Patent ID: 9429514
Filing Date: 2016-08-30
CPC Classification: G01J,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method for determining the optical quality of an optical element, the optical element having proximal and distal end portions, comprising: providing at least one non-polarizing beam splitter; providing at least one polarizing beam splitter; providing at least a first detector operatively associated with the at least one non-polarizing beam splitter; providing at least a second detector operatively associated with the at least one polarizing beam splitter; the method comprising: transmitting at least one beam of coherent light energy through the at least one non-polarizing beam splitter and through the at least one polarizing beam splitter, the beam being directed to the proximal and distal end portions of the optical element; the beam of coherent light energy reflected from the proximal end portion of the optical element being directed back through the at least one polarizing and the at least one non-polarizing beam splitters to the first detector; the beam reflected from the distal end portion of the optical element being directed back through the at least one polarized beam splitter to the second detector; wherein the energy level detected by the first and the second detectors provides a measure of optical quality of the optical element.