Fabry-perot fourier transform spectrometer
First Claim
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1. A Fourier transform spectrometer, comprising:
- a Fabry-Perot interferometer to create a spatial domain interference pattern using input light;
a detector positioned with respect to the Fabry-Perot interferometer to capture an image of the spatial domain interference pattern, the detector comprising a plurality of detection elements, and defining an optical axis that is orthogonal to the detector; and
a processor that is communicatively coupled to the detector, the processor being configured to process the spatial domain interference pattern image using a frequency domain transform to determine information about the spectral content of the light,wherein the Fabry-Perot interferometer comprises first and second optical surfaces that are partially transmissive and partially reflective to the light, the first and second optical surfaces defining a resonant cavity therebetween, the distance between the first and second optical surfaces being spatially variable in a first transverse direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis, and the first and second optical surfaces having a reflectance in the range of 20-60%.
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Abstract
A spatial Fourier transform spectrometer is disclosed. The Fourier transform spectrometer includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer with first and second optical surfaces. The gap between the first and second optical surfaces spatially varies in a direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis of the Fourier transform spectrometer. The Fabry-Perot interferometer creates an interference pattern from input light. An image of the interference pattern is captured by a detector, which is communicatively coupled to a processor. The processor is configured to process the interference pattern image to determine information about the spectral content of the input light.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A Fourier transform spectrometer, comprising:
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a Fabry-Perot interferometer to create a spatial domain interference pattern using input light; a detector positioned with respect to the Fabry-Perot interferometer to capture an image of the spatial domain interference pattern, the detector comprising a plurality of detection elements, and defining an optical axis that is orthogonal to the detector; and a processor that is communicatively coupled to the detector, the processor being configured to process the spatial domain interference pattern image using a frequency domain transform to determine information about the spectral content of the light, wherein the Fabry-Perot interferometer comprises first and second optical surfaces that are partially transmissive and partially reflective to the light, the first and second optical surfaces defining a resonant cavity therebetween, the distance between the first and second optical surfaces being spatially variable in a first transverse direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis, and the first and second optical surfaces having a reflectance in the range of 20-60%. - 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)
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25. A method of determining the spectral content of input light, the method comprising:
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creating a spatial domain interference pattern from input light using a Fabry-Perot interferometer; creating a spatial domain interference pattern image using a detector that is positioned with respect to the Fabry-Perot interferometer to capture an image of the spatial domain interference pattern, the detector comprising a plurality of detection elements, and defining an optical axis that is orthogonal to the detector; and processing the spatial domain interference pattern image using a processor to perform a frequency domain transform to determine information about the spectral content of the light, wherein the Fabry-Perot interferometer comprises first and second optical surfaces that are partially transmissive and partially reflective to the light, the first and second optical surfaces defining a resonant cavity therebetween, the distance between the first and second optical surfaces being spatially variable in a first transverse direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis, the first and second optical surfaces having a reflectance in the range of 20-60%, and wherein the with a frequency domain transform interference pattern image is captured during a period of time in which characteristics of the Fabry-Perot interferometer are not intentionally varied. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification