The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 24, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 12, 1992
David H Kittell, Stamford, CT (US);
Guy H Hayes, Winsted, CT (US);
Peter J DeGroot, Belleview, WA (US);
Huges Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
Optical metrology apparatus, specifically a laser probe (1), includes a frame (10) comprised of a material selected to have a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion. A beamsplitter (36) is coupled to the frame for generating a sample beam optical path (D) and a reference beam optical path (C). The beamsplitter is optically coupled to an optical fiber (12) that delivers radiation to and conveys radiation from the frame. A piezoelectric stack (48) has an excitation signal coupled thereto and includes a mirror (26) for phase modulating the reference beam optical path length in response to the excitation signal. The laser probe includes a first strain gauge (58) that is coupled to the piezoelectric stack and a second strain gauge (60) that is coupled to the frame. A closed loop control system (A1, A2, A3, A4, VR) varies the excitation signal in accordance with the detected strains so as to maintain the reference beam optical path length in a predetermined relationship to a path length of the sample beam optical path. This athermalizes the probe, in that any expansion or contraction of the frame is matched by the piezoelectric stack, yielding a net zero change in the non-common beam path lengths. The apparatus includes an optical fiber support (14) that is rotatably coupled to the frame for positioning the optical fiber at a desired angular position.