Robert Boschgmbh

Taylor Hobson Limited

Matthias Fleischer

Stefan Franz

Pawel Drabarek

Jochen Straehle

Jan Fischer

David Rychtarik

Thomas Seiffert

Ralf Kochendoerfer

An interferometric system for measuring surfaces of a measured object using an optical system. The optical system has a beam splitter, which directs measuring beams in a first beam path and measuring beams in a second beam path onto the surfaces of the measured object with the aid of two mirrors. The beam paths which are formed by the light beams which are reflected on the surfaces at least partially overlap in an area having identical beam direction. In this manner, measured surfaces of the measured object are at least partially imaged on an identically irradiated surface of a detector, such as an image recorder.

Optical system for illuminating a measured object and interferometric system for measuring surfaces of a measured object

An interferometric system for measuring a measured object, having an arrangement for generating a measuring beam path, measuring beams being directed at the measured object, having an arrangement for generating a reference beam path, reference beams being directed to a reference element, having an adjusting arrangement for adjusting a path difference between the measuring beams and the reference beams, and a having a detector for recording images of the superposition of the reference beams and the measuring beams reflected by the measured object. According to the present system, a synchronization arrangement is used to control the adjusting arrangement so that the path difference between the measuring beams and the reference beams is adjusted in synchronization with the images recorded by the detector. The present system also relates to a method for adjusting a path difference.

Interferometric system and method for adjusting a path difference

A device for an interferometric measuring device having a first interferometer and a second interferometer, short coherent radiation being supplied to the first interferometer via a radiation source which is split into to beam components by a first beam splitter; and the optical path length in a beam component being longer than in the other beam component to the effect that the optical path difference is greater than the coherence length of the radiation; before emerging from the first interferometer, the two beam components being recombined and supplied to the second interferometer, which splits the radiation into two additional beam components; the optical path lengths of the two beam components being different to the effect that the optical path difference registered in the first interferometer is balanced again; the optical path length for the respective beam component in the first and the second interferometer being able to be set by at least one movable optical component, and the movable optical components are coupled to each other mechanically. A method for balancing an optical path difference in such an interferometric measuring device, the optical path differences between the beam components being changed in the two interferometers by mechanically coupled movable optical components at the same time and by the same absolute amount. By doing this, path differences in the beam components of the interferometers are able to be varied in one working step, the conditions for the formation of interference being complied with.

Interferometric measuring device

A heterodyne interferometer having two interferometer arms and one optical modulator for changing the frequency of a radiation conducted via one interferometer arm and having a control device for setting the frequency change of the radiation and a detector device for analyzing the interfered output radiation. The amplitude of an input beam conducted into the heterodyne interferometer is modulated using a frequency which is different from the frequency change of the radiation in the optical modulator prior to being split between the interferometer arms. A heterodyne frequency corresponding to the difference of the frequency change of the radiation and the frequency of the amplitude modulation of the radiation may be achieved.

Heterodyne interferometer having an optical modulator

The present invention relates to an interferometric measuring device having a short-coherent radiation source, a modulation interferometer and a downstream reference interferometer connected thereto. The mechanical coupling between the reference interferometer and the modulation interferometer is provided with a backlash. For equalizing an optical path difference in the interferometric measuring device, an optical path difference established in the modulation interferometer is reset in the reference interferometer. The optical path differences between the partial beams in the modulation interferometer and between the partial beams in the reference interferometer may be changed via optical components mechanically coupled with the aid of a backlash, the movable optical component of the reference interferometer following a movement of the movable optical component of the modulation interferometer after passing a backlash distance in the backlash.

A device for coupling beam guides of optical systems for unidirectional or bidirectional transmission of beams via a beam transition between the optical systems is provided, the device having a connecting device and mechanical centering means. The connecting device provides a magnetic coupling for implementing a coupling connection in a coupling area. The centering means are situated opposite one another on the optical systems and coupled in such a way to cause the beam guides to self-center due to the attraction caused by the magnetic forces.

Coupling device for a light guide

An interferometric measuring device includes a short-coherent radiation source and a system composed of a modulation interferometer having a first and a second modulation interferometer beam path and a downstream reference interferometer, the radiation being split in the reference interferometer into a first beam path and a second beam path. If a dispersive optical component is situated in at least one beam path of the reference interferometer, a different optical path length becomes effective for radiation of a different wavelength in the beam path having the dispersive optical component. Therefore, if one measuring probe is replaced with another one having a modified optical path length, the modulation interferometer may be adjusted and the reference interferometer may remain unchanged. The reference interferometer may thus be used over an extended adjustment path of the modulation interferometer without optical components having to be replaced for adjusting the different path difference of measuring probes in the reference interferometer.

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Ostfildern, Germany

Matthias Fleischer