US 10,119,803 B2 · Signal extraction systems and methods

Abstract

Swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) systems and methods may employ down-conversion. Down-converter systems and methods may utilize a distribution element and a frequency down shifter. The distribution element may receive an output signal of a photo detection device, the output signal comprising a first frequency component at or below a maximum conversion frequency and a second frequency component above the maximum conversion frequency. The distribution element may send the first frequency component to an analog to digital (A/D) converter and send the second frequency component to a frequency down shifter. The frequency down shifter may down shift the second frequency component to a frequency at or below the maximum conversion frequency to form a down shifted second frequency component. The frequency down shifter may send the down shifted second frequency component to the A/D converter.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system comprising a down-converter system, the down converter system comprising:

a distribution element configured to:
receive an electrical output signal of a photo detection device, the electrical output signal comprising a first frequency component at or below a maximum conversion frequency and a second frequency component above the maximum conversion frequency;
send the first frequency component of the electrical output signal to an analog to digital (A/D) converter;
and
send the second frequency component of the electrical output signal to a frequency down shifter;
and
the frequency down shifter configured to:
down shift the second frequency component of the electrical output signal to a frequency at or below the maximum conversion frequency to form a down shifted second frequency component of the electrical output signal;
and
send the down shifted second frequency component of the electrical output signal to the A/D converter.

7 more elements

A method of swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) including performing a down-conversion process comprising:

receiving, at a distribution element, an electrical output signal of a photo detection device, the electrical output signal comprising a first frequency component at or below a maximum conversion frequency and a second frequency component above the maximum conversion frequency;
sending, with the distribution element, the first frequency component of the electrical output signal to an analog to digital (A/D) converter;
sending, with the distribution element, the second frequency component of the electrical output signal to a frequency down shifter;
down shifting, with the frequency down shifter, the second frequency component of the electrical output signal to a frequency at or below the maximum conversion frequency to form a down shifted second frequency component of the electrical output signal;
and
sending, with the frequency down shifter, the down shifted second frequency component of the electrical output signal to the A/D converter.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Signal extraction systems and methods

Life of this patent

Signal extraction systems and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43