultrasonic wave that is excited by the pulse laser beam condensed and propagates through an inside of the metal material; and a signal processing device that processes the electric signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiko Sano
  • Publication number: 20130329227
    Abstract: An optical inspection apparatus is provided which suppresses the influence of quantum noise including: light irradiator which irradiates a sample with light; reference light emitter which emits reference light; light interference unit which generates interfering light through interference between transmitted light, scattered light, or reflected light from the sample irradiated with light by the light irradiator, and the reference light emitted by the reference light emitter; light detector which detects the interfering light generated by the light interference unit; defect identifier which identifies the presence or absence of a defect based on a detection signal obtained by the light detector detecting the interfering light; and light convertor which converts at least the state of the transmitted, scattered, or reflected light from the sample, the state of the reference light emitted by the reference light emitter, or the state of the interfering light generated by the light interference unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Kenji Nakahira, Toshifumi Honda, Toshihiko Nakata
  • Publication number: 20130329226
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for tomographic imaging of an object. The apparatus includes a light unit configured to generate illumination, which comprises coherent light and has random phase distribution in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis, for illuminating an object, a coupler which combines a reference beam and an object beam for an interference, a shifter configured to shift relative phase difference between the object light and the reference coherent light, a detector configured to detect an interference caused by the reference coherent light and object light for the each phase, and a processor configured to calculate an optical propagation based on the detected interference for the each phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicants: The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Matsubara, Chung-Chieh Yu, William Dallas
  • Publication number: 20130314714
    Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring information of an object includes an interferometer and an arithmetic unit. The interferometer includes an optical device that forms an interference pattern with light from a light source, and a detector that detects the interference pattern. The arithmetic unit acquires information related to a phase of an object using a first detection result and a second detection result detected by the detector. The arithmetic unit acquires the information related to the phase of the object using information on distribution of changes of the interferometer acquired from the first detection result and the second detection result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20130314712
    Abstract: In a method for determining optical properties by measuring intensities at a thin layer, light is directed into the thin layer and passes through a beam splitter, which directs a first part of the light onto the thin layer and a second part of the light onto a reference detector. Interference of the first part of the light in the thin layer is detected via a high-resolution detector and forwarded to an evaluating unit, which determines the reflection and/or transmission coefficients, which are correlated with the optical layer thickness through a comparison using at least one database stored in the evaluating unit. The optical layer thickness is obtained as a gray value modification by way of a gray scale value analysis and a conversion factor stored in the at least one data base. A corresponding device and intended uses of the method and device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: BIAMETRICS GMBH
    Inventors: Günther Proll, Florian Pröll
  • Patent number: 8593514
    Abstract: A method for judging whether obtainment of information on a three-dimensional image of a given portion of an examinee's eye that is obtained by OCT (Optical Coherent Tomography) is successful or not, the method involves processing the three-dimensional image information on the given portion that is obtained using an OCT optical system, where the OCT optical system is arranged to obtain a tomographic image of the examinee's eye, and obtaining an OCT front image of the given portion; and detecting a positional deviation of the OCT front image by image processing to judge whether the obtainment of the three-dimensional image information is successful or not based on a result of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norimasa Satake
  • Publication number: 20130301055
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved optical detection methods comprising multiplexed interferometric detection systems and methods for determining a characteristic property of a sample, together with various applications of the disclosed techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Darryl J. Bornhop, Mina Mousa, Amanda Kussrrow
  • Patent number: 8577225
    Abstract: Provided is an optical receiver which accurately demodulates an optical signal obtained by the differential phase shift modulation method. The optical receiver includes: an interferometer which branches the inputted optical signal into two parts and gives a one-bit phase difference to the resultant two optical signals so that the two optical signals after addition of the phase difference are made to interfere each other to output two output lights; reflection means which reflects one of the output lights from the interferometer so as to return to the interferometer; detection means which detects the return light which has been reflected by the reflection means and propagates through the interferometer in the different direction from the inputted optical signal, for output; and phase difference control means which adjusts the phase difference given by the interferometer according to the intensity of the return light detected by the detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Mure, Norikazu Miyazaki, Toshio Kataoka, Kaoru Higuma
  • Publication number: 20130286403
    Abstract: An interferometric method for detecting information about a sample includes emitting a laser beam; splitting the laser beam into a reference beam and an object beam; transmitting the object beam through the sample in an incident angle; combining the reference beam with the object beam passed through the sample to form an interference pattern; detecting the interference pattern, and non-linearly scanning the object beam in order to detect a plurality of interference patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicants: The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Matsubara, Chung-Chieh Yu, Yasuyuki Unno, William Dallas
