Full-automatic OCT interferometer system

Abstract

The invention discloses a full-automatic OCT (optical coherence tomography) interferometer system, which relates to the technical field of optical coherence tomography and comprises a light source, a coupler, a detector, an imaging scanning component, an electric attenuator, an electric polarization controller, an electric delay line and a reflector. Light emitted by the light source is divided into a sample arm and a reference arm after passing through the coupler, and light of the sample arm enters a sample through the imaging scanning assembly and then returns; the light of the reference arm passes through the electric attenuator, the electric polarization controller, the electric delay line and the reflector and then returns along the original path; the sample light and the reference light are interfered after returning to the coupler, an interference signal is input into a detector, the detector demodulates the interference signal and converts a light signal into an electric signal to be output, and finally a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image is displayed through algorithm processing. The real-time adjustment of the light intensity, polarization and optical path can be completed through software control, the system architecture is simple, the robustness and automation level of the system are improved, and the long-term stable operation requirement in a complex application environment is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology, and in particular to a fully automated OCT interferometer system. Background Technology

[0002] Optical coherence tomography (OCT), a non-invasive, high-resolution biomedical imaging technique, has been widely used in ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiovascular medicine, and intraoperative navigation since its introduction in the 1990s. Its core principle is based on low-coherence interferometry, which reconstructs depth profiles with micron-level axial resolution by detecting the interference signal between the sample arm and the reference arm. With the development of superluminescent diodes, swept-frequency laser sources, and high-speed spectrometers or balanced detectors, OCT systems have continuously improved in imaging speed, sensitivity, and penetration depth, gradually transitioning from laboratory research to routine clinical equipment.

[0003] Existing OCT interferometer systems still face engineering bottlenecks in practical deployment. For example, in traditional designs, the debugging process is highly dependent on the operator's experience, which is time-consuming and prone to human error. Mechanical structures are prone to parameter drift after equipment transportation, environmental temperature changes, or long-term operation, resulting in decreased contrast of interference signals and aggravated sensitivity roll-off, which seriously restricts the reliability of applications. There is a lack of systematic and coordinated control strategies for the coupling relationship between light intensity, polarization, and optical path. Dispersion compensation often uses fixed mirror groups, which are difficult to adapt to dynamic dispersion changes and limit imaging consistency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the aforementioned existing problems, the present invention is proposed.

[0005] Therefore, this invention provides a fully automatic OCT interferometer system that solves the problems of the debugging process being highly dependent on operator experience, time-consuming and prone to human error, the mechanical structure being prone to parameter drift after equipment transportation, environmental temperature changes or long-term operation, resulting in decreased interference signal contrast, aggravated sensitivity roll-off, and severely limited reliability. It also lacks a systematic and coordinated control strategy for the coupling relationship between light intensity, polarization and optical path, and dispersion compensation mostly uses fixed mirror groups, which is difficult to adapt to dynamic dispersion changes and limits imaging consistency.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a fully automated OCT interferometer system, comprising: Light source, coupler, detector, imaging scanning assembly, motorized attenuator, motorized polarization controller, motorized delay line, and reflector; The light emitted by the light source is split by the coupler to form the sample arm optical path and the reference arm optical path; The light in the optical path of the sample arm is irradiated onto the sample to be tested by the imaging scanning component and then returns, forming sample light; The sample light and the reference light interfere at the coupler, and the resulting interference signal is input to the detector. The detector demodulates the interference light signal and converts it into an electrical signal output, which is then used by an image processing algorithm to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional OCT image. The electric attenuator, electric polarization controller, and electric delay line are all controlled by the host computer software and are used to adjust the light intensity, polarization state, and optical path length of the reference light, respectively.

