EP1520151B1

Cyclic error compensation in interferometry systems

Abstract

This record has no abstract on file.

EP1520151B1, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 115

Term

Term ended

Expired 8 July 2023, 3.2 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Expired
  5. Today

51 claims: 2 independent, 49 dependent

  1. 1
    A method, comprising:providing an interference signal S ( t ) from two beams derived from a common source and directed along different paths, wherein the signal S ( t ) is indicative of changes in an optical path difference nL̃ ( t ) between the different paths, where n is an average refractive index along the different paths, L̃ ( t ) is a total physical path difference between the different paths, and t is time;providing one or more coefficients representative of one or more cyclic errors that cause the signal S ( t ) to deviate from an ideal expression of the form A 1 cos ( ω R t + ϕ ( t )+ ζ 1 ), where A 1 and ζ 1 are constants, ω R is an angular frequency difference between the two beams, and ϕ ( t ) = nkL̃ ( t ), with k = 2 π / λ and λ equal to a wavelength for the beams;calculating a function of prior values of the signal S ( t );and reducing the deviation of S ( t ) from the ideal expression using an error signal S ψ ( t ) generated from the coefficients and error basis functions derived at least in part from the function of prior values of the signal S ( t ).
  2. 37
    An apparatus, comprising:an interferometry system which during operation directs two beams derived from a common source along different paths and provides an interference signal S ( t ) from the two beams, wherein the signal S ( t ) is indicative of changes in an optical path difference nL̃ ( t ) between the different paths, where n is an average refractive index along the different paths, L̃ ( t ) is a total physical path difference between the different paths, and t is time, wherein imperfections in the interferometry system produce one or more cyclic errors that cause the signal S ( t ) to deviate from an ideal expression of the form A 1 cos ( ω R t + ϕ ( t )+ ζ 1 ), where A 1 and ζ 1 are constants, ω R is an angular frequency difference between the two beams, and ϕ ( t ) = nkL̃ ( t ), with k = 2 π / λ and λ equal to a wavelength for the beams;and an electronic processor which during operation receives the interference signal S ( t ) from the interferometry system, receives one or more coefficients representative of the one or more cyclic errors, calculates a function of prior values of the signal S ( t ), and reduces the deviation of S ( t ) from the ideal expression using an error signal S ψ ( t ) generated from the coefficients and error basis functions derived at least in part from the function of prior values of the signal S ( t ).