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:
Oct. 21, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 19, 2003
John Edward Perrigo Beale, Malvern, GB;
Andrew Robert Harvey, Edinburg, GB;
David William Fletcher-holmes, Edinburg, GB;
John Edward Perrigo Beale, Malvern, GB;
Andrew Robert Harvey, Edinburg, GB;
David William Fletcher-Holmes, Edinburg, GB;
Qinetiq Limited, , GB;
Abstract
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and comprises input and output polarisers, a first polarising beam splitter and at least one additional polarising beam splitter, a light sensitive detector and focussing means arranged on an axis. The input polariser resolves incident light into a single linear polarisation state. The first polarising beam splitter receives light from the input polarises, and resolves it into equal magnitude orthogonally polarised rays which are mutually spaced and have a path difference therebetween. The or each additional polarising beam splitter is arranged to receive light from the first polarising beam splitter. The transmission axis of the output polariser is parallel to or perpendicular to the transmission axis of the input polarises to resolve the orthogonally polarised light rays having past through the or each additional polarising beam splitter into the same or perpendicular polarisation state as light resolved by the, first polariser. The first polarising beam splitter, the or each additional polarising beam splitter and the focussing means are mutually spaced such that said mutually spaced rays are brought to coincidence whereby interference fringes are produced, the detector being arranged to detect the interference fringes. One beam splitter is mounted for movement perpendicular to said axis, whereas the other beam splitter(s) is/are rigidly mounted against movement.