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:
Jul. 09, 1996
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1995
Gregory E Johnston, San Jose, CA (US);
Robert E Malm, Pacific Palisades, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The distance-measuring apparatus utilizes an interferometric technique to measure the distance to a light-reflecting surface. A laser-generated plane wave is split by a beam splitter into first and second plane waves. The first plane wave is directed to the reflecting surface which reflects it back to the beam splitter. The second plane wave is directed to a reference mirror which reflects it back to the beam splitter where it combines with the reflected first plane wave to form a combination plane wave. The combination plane wave is caused to vary periodically in amplitude by modulating the position of the reference mirror. Changes in the distance to the reflecting surface are obtained by electronically processing the changes in the power of the combination plane wave.