  • Publication number: 20130286400
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein employ multiple phase-contrast images with various relative phase shifts between light diffracted by a sample and light not diffracted by the sample to produce a quantitative phase image. The produced quantitative phase image may have sufficient contrast for label-free auto-segmentation of cell bodies and nuclei.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Evgenia Mikhailovna Kim, Siavash Yazdanfar, Dmitry Vladimirovich Dylov
  • Publication number: 20130286401
    Abstract: Provided herein is an optical turbulence device configured for insertion between the target collimator and the sensor unit being tested, which simulates a turbulence effect. The turbulence device for imparting wavefront aberrations to a projected radiation beam includes an optical phase element for altering the optical phase of a radiation beam. The optical phase element includes a plurality of active areas disposed on a surface of the phase element. The plurality of active areas includes a plurality of variations for imparting wavefront aberrations to a radiation beam, thereby altering optical phase of the beam. The device further includes a driving mechanism coupled to the optical phase element for transitioning the optical phase element between a plurality of positions, thereby exposing a different active area of the optical phase element to the radiation beam. The optical phase element is configured to be positioned at an intermediate focal plane of an inverting a focal optical assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Manufacturing Techniques, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Hall
  • Patent number: 8565618
    Abstract: An optical transmitter may include a tunable signal source configured to emit a signal to an optical fiber system; a back scatter detector for measuring an amount of back scatter observed following injection of the signal to the optical fiber system; and control logic. The control logic may be configured to cause the tunable signal source to scan through a range of wavelengths. Measured amounts of back scatter are received for each of the wavelengths. A wavelength corresponding to a peak back scatter amount may be identified and the tunable signal source may be set based on the identified wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Tiejun J. Xia, Glenn A. Wellbrock
  • Patent number: 8564784
    Abstract: A large area optical diagnosis apparatus and the operating method thereof are disclosed. The large area optical diagnosis apparatus includes a light source, a light path structure, and a sensing module. The light source is used to at least emit a coherent light. The light path structure includes a plurality of optical units used for dividing the coherent light into a plurality of first incident lights and a plurality of second incident lights. The plurality of first incident lights are emitted toward an object to be diagnosed and the plurality of second incident lights are emitted toward a reference end. The object to be diagnosed and the reference end reflect the plurality of first incident lights and the plurality of second incident lights to be a plurality of reflected lights. The sensing module senses the plurality of reflected lights to generate a sensing result related to the object to be diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Crystalvue Medical Corporation
    Inventors: William Wang, Chung-Cheng Chou, Che-Liang Tsai
  • Patent number: 8564783
    Abstract: A frequency swept laser source for TEFD-OCT imaging includes an integrated clock subsystem on the optical bench with the laser source. The clock subsystem generates frequency clock signals as the optical signal is tuned over the scan band. Preferably the laser source further includes a cavity extender in its optical cavity between a tunable filter and gain medium to increase an optical distance between the tunable filter and the gain medium in order to control the location of laser intensity pattern noise. The laser also includes a fiber stub that allows for control over the cavity length while also controlling birefringence in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Axsun Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale C. Flanders, Walid A. Atia, Bartley C. Johnson, Mark E. Kuznetsov, Carlos R. Melendez
  • Patent number: 8553232
    Abstract: Disclosed is an interference objective lens unit, comprising: an objective lens; a beam splitter that splits the light transmitted through the objective lens into a reference optical path in which a reference mirror is provided and a measuring optical path in which the measuring object is placed, and that superposes the split lights to output interference light; a first holder that holds the objective lens and that is formed by material having a first linear expansion coefficient; and a second holder that holds the reference mirror and that is formed by material having a second linear expansion coefficient different from the first linear expansion coefficient, wherein when a usage environment temperature changes, a difference in the linear expansion coefficients between the first holder and the second holder corrects an optical path difference between the reference optical path and the measuring optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Sadayuki Matsumiya, Tatsuya Nagahama, Atsushi Usami
  • Patent number: 8537365
    Abstract: The present invention is a mass gauging interferometry system used to determine the volume contained within a tank. By using an optical interferometric technique to determine gas density and/or pressure a much smaller compression volume or higher fidelity measurement is possible. The mass gauging interferometer system is comprised of an optical source, a component that splits the optical source into a plurality of beams, a component that recombines the split beams, an optical cell operatively coupled to a tank, a detector for detecting fringes, and a means for compression. A portion of the beam travels through the optical cell operatively coupled to the tank, while the other beam(s) is a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Valentin Korman, Kevin W. Pedersen, William K. Witherow
  • Patent number: 8531675
