Patent US4272762A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3873207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Polarizing interferometer
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1973-03-09
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-03-09
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a polarizing interferometer which allows for the shift in the location of the interferogram fringes. At least a pair of polarizers are located in the optical path from the object to the interferogram plane between which is an imaging lens, a beam splitter, and a quater-wave plate. Interferograms are imaged onto an image plane of the object by this interferometer. The use of the quarter-wave plate allows the production of interferograms in the image plane regardless of the rotational positioning of the second polarizer in relation to the first. If monochromatic light illuminates the object and the second polarizer which follows the quarter-wave plate is rotated, then fringes in the interferogram are continuously moved to new positions. If white light illuminates the object and no fringes are present in the image plane, hypersensitive interference colors may be developed in the image plane by substituting a Fresnel rhomb for the quarter-wave plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Olof Bryngdahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B9/00; G01B9/02; G01B9/02001; G01B9/02007; G01B9/02097; G01J; G01J9/00; G01J9/02; G01B2290/00; G01B2290/40; G01B2290/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising: means for illuminating said object with achromatic light, means for polarizing the illumination from said object, said polarizing means being positioned in the optical path between said object and said image plane, means for splitting said illumination into at least two beams of light directed toward said image plane, means for imaging said illumination such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane, and achromatic optical means for converting the polarized illumination into linearly polarized illumination prior to the formation of said interferogram.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising: means for illuminating said object with achromatic light, means for polarizing the illumination from said object, said polarizing means being positioned in the optical path between said object and said image plane, means for splitting said illumination into at least two beams of light directed toward said image plane, means for imaging said illumination such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane, and achromatic optical means for converting the polarized illumination into linearly polarized illumination prior to the formation of said interferogram.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said optical means is a Senarmont compensator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said polarizing means comprises at least two polarizers, one of which is disposed in the optical path to function as an analyzer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said compensator is an achromatic quarter-wave plate disposed between said polarizers in optical alignment with said polarizers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said compensator is angularly displaced from said polarizers at an angle different from 0* or 90*.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising the steps of: illuminating said object with achromatic light to provide a beam of light toward said image plane, polarizing the beam from said object, splitting said beam into at least two beams of radiation directed toward said image plane, imaging said light beam such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane, and compensating said directed light prior to the formation of said interferogram by further imaging said light beam with an achromatic compensator.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising the steps of: illuminating said object with achromatic light to provide a beam of light toward said image plane, polarizing the beam from said object, splitting said beam into at least two beams of radiation directed toward said image plane, imaging said light beam such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane, and compensating said directed light prior to the formation of said interferogram by further imaging said light beam with an achromatic compensator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said compensating step comprises positioning an achromatic quarter-wave plate in the optical path between said object and said image plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 wherein is further included the step of rotating said plate to provide varying interferogram fringe positions dependent upon the angular Position of said plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising: means for illuminating said object with achromatic light; a first polarizer disposed in the optical path between the object and the image plane; means for splitting the illumination from said object into at least two beams of light directed toward said image plane, said splitting means disposed in the optical path between said first polarizer and said image plane; a second polarizer disposed in the optical path between said splitting means and said image plane; means for imaging said illumination such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane; and an achromatic quarter-wave plate disposed in the optical path between said polarizers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising: means for illuminating said object with achromatic light; a first polarizer disposed in the optical path between the object and the image plane; means for splitting the illumination from said object into at least two beams of light directed toward said image plane, said splitting means disposed in the optical path between said first polarizer and said image plane; a second polarizer disposed in the optical path between said splitting means and said image plane; means for imaging said illumination such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane; and an achromatic quarter-wave plate disposed in the optical path between said polarizers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said second polarizer functions as an analyzer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said plate is angularly displaced from said polarizers at an angle different from 0* or 90*.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising: means for illuminanting said object with achromatic light; a first polarizer disposed in the optical path between the object and the image plane; means for splitting the illumination from said object into at least two beams of light directed toward said image plane, said splitting means disposed in the optical path between said first polarizer and said image plane; a second polarizer disposed in the optical path between said first polarizer and said image plane; means for imaging said ilumination such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane; and an achromatic quarter-wave plate disposed in the optical path between said polarizers, said plate being angularly displaced from said polarizers at an angle different from 0* or 90*.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising: means for illuminanting said object with achromatic light; a first polarizer disposed in the optical path between the object and the image plane; means for splitting the illumination from said object into at least two beams of light directed toward said image plane, said splitting means disposed in the optical path between said first polarizer and said image plane; a second polarizer disposed in the optical path between said first polarizer and said image plane; means for imaging said ilumination such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane; and an achromatic quarter-wave plate disposed in the optical path between said polarizers, said plate being angularly displaced from said polarizers at an angle different from 0* or 90*.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said second polarizer functions as an anlyzer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising the steps of: iluminating said object with achromatic light to provide a beam of light toward said image plane, polarizing the beam from said object with a pair of polarizers, splitting said beam into at least two beams of radiation directed toward said image plane, imaging said light beam such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane, compensating said directed light prior to the formation of said interferogram by further imaging said light beam with an achromatic compensator, and positioning said compensator between said polarizers at an angular displacement different from 0* or 90*.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of producing interferograms which have hypersensitive colors in an image plane from an illuminated object comprising the steps of: iluminating said object with achromatic light to provide a beam of light toward said image plane, polarizing the beam from said object with a pair of polarizers, splitting said beam into at least two beams of radiation directed toward said image plane, imaging said light beam such that said beams interfere with one another to produce an interferogram in said image plane, compensating said directed light prior to the formation of said interferogram by further imaging said light beam with an achromatic compensator, and positioning said compensator between said polarizers at an angular displacement different from 0* or 90*.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said compensating step comprises positioning an achromatic quarter-wave plate in the optical path between said object and said image plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15 wherein is further included the step of rotating said plate to provide varying interferogram fringe positions dependent upon the angular position of said plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |