Multiple beam source for a multi-beam interferometer and multi-beam interferometer
AssigneeMichelson Diagnostics Ltd.
InventorsJon Denis Holmes, Simon Richard Hattersley, Andrew Gilkes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-beam interferometer, typically for use in Optical Coherence Tomography, comprising a multiple beam source, the source being arranged so as to provide, in use, a plurality of beams of light for use in the interferometer, the source comprising: a light source arranged to, in use, emit a beam of light; and a rattle plate comprising a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface facing one another, the second reflective surface being only partially reflective.
Claims20
A multi-beam interferometer comprising a multiple beam source, the multiple beam source configured to provide a plurality of beams of light for use in the interferometer, the multiple beam source comprising:
- a light source configured to emit a beam of light;
- and
- a rattle plate comprising a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface facing one another, the second reflective surface being only partially reflective;
- in which the light source and the rattle plate are positioned relative to one another such that, in use, the beam of light is incident on the rattle plate such that the beam of light is repeatedly reflected along a beam path between the first and second reflective surfaces, each successive and spaced-apart reflection off the partially reflective second reflective surface causing a portion of the light beam to be transmitted through the second reflective surface to form one of the beams of the plurality of beams;
- and in which between at least one successive pair of beams of the plurality of beams there is a decrease along the beam path in a level of reflectance of the second reflective surface.
An Optical Coherence Tomography device, comprising:
- a multiple beam source configured to provide a plurality of beams of light, the multiple beam source comprising:
- a light source configured to emit a beam of light;
- and
- a rattle plate comprising a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface facing one another, the second reflective surface being only partially reflective, wherein,
- the light source and the rattle plate are positioned relative to one another such that a beam of light incident on the rattle plate is repeatedly reflected along a beam path between the first and second reflective surfaces, each successive and spaced-apart reflection off the partially reflective second reflective surface causing a portion of the light beam to be transmitted through the second reflective surface to form one of the beams of the plurality of beams;
- and
- between at least one successive pair of beams of the plurality of beams there is a decrease along the beam path in a level of reflectance of the second reflective surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.