Circle-to-line interferometer optical system
First Claim
1. An optical system for converting information in the form of a circular ring of electromagnetic radiation to a linear form, the optical system comprising:
- reflector means having a reflective surface configured at least in part as an internal conical surface, for receiving and reflecting the electromagnetic radiation; and
linear detector means arranged to receive the electromagnetic radiation reflected by said reflective surface of said reflector means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical system employs an internally conical reflector for converting circular fringe information, such as that which is produced by a Fabry-Perot Interferometer, into linear information whereby the reflected light can be received by conventional linear array detectors, such as charge coupled device which are used in spectroscopic analysis. The azimuthal angle of the detected circular fringe pattern is reduced with the use of a tele-kaleidoscope having a predetermined arrangement of mirrors. Electromagnetic energy which is issued from the interferometer is propagated substantially along the conical axis of the cone of which the reflector forms a segment, and is reflected and focused substantially onto a line in the vicinity of the conical axis, where the linear detector is situated. In a preferred embodiment, the apex of the cone is situated where the conical axis intersects the focal plane of the circular fringe pattern.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An optical system for converting information in the form of a circular ring of electromagnetic radiation to a linear form, the optical system comprising:
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reflector means having a reflective surface configured at least in part as an internal conical surface, for receiving and reflecting the electromagnetic radiation; and linear detector means arranged to receive the electromagnetic radiation reflected by said reflective surface of said reflector means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical system for converting information in the form of a circular ring of electromagnetic radiation to a linear form, the optical system comprising:
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kaleidoscopic means having a plurality of reflector members for determining a segment of the circular ring of the electromagnetic radiation; conical reflector means having a reflective surface configured substantially as an internal conical surface, for receiving and reflecting said segment of the circular ring of the electromagnetic radiation; and linear detector means arranged to receive the electromagnetic radiation reflected by said reflective surface of said reflector means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of converting circular interferometric information into electrical information, the method comprising the steps of:
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reflecting a light signal containing the circular interferometric information from a conical reflector; and receiving said reflected light signal at a linear detector which converts said reflected light signal into a corresponding electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification