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Velocity compensated frequency sweeping interferometer and method of using same

  • US 9,857,159 B1
  • Filed: 09/24/2014
  • Issued: 01/02/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A velocity-compensated frequency sweeping interferometer comprising:

  • a) a single measurement light producing device that produces a coherent light source consisting of a single outgoing light beam;

    wherein said single measurement light producing device produces a scanning wavelength light beam;

    b) a first distance measurement interferometer comprising;

    one or more optics;

    whereby said single outgoing light beam is split by a first splitter to produce a first reference beam and a first measurement beam;

    whereby said first reference beam is configured to travel a path of fixed distance to and from a first reference reflector;

    whereby said first measurement beam is configured to travel to a moveable reflective target of unknown distance and reflect back from said moveable reflective target as a return beam;

    whereby said first reference beam and said return beam are combined by an interference optics to produce an interference beam;

    c) one or more optoelectronic components that convert said interference beam into one or more first electrical signals;

    d) a digitizing electronics feature that produces one or more first digital values of said first electrical signals;

    e) a processor coupled to said digitizing electronics feature and said single measurement light producing device;

    whereby said processor receives said one or more of first digital values and calculates a distance to said moveable reflective target;

    whereby said processor sends frequency control instructions to said single measurement light producing device to change the frequency of said scanning wavelength light beam;

    whereby said velocity-compensated frequency sweeping interferometer operates in an absolute distance mode to provide an absolute distance measurement to said moveable reflective target using a frequency scanning interferometer,f) a return frequency measurement device that is a separate device from the first distance measurement interferometer, and comprising;

    one or more optics configured in the path of the return beam to produce a return frequency measurement beam;

    one or more optics configured in the path of said return frequency measurement beam configured to measure a return beam frequency;

    whereby a change in the optical frequency between the single outgoing light beam and the return beam is measured and used to calculate the velocity of the moveable reflective target; and

    whereby said processor compensates for the calculated velocity to the moveable target in the calculated distance to said moveable reflective target.

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