Patent ID: 9228936
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method of adapting a birefringence measurement system for measuring beam spreading samples, wherein the system has an optical setup having primary components that include a light source for directing a source beam of light through a sample to propagate from the sample as a sampled beam of light, a detector module that includes an entrance aperture, a photoelastic modulator (PEM), and a detector that has active area for receiving the sampled beam of light for detecting an intensity thereof, the method comprising steps of: placing a first sample in a path of the source beam of light, the sample being such that it does not spread the sampled beam of light; detecting light passing through the first sample for use in measuring the birefringence of the first sample; replacing the first sample with a second sample that spreads the sampled beam of light; focusing the spread, sampled beam of light to have the focused light impinge upon the active area of the detector; and detecting the light impinging upon the active area for use in measuring the birefringence of the second sample.