Method and an apparatus for shape measurement, and a frequency comb light generator

• US 7,440,112 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Original Assignee: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, National University Corporation (University of Fukui)
• Inventors: Kurokawa, Takashi, Tanaka, Yousuke, Shiota, Tatsutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyons; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US11/659,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20080018906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 356/477, 356/491, 356/492, 356/495, 250/227.19, 250/227.27, 385/12
• US Class Current: 356/495
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2441 using interferometry

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for shape measurement that is able to observe the deep portion under a skin with high spatial resolution by using a frequency COMB light generator is provided. A frequency COMB light generator for generating multiple frequency COMBs with variable frequency pitch at high operation stability is provided.

This apparatus for shape measurement comprises a frequency COMB light generator and an optical interferometer for measuring the distance. The frequency COMB light generator includes a laser light source 11, an optical resonator 13, a COMB pitch regulator 14 and an output port OUT. The optical resonator 13 includes an optical modulator 131, a first mirror M11, an optical fiber F13 which is drawn out from alight waveguide of the optical modulator. The COMB pitch regulator 14 is a modulation signal generator for varying the modulation signal. The optical fiber F13 is equipped with an apparatus (Faraday rotation mirror) for compensating a change in the polarization condition.

Claims

1. A method for shape measurement comprising the steps of:

generating a frequency COMB light by inputting a laser light from a laser light source into an optical fiber which compensates a change in the polarization condition and maintains the polarization, and has a first mirror and a second mirror which are positioned with a resonant distance in between and modulating the laser light transmitting between the first mirror and the second mirror using a modulation electrode; and

measuring a shape of an measured object using an optical interferometer by inputting the frequency COMB light into the optical interferometer for distance measurement, wherein further comprising the step of;

regulating an observation depth by varying the modulation signal applied to the modulation electrode so that a frequency pitch of frequency COMBs which constitutes the frequency COMB light is varied.

2. A method for shape measurement of claim 1 wherein, the optical interferometer performs a light detection by splitting the frequency COMB light into two parts using an optical splitter, outputting one part to a fixed reference mirror, outputting the other part toward the measured object, and combining the light reflected from the fixed reference mirror and the light reflected from the measured object using the optical splitter.

3. A method for shape measurement of claim 2 wherein, the frequency COMB light combined by the optical splitter is detected by an image sensor which functions as the optical detector or an image sensor which is positioned separate from the optical detector, and the focal point of the frequency COMB light which is output toward the measured object is regulated by a variable focal point lens positioned between the optical splitter and the measured object.

4. An apparatus for shape measurement comprising:

a frequency comb light generator including;

a laser light source;

an optical resonator for generating a frequency COMB light from the laser light which is output by the laser light source;

a COMB pitch regulator for varying the frequency pitch of a frequency COMBs which constitutes the frequency COMB light; and

an output port for outputting a resonant output from the optical resonator; and

an optical interferometer for measuring the distance which uses the frequency COMB light generator as a light source, wherein

the optical resonator includes;

an optical modulator for modulating the light by a modulation electrode;

a first mirror which is positioned at one end of a light waveguide of the optical modulator;

an optical fiber which is drawn out form the other end of the waveguide of the optical modulator;

a second mirror which is positioned at the end of optical fiber,

the COMB pitch regulator is a modulation signal generator for varying the modulation signal which is fed to the modulation electrode, and

the second mirror is an apparatus for compensating the change in the polarization condition, or

the optical fiber is a polarization maintaining fiber.

5. An apparatus for shape measurement of claim 4, wherein the optical interferometer comprises an optical splitter, a fixed reference mirror and an optical detector, the frequency COMB light from the frequency comb light generator is split into two parts by the optical splitter, one part is output to the fixed reference mirror, the other part is output to the measured object, the reflected light from the fixed reference mirror is combined with the reflected light from the measured object by the optical splitter, and the combined light is output to the optical detector.

6. An apparatus for shape measurement of claim 5 wherein, the optical interferometer is a spatial optical system and the optical splitter is a half mirror, or the optical interferometer is an optical fiber system and the optical splitter is an optical fiber splitter.

7. An apparatus for shape measurement of claim 6 wherein, the frequency COMB light combined by the optical splitter is detected by an image sensor which functions as the optical detector or an image sensor which is positioned separate from the optical detector,

the focal point of the frequency COMB light which is output toward the measured object is regulated by a variable focal point lens which is positioned between the optical splitter and the measured object.

8. An apparatus for shape measurement of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is an optical coherence tomography system.

9. A frequency COMB light generator comprising:

a laser light source;

an optical resonator for generating a frequency COMB light from the laser light which is output by the laser light source;

a COMB pitch regulator for varying the frequency pitch of a frequency COMBs which constitutes the frequency COMB light; and

an output port for outputting a resonant output from the optical resonator; and

wherein the laser light which is output from the laser light source is modulated so that the frequency has a predetermined width,

the optical resonator includes;

an optical modulator for modulating the light by a modulation electrode;

a first mirror which is positioned at one end of a light waveguide of the optical modulator;

an optical fiber which is drawn out form the other end of the light waveguide of the optical modulator;

a second mirror which is positioned at the end of optical fiber,

the COMB pitch regulator is a modulation signal generator for varying the modulation signal which is fed to the modulation electrode, and

the second mirror is an apparatus for compensating the change in the polarization condition, or

the optical fiber is a polarization maintaining fiber.

10. A frequency COMB light generator of claim 9 wherein further comprising:

a circulator having a first port, a second port and a third port which is positioned between the laser light source and the optical resonator, the laser light source is connected to the first port through an optical fiber, the optical resonator is connected to the second port through a polarization maintaining fiber, and the third port is the output port for the frequency COMB light,

the first mirror is positioned on the light waveguide of the optical modulator at the side of the circulator,

the second mirror is a Faraday rotation mirror, and positioned at the end of a predetermined length of the optical fiber which has no polarization maintaining function, the optical fiber is connected to the light waveguide of the optical modulator at the opposite side of the first mirror.

11. A frequency COMB light generator of claim 10, wherein the optical fiber is equipped with an optical fiber amplifier.

12. A frequency COMB light generator of claim 9, wherein further comprising:

an isolator having two ports which is positioned between a laser light source and an optical resonator, the laser light source is connected to one port through an optical fiber, the optical resonator is connected to the other port through a polarization maintaining fiber, wherein

the first mirror is positioned on the light waveguide of the optical modulator at the side of the other port of the isolator,

the second mirror is an output port for the frequency COMB light, and positioned at the end of a predetermined length of a polarization maintaining fiber, the optical fiber is connected to the light waveguide of the optical modulator at the opposite side of the first mirror,

a polarization maintaining fiber amplifier is mounted on the polarization maintaining fiber.