Soft clock delay for OCT system and method therefor

An optical coherence analysis method, comprising:

• generating optical signals that are tuned over a scan band;
• transmitting the optical signals over a sample arm and reference arm of an interferometer and combining the optical signals to generate interference signals;
• generating a k-clock indicating non-linearities in the frequency tuning of the optical signals over the scan band that is not delay matched to propagation delays for the optical signals in the interferometer;
• sampling the interference signals from the interferometer in response to the k-clock;
• and
• determining non-linearities in the frequency tuning of the optical signals using the k-clock and transforming the interference signals into an image of a sample in response to the non-linearities.

An optical coherence analysis calibration method, comprising:

• generating optical signals that are tuned over a scan band;
• transmitting the optical signals over a sample arm and reference arm of an interferometer and combining the optical signals to generate interference signals;
• generating a k-clock indicating non-linearities in the frequency tuning of the optical signals over the scan band that is not delay matched to propagation delays for the optical signals in the interferometer;
• sampling the interference signals from the interferometer in response to the k-clock;
• removing negative frequencies from the interference signals;
• and
• determining non-integer k values that are used in a subsequent nonuniform discrete Fourier transform of the interference signals from a sample.

An optical coherence analysis system, comprising:

• a swept source for generating optical signals that are tuned over a scan band;
• an interferometer for transmitting the optical signals over a sample arm and reference arm and combining the optical signals to generate interference signals;
• a k-clock for generating a sampling clock indicating non-linearities in the frequency tuning of the optical signals over the scan band, the k-clock being not delay matched to propagation delays for the optical signals in the interferometer;
• a sampling system for sampling the interference signals from the interferometer in response to the k-clock;
• and
• a processing system for determining non-linearities in the frequency tuning of the optical signals using the k-clock during a calibration and for transforming the interference signals into an image of a sample in response to the non-linearities.