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:
Jan. 24, 2006
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2002
Paul Lefebvre, Laval, CA;
Paul Lefebvre, Laval, CA;
LXSIX Photonics Inc., Quebec, CA;
Abstract
Apparatus for producing an interference pattern from an input optical beam, including a first optical element for separating the input optical beam into a plurality of divergent optical sub-beams and a second optical element including a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is optically coupled to the first optical element to receive at least two of the plurality of sub-beams. In addition, the second optical element is capable of redirecting via total internal reflection at least one of the sub-beams received at the first surface such that at least two sub-beams emerge from the second surface along respective paths intersecting one another outside the second optical element at a distance from the second surface. Advantageously, the use of total internal reflection in the second optical element for sub-beam redirection removes any requirement for a mirror to perform this function, results in only minimal power losses as the sub-beams reflect internally and the location at which they intersect is easily adjustable.