[0007] As a preferred embodiment of the fully automatic OCT interferometer system of the present invention, the light source is a superluminescent diode or a swept-frequency laser source.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the fully automated OCT interferometer system of the present invention, the detector is a spectrometer or a balanced detector.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the fully automatic OCT interferometer system of the present invention, the imaging scanning component is a scanning galvanometer component or a fiber optic probe component.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the fully automatic OCT interferometer system of the present invention, the light in the optical path of the reference arm passes sequentially through the electric attenuator, the electric polarization controller, the electric delay line and the reflector and then returns along the original path to form reference light.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the fully automatic OCT interferometer system of the present invention, the electric delay line is a single-ended electric delay line, and its output end is directly used as a reflecting end face to return the reference light. It may be a double-ended electric delay line, with the output end connected to an independently configured reflector to enable the reference light to return along the original path.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the fully automatic OCT interferometer system of the present invention, the electric delay line integrates a dispersion compensation module, which is used to add optical lenses to compensate for system dispersion.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the fully automatic OCT interferometer system of the present invention, the reflector is a fiber optic mirror with a high-reflectivity coating deposited on the end face of the fiber.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the fully automatic OCT interferometer system of the present invention, the reflector is a long optical path gas cell, which includes a collimating lens, a pyramidal mirror array and a sealed cavity, and extends the effective optical path through multiple reflections; The reflector also includes an internal reflector, which may be a pyramidal reflector, a plane reflector, or a right-angle prism, and the end may be a combination of a focusing lens and a plane reflector, or the apex of a pyramid may be used directly to achieve reflection along the original path.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the fully automatic OCT interferometer system of the present invention, it further includes a drive control board and a limit control board; The drive control board is electrically connected to the electric attenuator, the electric polarization controller, and the electric delay line, and is used to receive instructions from the host computer to adjust the working state of each actuator. The limit control plate, the electric delay line, the electric polarization controller, and the limit switch are matched to prevent mechanical movement from exceeding the travel range and to achieve precise positioning.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By integrating an electric attenuator, an electric polarization controller, and an electric delay line into the reference arm, and executing a three-stage linkage calibration strategy by a central control module, fully automatic collaborative optimization of light intensity, polarization state, and optical path is achieved. This eliminates the reliance on manual adjustment in traditional OCT systems. Combined with a depth-adaptive dispersion compensation mechanism, a stability monitoring closed loop based on signal-to-noise ratio feedback, and a long-path gas cell compatible design, the system's imaging stability, axial resolution, and application scenario adaptability are improved in complex environments. Through parameter memory and fast start-up functions, calibration time is shortened, improving the efficiency of use in clinical and industrial settings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a fully automatic OCT interferometer system in Example 1.

[0019] In the diagram: 1. Light source; 2. Detector; 3. Coupler; 4. Imaging scanning assembly; 5. Electro-motorized attenuator; 6. Electro-motorized polarization controller; 7. Electro-motorized delay line; 8. Reflector.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a system architecture diagram of a fully automated SD-OCT interferometer in Example 2.

[0021] In the diagram: 1. SLD light source; 2. Spectrometer; 3. Coupler; 4. Scanning galvanometer assembly; 5. Motorized attenuator; 6. Motorized polarization controller; 7. Motorized delay line; 8. Fiber optic mirror; 9. Limit control board; 10. Dispersion compensation module; 11. Drive control board.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a system architecture diagram of a fully automatic long optical path OCT interferometer in Example 3.

[0023] In the diagram: 1. Light source; 2. Detector; 3. Coupler; 4. Imaging scanning assembly; 5. Electrodynamic attenuator; 6. Electrodynamic polarization controller; 7. Electrodynamic delay line; 8. Long optical path reflector.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a system architecture diagram of a fully automatic long optical path OCT interferometer in Example 4.

[0025] In the figure: 1. Light source; 2. Coupler 1; 3. Circulator 1; 4. Circulator 2; 5. Electrodynamic attenuator; 6. Electrodynamic polarization controller; 7. Single-ended electrodynamic delay line; 8. Coupler; 9. Detector; 10. Imaging scanning assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the invention. However, the invention may also be practiced in other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0028] Secondly, the term "one embodiment" or "embodiment" as used herein refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation of the present invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" appearing in different places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a single or selective embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0029] Example 1, please refer to Figure 1 This is the first embodiment of the present invention, which provides a fully automated OCT interferometer system, comprising: 1. Light source; 2. Detector; 3. Coupler; 4. Imaging scanning assembly; 5. Electro-motor attenuator; 6. Electro-motor polarization controller; 7. Electro-motor delay line; and 8. Reflector. Among them, light source 1 is used to emit broadband near-infrared light as the system illumination source, detector 2 is used to receive interference signals and convert them into electrical signals for output, coupler 3 is used to split the light emitted by light source 1 into sample arm optical path and reference arm optical path, and realize the interference and beam combining of sample light and reference light in the return path, imaging scanning component 4 is used to guide the sample arm optical path to the surface of the sample to be tested and collect backscattered light, electric attenuator 5, electric polarization controller 6 and electric delay line 7 are connected in series in the reference arm optical path, and are used to adjust the light intensity, polarization state and optical path length of the reference light, respectively, and reflector 8 is used to reflect the reference light back to the reference arm along the original path.

