Dual Swept Source OCT System with Intracavity Combiner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current swept-source OCT systems face limitations in speed and complexity due to reliance on tunable lasers, which can be costly and have inherent drawbacks, while filtered amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) sources offer potential but require advanced configurations for improved performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual swept-source system with multiple laser sources, each generating tunable optical signals over distinct spectral scan bands, combined using an intracavity combiner and polarization beam splitters, to enhance speed and spectral resolution, and incorporating birefringence compensation for improved polarization control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filtered ASE sources are used to avoid drawbacks of tunable lasers, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring broadband light source, tunable filters, and amplifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser sources with different spectral scan bands into a single integrated system using a shared reflector and intracavity combiner. This merging approach maintains the reliability benefits of filtered ASE sources while reducing overall device complexity by consolidating components that would otherwise be separate.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared reflector serves multiple functions by reflecting light from both the first and second laser sources back into their respective cavities. This multi-functional component eliminates the need for separate feedback mechanisms for each laser source, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining system reliability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple laser sources with distinct spectral scan bands are used, then spectral resolution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple laser sources with distinct spectral scan bands into a unified system through the intracavity combiner and shared reflector. This allows the system to achieve high spectral resolution by utilizing multiple spectral bands while managing device complexity through component sharing and integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates in multiple spectral dimensions simultaneously by using laser sources with distinct spectral scan bands. The intracavity combiner and shared reflector enable these different spectral dimensions to coexist and be detected together, achieving high spectral resolution without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Speed
If high speed tuning is achieved using short laser cavities, then speed is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser sources with short cavities into a single integrated system. By merging the sources and using shared components like the reflector and combiner, the system achieves high speed tuning through the short cavities while managing manufacturing precision requirements through the unified design approach.
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
This configuration achieves higher speed and spectral resolution, reduces system complexity, and improves polarization diversity detection, enabling more efficient and accurate optical coherence tomography imaging.
Implementation Method 1
a first laser source generates a first tunable optical signal... the first laser source having first laser cavity defined by a first reflector and a shared reflector... An intracavity combiner located between the shared reflector and each of the first reflector and second reflector couples light to the shared reflector and back into the first laser cavity and the second laser cavity
Implementation Method 2
incorporating birefringence compensation for improved polarization control
Implementation Method 3
a first laser source generates a first tunable optical signal... the first laser source including a first gain element for amplifying light in the first laser cavity
Data Source
AI summary
An optical coherence analysis system comprising: a first swept source that generates a first optical signal that is tuned over a first spectral scan band, a second swept source that generates a second optical signal that is tuned over a second spectral scan band, a combiner for combining the first optical signal and the second optical signal for form a combined optical signal, an interferometer for dividing the combined optical signal between a reference arm leading to a reference reflector and a sample arm leading to a sample, and a detector system for detecting an interference signal generated from the combined optical signal from the reference arm and from the sample arm. In embodiments, the swept sources are tunable lasers that have shared laser cavities.