Automatic Calibration Optical Interferometer for Handheld Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld optical interferometers face inaccuracies due to varying optical path differences caused by user operation and environmental factors, making it challenging to maintain stable interference patterns.
Innovation Solution
An automatic calibration optical interferometer system that includes a light source, optical interference assembly, sampling and reference assemblies, a polychromator, and a displacement controller, which emits low coherent light, divides it into incident lights, and uses a partially reflective window and actuator to adjust the optical path difference, outputting a displacement signal to stabilize the optical path difference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the optical interferometer is made handheld for portability, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to optical path difference variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the optical path difference is continuously monitored and adjusted. The controller receives signals about the optical path difference and automatically adjusts the reference mirror position to maintain the desired interference pattern, enabling handheld operation without sacrificing measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capabilities through the actuator that can move the reference mirror in real-time. This dynamic compensation mechanism allows the interferometer to adapt to environmental changes and user handling, maintaining measurement accuracy despite the portable design.
2Measurement precision
If the optical path difference is kept fixed for stable interference, then measurement precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to environmental changes and user operation
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system continuously monitors the optical path difference and automatically compensates for environmental variations. This allows the system to maintain stable interference patterns while adapting to changing environmental conditions, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The interferometer performs self-calibration by automatically detecting and correcting optical path difference variations without external intervention. The system uses its own resources to maintain measurement accuracy across different environmental conditions.
3Measurement precision
If automatic calibration components are added to maintain optical path stability, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it monitors the optical path difference, processes the feedback signal, and actuates the reference mirror adjustment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, managing system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively compensates for optical path variations, enhancing the stability and adaptability of handheld interferometers, improving measurement accuracy and environmental tolerance.
Implementation Method 1
the interference is generated by the fixed optical path difference between the sampling optical path and the reference optical path
Implementation Method 2
a polychromator coupled to the optical interference assembly, wherein the polychromator is configured to output a displacement signal according to an optical path difference variation between the first and second reflected lights
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic calibration optical interferometer comprises: a light source; an optical interference assembly, which divides a low coherent light into a first and a second incident light; an optical sampling assembly, with a first end receiving the first incident light and a partially reflective window at the second end being configured to divide the first incident light into a first reflected light and a first penetrating light configured to be emitted to the test sample; an optical reference assembly, with a reference mirror and an actuator, wherein the optical sampling assembly emits the second incident light to the reference mirror to generate a second reflected light, and the actuator moves the reference mirror; a polychromator, which outputs a displacement signal according to an optical path difference variation between the first and second reflected lights; and a displacement controller, which controls the actuator according to the displacement signal.