[0030] Furthermore, the light source 1 employs a superluminescent diode or a swept-frequency laser source, outputting broadband light with a center wavelength in the near-infrared band. Coupler 3 is a 2×2 single-mode fiber coupler with a splitting ratio of 50:50. Its two input ports are connected to the light source 1 and the return optical path, respectively, and its two output ports are connected to the sample arm and the reference arm, respectively. The imaging scanning assembly 4 includes an X / Y dual-axis scanning galvanometer and a focusing lens, used for two-dimensional raster scanning of the sample surface. The electric attenuator 5 is a voltage-controlled variable optical attenuator with an adjustment range covering 0 to 30 dB, continuously adjusting the reference light intensity by changing the applied voltage. The motorized polarization controller 6 consists of two cascaded small electrically controlled phase delayers, equivalent to two quarter-wave plates, which can convert any input polarization state into the target polarization state. The motorized delay line 7 adopts a motor-driven fiber optic slide structure with a stroke of 100mm and integrates a dispersion compensation module, which can compensate for system dispersion by inserting optical lenses. The reflector 8 is a fiber optic mirror with a high reflectivity dielectric film coated on the fiber end face, with a reflectivity greater than 95%, ensuring that the reference light returns efficiently along the original path. The detector 2 adopts a high-speed linear array CCD spectrometer to collect interference spectra and output digital signals to the image reconstruction module.

[0031] Furthermore, the system also includes a drive control board and a limit control board. The drive control board integrates a multi-channel drive circuit and is electrically connected to the electric attenuator 5, the electric polarization controller 6, the electric delay line 7, and the light source 1. It receives instructions from the host computer software and outputs corresponding control signals to adjust the working state of each actuator in real time. The limit control board is matched with limit switches of the electric delay line 7 and the electric polarization controller 6 to monitor the mechanical movement position. When the travel limit is reached, the motor power is immediately cut off to prevent overtravel, and a position feedback signal is provided to achieve precise positioning.

[0032] Furthermore, during system operation, the light emitted by the light source 1 is split by the coupler 3 and enters the sample arm and reference arm. The optical path of the sample arm illuminates the sample to be tested through the imaging scanning component 4, and after backscattering by the tissue, it forms sample light and returns to the coupler 3 along the same path. The optical path of the reference arm passes sequentially through the electric attenuator 5, the electric polarization controller 6, the electric delay line 7, and the reflector 8, completing intensity adjustment, polarization state reconstruction, optical path matching, and reflection before returning to the coupler 3 along the same path. The sample light and the reference light interfere at the coupler 3, and the resulting interference signal is transmitted to the detector 2 via optical fiber. The detector 2 collects the interference spectrum and converts it into an electrical signal, which is then output to the image reconstruction module. The image reconstruction module performs Fourier transform, dispersion compensation, and logarithmic compression on the original spectrum to generate an A-line signal, which is then further stitched into a B-scan or C-scan two-dimensional or three-dimensional OCT image.

[0033] It should be noted that the host computer software executes a three-stage linkage calibration process through the drive control board: First, the parameters of the electric attenuator 5 and the electric delay line 7 are fixed, and the electric polarization controller 6 is driven to traverse multiple polarization state combinations. The corresponding interference signal signal-to-noise ratio is collected through the detector 2, and the polarization state with the largest signal-to-noise ratio is selected as the current set value. Then, the polarization state is fixed, and the voltage of the electric attenuator 5 is adjusted so that the peak value of the interference signal is located in the center of the linear response region of the detector 2. Finally, the position of the electric delay line 7 motor is finely adjusted to minimize the interference envelope width, thereby obtaining the best interference contrast. If the light source 1 has a communication interface, the drive control board can also synchronously adjust its output optical power to achieve coordinated optimization between the light source 1 and the reference arm.

[0034] In particular, the dispersion compensation module built into the motorized delay line 7 can dynamically add optical lenses during system operation to compensate for the second-order dispersion effect caused by changes in sample depth, maintain high axial resolution across the entire depth range, and the limit control board continuously monitors the position of the motorized delay line 7. When its movement reaches the mechanical limit, it immediately cuts off the motor power supply to ensure safe system operation.

[0035] In summary, this embodiment integrates the electric attenuator 5, the electric polarization controller 6, and the electric delay line 7 into the reference arm, and combines the closed-loop feedback mechanism of the drive control board, the limit control board, and the host computer software to achieve fully automatic real-time optimization of light intensity, polarization state, and optical path. This significantly improves the imaging stability, ease of operation, and long-term operational reliability of the OCT system, making it suitable for the high-precision non-invasive imaging needs in clinical medical fields such as ophthalmology and dermatology.

