Multi-mode frequency sweeping interferometer and method of using same
Publication number: 9,857,160
Application number: 14/494,878
A multi-mode frequency sweeping interferometer has a single measurement light producing device configured to produce a coherent light source consisting of a single light beam. The single measurement light producing device transitions the single light beam between a fixed light beam and a scanning wavelength light beam. A primary beam splitter produces a first reference beam and a first measurement beam from said single light beam. The first reference beam is configured to travel a fixed path length to a primary reference reflector and the first measurement beam is configured to travel to and from a moveable reflective target over an unknown path length. A first interferometer is created by interfering the first reference beam with the first measurement beam and one or more optoelectronic devices may be configured to determine a measured distance to the movable reflective target.