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Technique for achieving preferred optical alignment in a scanning interferometer

  • US 5,657,122 A
  • Filed: 06/06/1995
  • Issued: 08/12/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling the alignment of an optical instrument having an adjustable element, the method comprising the steps of:

  • in a first stage,providing a servo that generates an alignment error signal representing an orientation of the adjustable element, monitors the alignment error signal, and moves the adjustable element in response to the alignment error signal in a manner tending to null the alignment error signal and thus providing an orientation of the adjustment element that maximizes a first performance criterion of the optical instrument,providing a mechanism to modify at least one electrical signal in the servo by modifying a value of an adjustable input parameter so that when the servo operates in a manner tending to null the alignment error signal, a modified orientation of the adjustable element results, which modified orientation no longer maximizes the first performance criterion,with the servo operating, measuring a second performance criterion of the optical instrument for a plurality of values of the input parameter, the second performance criterion being different from the first performance criterion,determining a value of the input parameter that maximizes the second performance criterion, andsetting the input parameter to the value, so determined; and

    in a second, subsequent stage,operating the optical instrument using the servo whereby the servo operates to maintain the adjustable element in an orientation that maximizes the second performance criterion.

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