[0036] Example 2, please refer to Figure 2 This is the second embodiment of the present invention, which provides a fully automatic frequency-domain SD-OCT interferometer system. The system aims to automatically optimize reference arm parameters by integrating electrically controlled devices and a closed-loop feedback mechanism, thereby improving imaging stability and ease of operation. The system includes: SLD light source 1: used to emit broadband near-infrared light with a center wavelength of 840nm and a bandwidth of 40nm; Spectrometer 2: As an interference signal detection unit, it is equipped with a high-speed linear CCD / CMOS array for acquiring interference spectra; Coupler 3: A 2×2 single-mode fiber coupler with a splitting ratio of 50:50, used to split the incident light into a sample arm and a reference arm, and to achieve interference beam combining in the return path; Scanning galvanometer assembly 4: includes an X / Y dual-axis galvanometer and a focusing lens, used for two-dimensional raster scanning of the sample surface; Electric attenuator 5: Voltage-controlled variable optical attenuator with an adjustment range of 0–30dB, used for dynamically adjusting the reference light intensity; The electric polarization controller 6 consists of two cascaded small electric phase delayers, equivalent to two quarter-wave plates, which can convert any input polarization state into the target polarization state. Electric delay line 7: It adopts a motor-driven fiber optic slide structure with a stroke of 100mm and built-in limit switches and dispersion compensation module. Fiber optic reflector 8: A high-reflectivity coating (R>95%) is deposited on the end face of the fiber to reflect the reference light back to the reference arm along the original path; Limit control board 9: Used to receive limit switch signals to prevent the electric delay line from running beyond its travel range; Drive control board 10: integrates multi-channel drive circuit, receives instructions from the host computer and outputs corresponding control signals to each electric component; Central control module: Runs host computer software, coordinates the working sequence of each module and executes adaptive calibration algorithm.

[0037] The specific steps are as follows: The near-infrared light emitted by S1 and SLD light source 1 is split by coupler 3, and the sample arm optical path is focused onto the surface of the sample to be tested by scanning galvanometer assembly 4. After tissue backscattering, the sample light signal is formed and returned along the original path. S2, the reference arm optical path passes through the electric attenuator 5, the electric polarization controller 6, the electric delay line 7 and the fiber mirror 8 in sequence, and returns along the original path after completing the intensity adjustment, polarization state reconstruction, optical path matching and reflection. S3. The returned sample light and the reference light interfere at coupler 3, and the resulting interference signal is transmitted to spectrometer 2 via optical fiber. S4 and Spectrometer 2 acquire the interference spectrum and convert it into an electrical signal, which is then output to the image reconstruction module; S5. The image reconstruction module performs Fourier transform, dispersion compensation and logarithmic compression on the original spectrum to generate an A-line signal, which is then further stitched into a B-scan or C-scan image. S6. The host computer software sends commands in real time through the drive control board 11: adjust the voltage of the electric attenuator 5 to change the reference light intensity, control the phase angle of the electric polarization controller 6 to optimize polarization matching, and drive the electric delay line 7 motor to move to accurately match the optical path. S7. If the SLD light source 1 has a communication interface, the drive control board 11 can also synchronously adjust its output light power to achieve collaborative optimization of light source 1 and reference arm. S8 and limit control board 9 continuously monitor the position of electric delay line 7. When the mechanical limit is reached, the motor power is immediately cut off to ensure the safe operation of the system.

[0038] In summary, this embodiment integrates the electric attenuator, electric polarization controller, and electric delay line into the reference arm, and combines limit protection with the coordinated scheduling of the central control software to achieve fully automatic closed-loop optimization of light intensity, polarization state, and optical path. This improves the stability of the interference signal and the imaging quality, completely eliminating the dependence on manual adjustment in traditional OCT systems. It enables the equipment to be used immediately upon startup and without human intervention, making it particularly suitable for clinical ophthalmology or dermatology applications where high ease of operation and repeatability are required.

[0039] Example 3, please refer to Figure 3 This is the second embodiment of the present invention, which provides a fully automated OCT interferometer system suitable for long optical path applications. It aims to meet the requirements for large optical path differences in gas concentration detection or imaging of ultra-thick samples through a layered control strategy of the long optical path gas cell and the electric delay line. The system includes: Light source 1: Optional SLD or frequency-sweeping laser source, outputting broadband near-infrared light; Detector 2: Configure a spectrometer or a balanced detector according to the type of light source; Coupler 3: Used for optical path splitting and interference beam combining; Imaging scanning component 4: can be a scanning galvanometer or a fiber optic probe to adapt to different application scenarios; 5. Motorized attenuator; 6. Motorized polarization controller; 7. Motorized delay line. Long optical path reflector 8: It adopts a sealed gas pool structure, which contains a collimating lens, a corner bevel mirror array and an end focusing-reflection combination, and achieves effective optical path extension through multiple reflections.

[0040] The specific steps are as follows: S1. The light emitted by the light source 1 is split by the coupler 3, and the optical path of the sample arm illuminates the sample and collects the backscattered light through the imaging scanning component 4. S2, the reference arm optical path passes through the electric attenuator 5, the electric polarization controller 6, and the electric delay line 7 in sequence before entering the long optical path reflector 8. S3. Inside the long optical path reflector 8, after the beam is collimated by the collimating lens, it undergoes N round-trip reflections between the corner bevel mirrors, and the end is efficiently returned along the original path by a combination of the focusing lens and the plane mirror. S4. The returning reference light passes through the electric delay line 7, the electric polarization controller 6, and the electric attenuator 5 again before returning to the coupler 3. S5. The sample light and the reference light interfere at coupler 3, and the interference signal is demodulated into an electrical signal by detector 2. S6, the image reconstruction module processes electrical signals to generate OCT images; S7, the central control module limits the adjustment range of the electric delay line 7 to within ±50μm, and is only used to compensate for the small optical path changes caused by temperature drift in the gas cell; S8. The main optical path is determined by the number of reflections N inside the gas cell, satisfying the effective optical path Leff≈2N⋅Lcell, where Lcell is the single-pass cavity length, thus achieving centimeter-level optical path matching.

[0041] In summary, this embodiment innovatively introduces a long optical path gas cell as a reflector and adopts a layered control strategy in which the main optical path is determined by multiple reflections and fine-tuning is accomplished by an electric delay line. While meeting the requirements of centimeter-level long optical path, it can still maintain high-precision optical path matching. This design effectively expands the applicability of OCT technology in fields such as gas concentration detection, ultra-thick biological tissue imaging, or special material analysis, and solves the technical bottleneck of traditional systems being unable to cover such application scenarios due to optical path limitations.

[0042] Example 4, please refer to Figure 4 This is the third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment provides a fully automated OCT interferometer system based on a fiber optic circulator architecture. The aim is to achieve physical isolation between the sample arm and the reference arm through the circulator, reduce optical crosstalk, and improve the system's signal-to-noise ratio and stability. The system includes: Light source 1: emits broadband near-infrared light; Coupler 12: Used for initial optical path beam splitting; Circulator 13: A three-port fiber optic circulator, mounted on the reference arm, enables unidirectional optical transmission and directional output of reflected light; Circulator 24: A three-port fiber optic circulator, installed on the sample arm, to separate the incident and return light paths; 5. Electric attenuator, 6. Electric polarization controller, 7. Single-ended electric delay line: connected in series after circulator 1 and circulator 3. The single-ended electric delay line itself also has a reflection function. Coupler 28: Used to receive optical signals from circulator 1 and circulator 2 and perform interference beam combining; Detector 9: Receives interference signals and outputs electrical signals; Imaging scanning component 10: Guides sample light to the area to be measured.

[0043] The specific steps are as follows: S1. The light emitted by the light source 1 is split by the coupler 12 and enters the circulator 13 through the reference arm optical path. It then passes through the electric attenuator 5, the electric polarization controller 6 and the single-ended electric delay line 7 in sequence. S2, the reference light is directly reflected at the end of the single-ended electric delay line 7, the reflected light returns to the circulator 13 along the original path, and is output from its third port to the coupler 28; S3. The sample arm light path enters the circulator 24 through the coupler 12, then illuminates the sample through the imaging scanning component 10, and the backscattered light returns to the circulator 24 along the original path, and is output from its third port to the coupler 28. S4. The reference light and the sample light interfere at the coupler 28, and the interference signal is transmitted to the detector 9. S5 and detector 9 convert optical signals into electrical signals, which are then sent to the image reconstruction module to generate OCT images. S6. The central control module adjusts the electric attenuator 5, electric polarization controller 6 and single-ended electric delay line 7 in real time through the drive control board to achieve automatic optimization of reference arm parameters. S7. Since the sample arm and the reference arm are isolated from the circulator 13 throughout the entire process by the circulator 24, backlight crosstalk is effectively avoided, thus improving the contrast of the interference signal. S8. The system supports the same three-stage linkage calibration process as in Example 1 to ensure long-term operational stability.

