Optical cavity system having an orthogonal input
First Claim
1. A method for sensing comprising:
- providing light from a source to an input of a chamber having a closed light path formed by three or more mirrors, in a direction parallel to a normal of the input; and
detecting light from the light path through an output of the chamber; and
wherein;
the light is provided into the light path of the chamber via a refracting optics and the input;
the input is for conveying the light into the light path through a mirror of the three or more mirrors;
the mirror of the three or more mirrors comprises a planar surface; and
the normal of the input is perpendicular to the planar surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical system having a closed loop light path with a source for providing light in a direction parallel to the normal of an input to the light path. The light may be provided via a refracting mechanism to the input. The system may be a cavity ring-down sensor or some other optical device. The light path may be formed in a laser gyroscope type cavity. A light source may have a beam aligned to a spot, indicator or indicator or mark may be determined in accordance with parameters of the refracting mechanism and/or cavity. A fixture for holding the light source may be secured so that placement of the source in the fixture will automatically result in an aligned light source. Then the refracting mechanism may be inserted to further complete fabrication of the optical system.
110 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for sensing comprising:
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providing light from a source to an input of a chamber having a closed light path formed by three or more mirrors, in a direction parallel to a normal of the input; and detecting light from the light path through an output of the chamber; and wherein; the light is provided into the light path of the chamber via a refracting optics and the input; the input is for conveying the light into the light path through a mirror of the three or more mirrors; the mirror of the three or more mirrors comprises a planar surface; and the normal of the input is perpendicular to the planar surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sensor system comprising:
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a cavity having a ring-like light path of three or more mirrors for propagation of light; an optical input connected to a first mirror of the three or more mirrors for entering light into the ring-like path of the cavity; a light refracting prism optically connected to the input; and a source for providing light to the prism, the light having a direction approximately parallel to a normal of the input; and wherein; the first mirror has a planar reflecting surface; and the normal of the input is perpendicular to the planar reflecting surface. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An optical system comprising:
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a cavity having three or more corners for providing a closed 1oop light path in the cavity, each corner having a reflecting surface; and a refracting mechanism; and wherein; at least one reflecting surface comprises an optical lane and an input port; the refracting mechanism has a first surface proximate to the optical plane and input port of the at least one reflecting surface; the refracting mechanism has a second surface for receiving a light beam parallel to a normal to the optical plane of the at least one reflecting surface; and the refracting mechanism is for refracting the light beam through the optical plane and input port to be in a direction parallel to a proximate portion of the light path in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification