OCT Reference Light Phase Modulation for Boundary Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements are hindered by boundary reflected light, which acts as noise and reduces observation accuracy, particularly at interfaces like glass or plastic culture vessels and human skin, due to its higher intensity compared to signal light from internal structures.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a phase distribution orthogonal to the optical axis in the reference light to selectively attenuate or remove boundary reflected light, using a conical phase distribution within the luminous flux of the reference light to reduce interference with signal light from internal structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If boundary reflected light is used as reference light in OCT, then the intensity of reference light is increased, but observation accuracy is reduced due to noise and crosstalk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different phase distributions to different spatial regions of the reference light. Specifically, a first phase distribution is applied to reference light in a first region and a second phase distribution is applied to reference light in a second region, allowing selective attenuation of boundary reflected light while maintaining adequate reference light intensity for interference measurement. This resolves the contradiction by making the reference light non-uniform in phase rather than uniform in intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the phase parameter of the reference light by applying different phase distributions (first phase distribution and second phase distribution) to different regions. This phase modulation selectively attenuates boundary reflected light components while preserving the interference signal quality, thereby improving observation accuracy without sacrificing reference light intensity.
2Power
If boundary reflected light is included in reference light, then the signal strength is increased, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to crosstalk from boundary reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different phase distributions to different spatial regions of the reference light. Specifically, a first phase distribution is applied to reference light in a first region and a second phase distribution is applied to reference light in a second region, allowing selective attenuation of boundary reflected light while maintaining adequate reference light intensity for interference measurement. This resolves the contradiction by making the reference light non-uniform in phase rather than uniform in intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the phase parameter of the reference light by applying different phase distributions (first phase distribution and second phase distribution) to different regions. This phase modulation selectively attenuates boundary reflected light components while preserving the interference signal quality, thereby improving observation accuracy without sacrificing reference light intensity.
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 significantly reduces the influence of boundary reflected light, enhancing the accuracy of OCT measurements by improving the correlation between signal and reference light, thereby improving the quality of detected signals from internal structures.
Implementation Method 1
the implementation of a phase distribution orthogonal to the optical axis in the reference light to selectively attenuate or remove boundary reflected light
Implementation Method 2
The signal light reflected from the observation object and the reference light are combined and interfere with each other, whereby a signal is obtained
Data Source
AI summary
By utilizing the fact that the observation object has a three-dimensional shape and the boundary surface can be regarded as a plane surface, phase or intensity distribution is applied into a luminous flux of reference light, thereby selectively attenuating the influence of the reflected light from the boundary surface so as to obtain a high-quality OCT image.