[0044] This embodiment introduces circulators 13 and 24 to isolate the round-trip optical paths of the sample arm and the reference arm, respectively, fundamentally eliminating non-target interference noise caused by backscattering or connector reflection in traditional shared coupler structures. At the same time, the use of a single-ended electric delay line 7, which also has a reflection function, simplifies the optical path and reduces interface loss. This architecture improves the purity of the interference signal and the system signal-to-noise ratio while retaining the fully automatic electric control capability. It is suitable for precision applications with extremely high requirements for imaging sensitivity and contrast, such as microvascular blood flow imaging or weak scattering detection of early lesions.

[0045] In summary, this invention integrates an electric attenuator, an electric polarization controller, and an electric delay line into the reference arm, and implements a three-stage linkage calibration strategy executed by the central control module. This achieves fully automatic collaborative optimization of light intensity, polarization state, and optical path, completely eliminating the reliance on manual adjustment in traditional OCT systems. Combined with a depth-adaptive dispersion compensation mechanism, a stability monitoring closed loop based on signal-to-noise ratio feedback, and a long-path gas cell compatible design, it improves the system's imaging stability, axial resolution, and application scenario adaptability in complex environments. Through parameter memory and rapid start-up functions, calibration time is shortened, significantly improving the efficiency of use in clinical and industrial settings, truly enabling OCT equipment to be used immediately and operate unattended for extended periods.

[0046] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fully automated OCT interferometer system, characterized in that: include: Light source (1), coupler (3), detector (2), imaging scanning assembly (4), electric attenuator (5), electric polarization controller (6), electric delay line (7), and reflector (8); The light emitted by the light source (1) is split by the coupler (3) to form the sample arm optical path and the reference arm optical path; The light in the optical path of the sample arm is irradiated onto the sample to be tested by the imaging scanning component (4) and returns to form sample light; The sample light and the reference light interfere at the coupler (3), and the resulting interference signal is input to the detector (2). The detector (2) demodulates the interference light signal and converts it into an electrical signal output, which is then used by an image processing algorithm to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional OCT image. Among them, the electric attenuator (5), electric polarization controller (6) and electric delay line (7) are all controlled by the host computer software and are used to adjust the light intensity, polarization state and optical path length of the reference light, respectively.

2. The fully automated OCT interferometer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The light source (1) is a superluminescent diode or a swept-frequency laser source.

3. The fully automated OCT interferometer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The detector (2) is a spectrometer or a balanced detector.

4. The fully automated OCT interferometer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The imaging scanning component (4) is a scanning galvanometer component or a fiber optic probe component.

5. The fully automated OCT interferometer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The light in the reference arm optical path passes sequentially through the electric attenuator (5), electric polarization controller (6), electric delay line (7) and reflector (8) and then returns along the original path to form reference light.

6. The fully automated OCT interferometer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The electric delay line (7) is a single-ended electric delay line, and its output end is directly used as a reflective end face to return the reference light. It may be a double-ended electric delay line, and the output end is connected to the independently set reflector (8) to realize the original path return of the reference light.

7. The fully automated OCT interferometer system as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The electric delay line (7) integrates a dispersion compensation module, which is used to add optical lenses to compensate for system dispersion.

8. The fully automated OCT interferometer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The reflector (8) is a fiber optic reflector with a high-reflectivity coating deposited on the end face of the fiber.

9. The fully automated OCT interferometer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The reflector (8) is a long optical path gas cell, which includes a collimating lens, a pyramidal reflector array and a sealed cavity, and extends the effective optical path through multiple reflections; The reflector also includes an internal reflector, which may be a pyramidal reflector, a plane reflector, or a right-angle prism, and the end may be a combination of a focusing lens and a plane reflector, or the apex of a pyramid may be used directly to achieve reflection along the original path.

10. The fully automated OCT interferometer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a drive control board and a limit control board; The drive control board is electrically connected to the electric attenuator (5), the electric polarization controller (6), and the electric delay line (7), and is used to receive instructions from the host computer to adjust the working state of each actuator; The limit control plate, the electric delay line (7), the electric polarization controller (6), and the limit switch are components used in conjunction with each other to prevent mechanical movement from exceeding the travel range and to achieve precise positioning.

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