×

Optical imaging apparatus

  • US 6,809,866 B2
  • Filed: 07/29/2002
  • Issued: 10/26/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An optical imaging apparatus comprising:

  • a low-coherence optical system which guides low-coherence light from a low-coherence light source to a subject portion and further guides return light from the subject portion to light receiving means;

    light separating means arranged to said low-coherence optical system, which separates the low-coherence light from said low-coherence light source into instrumentation light and reference light;

    horizontal scanning means arranged to said low-coherence optical system, which horizontally scans said subject portion with the instrumentation light separated by said light separating means;

    reference light reflecting means arranged to said low-coherence optical system, which reflects the reference light separated by said light separating means and returns the reflected light to said light separating means;

    an objective optical system arranged to said low-coherence optical system, which condenses the instrumentation light horizontally scanned by said horizontal scanning means to said subject portion and further captures return instrumentation-light from said subject portion;

    optical path length interlockingly adjusting means which interlockingly matches the length of an optical path of said instrumentation light to that of said reference light;

    a single drive system that simultaneously drives both said objective optical system and said reference light reflecting means; and

    signal processing means which performs signal processing of an electronic signal converted photoelectrically by said light receiving means and obtains a surface image or a tomogram of said subject portion.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×