Method of detecting a movement of a measuring probe and measuring instrument
First Claim
1. A method of detecting a movement of a measuring probe provided between an objective lens adapted to image an object plane on a predetermined image plane and said object plane, comprising:
- splitting an input beam of light into a measurement beam and a reference beam;
focusing said measurement beam to a point lying in a reverse focal plane of said objective lens such that said measurement beam is collimated by said objective lens;
reflecting said collimated measurement beam at said measuring probe, said reflected measurement beam being directed towards said objective lens such that said objective lens focuses said reflected measurement beam to a point lying in said reverse focal plane;
collimating said reflected measurement beam;
superimposing said collimated reflected measurement beam and said reference beam to form a superimposed beam; and
detecting an interference between said reflected measurement beam and said reference beam.
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Abstract
A method of detecting a movement of a measuring probe provided between an objective lens adapted to image an object plane on a predetermined image plane and the object plane is disclosed. Additionally, a measuring instrument comprising an objective lens and a measuring probe is disclosed. An input beam of light is split into a measurement beam and a reference beam. The measurement beam is focused on a reverse focal plane of the objective lens such that the measurement beam is collimated by the objective lens. The collimated measurement beam is reflected at the measuring probe. The reflected measurement beam is directed towards the objective lens such that the objective lens focuses the reflected measurement beam on the reverse focal plane. The reflected measurement beam is collimated. The collimated reference beam and the reference beam are superimposed to form a superimposed beam and an interference between the reflected measurement beam and the reference beam is detected.
32 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of detecting a movement of a measuring probe provided between an objective lens adapted to image an object plane on a predetermined image plane and said object plane, comprising:
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splitting an input beam of light into a measurement beam and a reference beam; focusing said measurement beam to a point lying in a reverse focal plane of said objective lens such that said measurement beam is collimated by said objective lens; reflecting said collimated measurement beam at said measuring probe, said reflected measurement beam being directed towards said objective lens such that said objective lens focuses said reflected measurement beam to a point lying in said reverse focal plane; collimating said reflected measurement beam; superimposing said collimated reflected measurement beam and said reference beam to form a superimposed beam; and detecting an interference between said reflected measurement beam and said reference beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A measuring instrument, comprising:
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an objective lens adapted to image an object plane on a predetermined image plane; a light source adapted to emit an input beam; a beam splitter adapted to split said input beam into a measurement beam and a reference beam; at least one optical element that focuses said measurement beam to a point lying in a reverse focal plane of said objective lens such that said measurement beam is collimated by said objective lens; a reference reflector adapted to reflect said reference beam towards said beam splitter; and a measuring probe having a reflective element located between said objective lens and said object plane, wherein said reflective element is adapted to reflect said collimated measurement beam back towards said objective lens such that said objective lens focuses said reflected measurement beam to a point lying in said reverse focal plane and said at least one optical element redirects said reflected measurement beam towards said beam splitter;
whereinsaid beam splitter is adapted to superimpose said reflected reference beam and said reflected measurement beam to form a superimposed beam; and said measuring instrument further comprises at least one light detector that detects an interference of said reflected reference beam and said reflected measurement beam superimposed with each other. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification