Total internal reflection wavelength filter
AssigneeZygo Corporation
InventorsJohn S. Berg, Phillip H. Malyak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention features an apparatus and method for separating an optical beam including multiple wavelength components into targeted subsets of wavelengths by causing different subsets of wavelength components either to undergo a total internal reflection (TIR) at or to transmit through internal surfaces of refractive media.
Claims37
An optical filter for spatially separating a selected subset of wavelength components from an input optical beam including multiple wavelength components, the optical filter comprising:
- a dispersing element positioned to receive the optical beam and angularly disperse the multiple wavelength components of the optical beam as a function of wavelength;
- and
- a first internal surface positioned to intercept the angularly dispersed wavelength components and cause a first subset of the multiple wavelength components to totally internally reflect from the first internal surface and a second subset of the multiple wavelength components to transmit through the first internal surface.
A method for spatially separating a selected subset of wavelength components from an input optical beam including multiple wavelength components, the method comprising:
- angularly dispersing the input optical beam as a function of wavelength to form angularly dispersed wavelength components;
- and
- directing the angularly dispersed wavelength components to contact a first internal surface along a first direction that causes a first subset of the multiple wavelength components to totally internally reflect from the first internal surface and a second subset of the multiple wavelengths to transmit through the first internal surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.