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. 29, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2006
Applicant:
Steven E. Muenter, Van Nuys, CA (US);
Inventor:
Steven E. Muenter, Van Nuys, CA (US);
Assignee:
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01P 3/36 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A novel technique using an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) as part of a heterodyne interferometer which measures optical path differences between a test signal and a reference signal is disclosed. An array of distinct frequencies are used to drive the AOM, yielding a spatially dispersed array of frequency-shifted subaperture beams of the test signal which are interfered with the wavefront to be measured and then combined with the dispersed reference signal. The frequency shifting of the AOM allows a single detector to collect the beams for signal processing to determine a measurement of the wavefront.