Interferometeric beamsplitter
AssigneeThe Foxboro Company
InventorAnthony C. Gilby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Beamsplitter means for directing light in a Michelson interferometric drive and frequency sense scheme for use with a mechanical resonator. In a first embodiment a special prism is used. In a second embodiment a four-port coupler is used.
Claims8
An optical beamsplitter device for use in communicating optical power to a resonant element, comprising:
- (a) a source of optical power;
- (b) a first light beam pathway for carrying said optical power to a beamsplitter;
- (c) means for dividing said first light beam pathway and said optical power into at least second and third interferometer light beams pathways, each carrying a portion of said optical power;
- and
- (d) means for communciating the optical power on said at least second and third light beam pathways to adjacent locations on the resonant element such that differential motion between these resonant element locations modulates at least a portion of said optical power by interferometry to produce a modulated optical power beam signal.
An optical prism beamsplitter for use in communicating optical power to a target, comprising a pyramid having a square base ABCD and apex H wherein edge DH is perpendicular to the ABCD plane further including one at least partially reflecting element lying in the BDH plane.
A method of making a prism beamsplitter for communicating optical power, comprising the steps of:
- preparing an optically suitable cube, having corners A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, and having a partially reflecting element in the BDHF plane;
- removing outer material along the ABGH plane;
- and
- removing outer material along the BCHE plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.