Interferometric optical assemblies and systems including interferometric optical assemblies
First Claim
1. An assembly, comprising:
- a first polarizing beam splitter positioned in the paths of a pair of initial beams, the polarizing beam splitter being configured to combine the pair of initial beams to form an input beam;
an interferometer positioned to receive the input beam and configured to produce an output beam that comprises information about an optical path difference between the paths of two component beams derived from the input beam; and
a second polarizing beam splitter positioned in the path of the output beam and configured to split the output beam into a pair of secondary output beams that each comprise information about the optical path difference between the component beam paths;
wherein the first and second polarizing beam splitters each comprise a respective Wollaston prism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In general, in one aspect, the invention features assemblies that include a first polarizing beam splitter positioned in the paths of a pair of initial beams, the polarizing beam splitter being configured to combine the pair of initial beams to form an input beam. The assemblies further include an interferometer positioned to receive the input beam and configured to produce an output beam that includes information about an optical path difference between the paths of two component beams derived from the input beam. A second polarizing beam splitter is positioned in the path of the output beam and configured to split the output beam into a pair of secondary output beams that each include information about the optical path difference between the component beam paths.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An assembly, comprising:
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a first polarizing beam splitter positioned in the paths of a pair of initial beams, the polarizing beam splitter being configured to combine the pair of initial beams to form an input beam; an interferometer positioned to receive the input beam and configured to produce an output beam that comprises information about an optical path difference between the paths of two component beams derived from the input beam; and a second polarizing beam splitter positioned in the path of the output beam and configured to split the output beam into a pair of secondary output beams that each comprise information about the optical path difference between the component beam paths; wherein the first and second polarizing beam splitters each comprise a respective Wollaston prism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification