Interferometer System Common Beam Splitter Reference Reflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional displacement measuring interferometers face measurement errors and inaccuracies due to each device being referenced to a different polarizing beam splitter and reference reflector, leading to difficulties in determining target movement and increasing the expense and complexity of the system.
Innovation Solution
An interferometer system configured to measure multiple targets using a common polarizing beam splitter and a common reference reflector, allowing each interferometer device to share a single beam splitter and reference reflector, reducing errors and simplifying the system architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If each interferometer device uses a separate polarizing beam splitter and reference reflector, then each device can independently measure its target, but measurement errors and inaccuracies increase due to lack of common reference
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple interferometer devices share a common polarizing beam splitter and common reference reflector, merging previously separate components into shared resources. This reduces the total number of components while maintaining independent measurement capabilities for multiple targets, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The common polarizing beam splitter and common reference reflector serve multiple interferometer devices simultaneously, making these components universal rather than dedicated to single devices. This multi-functionality approach allows one set of reference components to support multiple measurement channels, improving accuracy through consistent referencing while reducing overall system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple polarizing beam splitters and reference reflectors are used, then each interferometer can operate independently, but the number of components and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate polarizing beam splitters and reference reflectors into shared common components that serve multiple interferometer devices. This consolidation reduces the total component count while the system architecture maintains independent measurement paths to each target, preserving adaptability while eliminating redundant components
Solution Approach 2:
The common polarizing beam splitter and reference reflector are designed to universally serve multiple interferometer devices simultaneously. Each device can independently measure its target while sharing these universal reference components, achieving both independent operation capability and reduced component quantity
3Reliability
If each interferometer has its own reference reflector, then measurement independence is maintained, but structural integrity of the environmental chamber decreases due to multiple ports
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple interferometer measurement paths are merged to share a single common reference reflector located within the environmental chamber. This consolidation reduces the number of ports required in the chamber from multiple separate access points to a single shared port, thereby improving structural integrity while maintaining measurement independence through separate measurement paths to different targets
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 approach enhances the accuracy of displacement measurements, reduces the number of components and costs, and increases the structural integrity of the environmental chamber by allowing precise determination of target movement and reducing the need for multiple ports.
Implementation Method 1
a polarizing beam splitter to direct the measurement and reference beams to the measurement and reference objects, respectively
Implementation Method 2
The overlapping exit beams form an output beam that subsequently passes through a polarizer. The polarizer mixes polarizations of the exit measurement and reference beams to form a mixed beam. Components of the exit measurement and reference beams in the mixed beam interfere with one another so that the intensity of the mixed beam varies with the relative phase
Implementation Method 3
If the lengths of the measurement and reference paths are changing relative to one another, the measured beat frequency includes a Doppler shift equal to 2vnp/λ, where v is the relative speed of the measurement and reference objects
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for an interferometer system. An interferometer system may comprise a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source of the plurality is configured to transmit a source beam. The interferometer system may also include an interferometer including a polarizing beam splitter and a reference reflector. The interferometer is configured to receive the source beam and transmit a measurement beam to a target reflector and a reference beam to the reference reflector. Additionally, the interferometer system may include a plurality of receivers, wherein each receiver of the plurality is associated with a light source and configured to receive a mixed beam comprising a reflected measurement beam and a reflected reference beam. Moreover, the interferometer is configured to receive at least one source beam at an angle with respect to an axis perpendicular to a side of the interferometer configured to receive the source beam.