Method and apparatus for acquiring images using a ccd detector array and no transverse scanner

An apparatus for acquiring a two dimensional image of a region of an object, comprising:

• an optical source for outputting a first optical beam having a short coherence length;
• means for splitting said first optical beam into a reference beam and an object beam;
• means for receiving said object beam and directing said object beam toward the region of the object and for collecting a portion of said object beam scattered off of said region;
• means for receiving said reference beam and directing said reference beam through a reference path;
• and
• a two dimensional array detecting means for receiving a portion of said object beam and a portion of said reference beam, for detecting incident intensity over two dimensions resulting from said portion of said reference beam coherently interfering with said portion of the object beam scattered from said region and for outputting a signal corresponding to said incident intensity, wherein said portion of the reference beam requires a reference delay time to travel from said means for splitting to said two dimensional array detecting means and said portion of the object beam requires an object delay time to travel from said means for splitting to said region to said two dimensional array detecting means.

A method for acquiring a two dimensional image of a region of an object, comprising the steps of:

• outputting radiation having a short coherence length;
• splitting said radiation using a splitter into reference radiation and object radiation;
• receiving, using an optical guide, said object radiation and directing said object radiation toward the region of the object and for collecting a portion of said object radiation scattered off of said region;
• receiving said reference radiation and directing said reference radiation through a reference path;
• receiving a portion of said object radiation and a portion of said reference radiation and detecting incident intensity over two dimensions using a two dimensional array detector resulting from said portion of said reference radiation coherently interfering with said portion of the object radiation scattered from said region;
• and
• outputting a signal corresponding to said incident intensity, wherein said portion of the reference radiation requires a reference delay time to travel from said splitter to said two dimensional array detector and said portion of object radiation requires an object delay time to travel from said splitter to said region and back to said two dimensional array detector.

An apparatus for acquiring an at least one dimensional image of a region of an object without any transverse scanning, comprising:

• a source for outputting radiation having a short coherence length;
• a splitter which splits said radiation into reference radiation and object radiation and allowing said object radiation to pass toward the region of the object and for collecting a portion of said object radiation scattered off of said region;
• a reference scatterer which receives said reference radiation along a reference path and scatters said reference radiation back toward said splitter;
• and
• an array detector which receives a portion of said object radiation and a portion of said reference radiation and detects incident intensity in a parallel fashion over said at least one dimension resulting from said portion of said reference radiation coherently interfering with said portion of the object radiation scattered from said region and for outputting a signal corresponding to said incident intensity, wherein said portion of the reference radiation requires a reference delay time to travel from said splitter to said array detector and said portion of object radiation requires an object delay time to travel from said splitter to said region and back to said array detecting means.