    Abstract: A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) spectrometer architecture compensates for verticality and dispersion problems using balancing interfaces. A MEMS spectrometer/interferometer includes a beam splitter formed on a first surface of a first medium at an interface between the first medium and a second medium, a first mirror formed on a second surface of the first medium, a second mirror formed on a third surface of the first medium and balancing interfaces designed to minimize both a difference in tilt angles between the surfaces and a difference in phase errors between beams reflected from the first and second mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Si-Ware Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Diaa A. Khalil, Bassem Mortada, Mohamed Nabil, Mostafa Medhat, Bassam A. Saadany
  • Patent number: 8531674
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a total reflection measuring apparatus which, while visually observing a specific minute area of a measurement object, is capable of efficiently obtaining optical data on the basis of the total reflection measurement. A microscopic total reflection measuring apparatus of the present invention comprises a Cassegrain mirror 12 having a Cassegrain primary mirror 16 and a Cassegrain secondary mirror 18, which condenses an incident light beam 30 on a measurement object 20 by making an incident light beam successively reflected by the secondary mirror 18 and the primary mirror 16, and which obtains a reflected light beam 32 from the measurement object 20 by making the reflected light beam 32 successively reflected by the primary mirror 16 and the secondary mirror 18. And, a total reflection prism 14 is arranged below the Cassegrain secondary mirror 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: JASCO Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Soga, Hiroshi Sugiyama, Takayuki Sera, Jun Koshoubu
  • Patent number: 8528110
    Abstract: A probe detection system (74) for use with a scanning probe microscope comprises both a height detection system (88) and deflection detection system (28). As a sample surface is scanned, light reflected from a microscope probe (16) is separated into two components. A first component (84) is analysed by the deflection detection system (28) and is used in a feedback system that maintains the average probe deflection substantially constant during the scan. The second component (86) is analysed by the height detection system (88) from which an indication of the height of the probe above a fixed reference point, and thereby an image of the sample surface, is obtained. Such a dual detection system is particularly suited for use in fast scanning applications in which the feedback system is unable to respond at the rate required to adjust probe height between pixel positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Infinitesima Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Humphris
  • Patent number: 8525991
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for measurement of the electrophoretic mobility of particles in solution. A sample is placed in a cell containing two electrodes that apply an alternating electric field. A monochromatic light beam passes through the sample. Light scattered by the particles, along with the unscattered beam, is collected and collimated as it exits the cell. This beam is combined in free space with a phase modulated reference beam. The interference forms a frequency modulated speckle pattern, which is detected by a photodetector array. Each array element collects a narrow range of well-defined scattering angles. The signal from each is demodulated to provide a first-principle measurement of the electrophoretic mobility of the scattering particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Wyatt Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Te Hsieh, Steven P. Trainoff
  • Publication number: 20130222807
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a light source, an optical coupling module, a reference light reflection module, and a data processing module. The light source provides an incident light. The optical coupling module divides the incident light into a reference light and a detection light emitting to the reference light reflection module and the object respectively. The reference light reflection module reflects the reference light and rapidly change the optical path of the reference light. The optical coupling module receives a first reflected light generated by the reference light reflection module reflecting the reference light and a second reflected light generated by the object reflecting the detection light and it interferes the first reflected light and second reflected light to generate a light interference signal. The data processing module receives and analyzes the light interference signal to obtain an optical detection result related to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: CRYSTALVUE MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: CRYSTALVUE MEDICAL CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130222808
    Abstract: An optical detecting apparatus and an operating method thereof are disclosed. The optical detecting apparatus includes a light path module, an actuating module, and a data processing module. The light path module is used to emit a light source to a substance and receive an optical signal generated by the substance reflecting the light source. The actuating module is used to actuate the substance to generate a vibration. The data processing module is used to record and analyze a detected result related to the material properties of the substance and adjust detecting parameters of the light path module and the actuating module respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Crystalvue Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Crystalvue Medical Corporation
  • Patent number: 8508745
    Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder MEMS interferometer is achieved using two half plane beam splitters formed at respective edges of a first medium. The first beam splitter is optically coupled to receive an incident beam and operates to split the incident beam into two beams, a first one propagating in the first medium towards the second beam splitter and a second one propagating in a second medium. A moveable mirror in the second medium reflects the second beam back towards the second beam splitter to cause interference of the two beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Si-Ware Systems
    Inventors: Bassam A. Saadany, Diaa A. Khalil, Tarik E. Bourouina
  • Patent number: 8502985
    Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a chip with a microfluidic channel opening onto a chip inlet and a chip outlet. The channel has a sensing area and fluid delivery area. A fluidic adaptor channel opening onto an adaptor inlet and an adaptor outlet can receive a pipette tip through the adaptor inlet wherein receipt of the pipette tip into the adaptor channel creates a direct fluid path between the pipette tip and the channel and wherein the microfluidic system is configured for sensing in the sensing area by interferometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignees: Molecular Sensing, Inc., Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Scot Weinberger, Bruce J. Richardson, Darryl L. Bornhop
  • Patent number: 8502988
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern inspection apparatus includes a light source, a beam splitter, a first optical system, a second optical system, a controller, a phase controller and a detector. The beam splitter splits an emitted light into first and second optical paths. The first optical system delivers the light to a first pattern and delivers a first reflected light from the first pattern. The second optical system delivers the light to a second pattern and delivers a second reflected light from the second pattern. The controller is provided on the optical path, and intensities of the first and second reflected lights are substantially equal. The phase controller is provided on the optical path, and phases of the first and second reflected lights are inverted. In addition, the detector detects a light that the first and second reflected lights are made to interfere with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yusaku Konno
  • Publication number: 20130194578
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program wherein the apparatus includes at least one interferometer where the at least one interferometer is configured to cause interference of an electromagnetic input signal; wherein the at least one interferometer is configured to receive at least one sensor input signal from at least one sensor such that the sensor input signal controls the interference of the electromagnetic input signal by the at least one interferometer; wherein the at least one interferometer is configured to provide a plurality of outputs where each of the plurality of outputs is provided by the at least one interferometer responding to the at least one sensor input signal with a different sensitivity; and at least one detector configured to detect the plurality of outputs of the at least one interferometer and provide a digital output signal indicative of the at least one sensor input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Antti NISKANEN, Hongwei LI
  • Publication number: 20130194579
    Abstract: In a conventional art, vibrations of compositions (for example, a Z-stage, a ?-stage, a wafer chuck, and a detection optical system mounted above a stage linear scale) within a device are not precisely fed back to a coordinate value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Yukihisa Mohara, Hidetoshi Nishiyama, Shuichi Chikamatsu, Eiji Imai, Koichi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8498176
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out a seismic exploration. A seismic event is applied to the earth's surface, particles at the earth's surface move in response to the event and the response to the event is detected using an interferometer. The earth's surface and the interferometer move with respect to each other. The detectors of the interferometer may be arranged in an array. The detected response may be analyze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Paul Meldahl, Eiolf Vikhagen
  • Publication number: 20130188969
    Abstract: A multiple resonance interferometer structure includes an input port and a first arm coupled to the input port and including a first resonant structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Skorpios Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Skorpios Technologies, Inc
  • Publication number: 20130176573
    Abstract: An interferometer for controlling the coalescence of a pair of photons, including: an optical source, which generates a first and a second pump pulse coherent with each other and shifted in time by a delay; and a first interferometric stage, which receives the first pump pulse and generates an antisymmetric state with two coalescent photons (1/?{square root over (2)}(|21,02?|01,22)). The interferometer also includes a second interferometric stage, which receives the second pump pulse and generates a symmetric state with two coalescent photons (1/?{square root over (2)}·(|21,02+|01,22)), the first and the second interferometric stages being connected in a manner such that the interferometer outputs a final state equal to a weighted sum of the antisymmetric state and of the symmetric state (1/?{square root over (2)}·(|21,02+|01,22)+ei?·1/?{square root over (2)}·(|21,02?|01,22)), the weights of the sum being a function of the delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: SELEX SISTEMI INTEGRATI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Antonio Bovino
  • Publication number: 20130176575
    Abstract: An image sensor for fringe images of interference fringes and the like in which the optical system has a simpler configuration than that of the conventional line image sensor, and faster detection becomes possible includes a light receiving plane on which two or more straight rows of pixels are disposed, and captures images of regular fringes generated from light reflected from an irradiated body in accordance with the amount of light received by each pixel; among the rows of pixels, at least two rows of pixels are disposed at right angles to each other, and acquires images of linear fringes crossing almost at right angles in two directions among the fringe projected onto the light receiving plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8482738
    Abstract: A method of and an optical arrangement for generating a non-linear optical signal on a material excited by an excitation field, wherein with the excitation field coherent fields of first and second optical pulses of differing frequency are overlapped in the material in temporal and spatial relationship, wherein the first pulses of a first frequency are generated in a first beam of a first optical generator unit, and the second pulses of a second frequency are generated in a second beam of a second optical generator unit synchronously pumped by the first optical generator unit, wherein with the first pulses of the first frequency as a fundamental frequency pulses of a higher harmonic frequency thereof are generated and the second optical generator unit is pumped with the pulses of the higher harmonic frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: APE Angewandte Physik and Electronik GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Rimke, Cees Otto, Edlef Buttner, Hermann L. Offerhaus, Martin Jurna