US 6,778,307 B2 · Method and system for performing swept-wavelength measurements within an optical system

Abstract

A method and system for performing swept-wavelength measurements within an optical system provides improved operation in resonator-enhanced optical measurement and data storage and retrieval systems. The system includes an illumination subsystem having a swept-wavelength mode, a detection subsystem, an interferometer or an optical resonator interposed in an optical path between the illumination subsystem and the detection subsystem and a time domain analysis subsystem. Multiple resonance points of the optical resonator are detected by the time-domain subsystem when the illumination subsystem is in the swept-wavelength mode in order to determine resonator or interferometer characteristic changes. The resulting information can be used directly as a measurement output, or cavity length information may also be used to adjust the operating wavelength of a constant wavelength mode of the illumination subsystem.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An optical system comprising:

an optical illumination subsystem for producing an optical beam, said optical illumination subsystem including a swept-wavelength operating mode;
a device for generating a coherent interference within a path of said beam;
an optical detection subsystem for measuring an intensity of light leaving said interference;
and
a time domain analysis subsystem coupled to said optical detection subsystem for extracting a time relation of particular points of intensity variations produced by said interference when said optical illumination subsystem is operated in said swept-frequency operating mode.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for performing swept-wavelength measurements within an optical system

Life of this patent

Method and system for performing swept-wavelength measurements within an optical system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22