Optical image measuring apparatus

An optical image measuring apparatus comprising:

• a light-emitting part configured to emit a broadband light;
• a splitter configured to split the emitted broadband light into a signal light heading to a measurement object and a reference light heading to a reference object;
• a converter configured to convert a polarization characteristic of the signal light or the reference light;
• a superimposing part configured to superimpose one of the signal light returned from the measurement object and the reference light returned from the reference object onto the other to generate interference light, the one of the signal light and the reference light having the converted polarization characteristic;
• an extracting part configured to extract two different polarization components of the generated interference light;
• a first detector configured to detect one of the two polarization components having been extracted and output a first detection signal, and a second detector configured to detect the other and output a second detection signal;
• an image formation processor configured to form an image of the measurement object, based on the first and second detection signals outputted by the first and second detectors;
• and
• an optical-path-length changing member configured to be insertable into and retractable from an optical path of the signal light or the reference light, thereby changing a length of the optical path, wherein:
• the image formation processor forms the image of the measurement object, based on the first and second detection signals outputted from the first and second detectors when the optical-path-length changing member is retracted from the optical path, and a fourth detection signal outputted by the first or second detector when the optical-path-length changing member is inserted into the optical path.

An optical image measuring apparatus comprising:

• a light-emitting part configured to emit a broadband light;
• a splitter configured to split the emitted broadband light into a signal light heading to a measurement object and a reference light heading to a reference object;
• a converter configured to convert a polarization characteristic of the signal light or the reference light;
• a superimposing part configured to superimpose one of the signal light returned from the measurement object and the reference light returned from the reference object onto the other to generate interference light, the one of the signal light and the reference light having the converted polarization characteristic;
• an extracting part configured to extract two different polarization components of the generated interference light;
• a first detector configured to detect one of the two polarization components having been extracted and output a first detection signal, and a second detector configured to detect the other and output a second detection signal;
• an image formation processor configured to form an image of the measurement object, based on the first and second detection signals outputted by the first and second detectors;
• and
• an optical-path-length changing member configured to be insertable into and retractable from an optical path of the signal light or the reference light, thereby changing a length of the optical path, wherein:
• the image formation processor forms the image of the measurement object, based on the first and second detection signals outputted from the first and second detectors when the optical-path-length changing member is inserted into the optical path, and a fourth detection signal outputted by the first or second detector when the optical-path-length changing member is retracted from the optical path.