Patent ID: 7126693
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: A61B,G01B,G01M,G01N

Abstract:
1. An optical coherence domain reflectometry (OCDR) system comprising: a. a source arm with a light source; b. a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) having an input port optically connected to said source and two output ports; c. a non-polarizing beam splitter having an input port optically connected to an output port of said polarizing beam splitter, said non-polarizing beam splitter having two output ports; d. a sample arm leading to a sample, and optically connected to a first output port of said non-polarizing beam splitter; e. a reference arm leading to a reflector, and optically connected to a second output port of said non-polarizing beam splitter; f. a polarization manipulator for rotating the polarization of light waves returning from the sample and reference arms to an orthogonal direction, said polarization manipulator being defined by either a single element located in between said polarizing beam splitter and said non-polarizing beam splitter or by two elements, one each in said sample arm and reference arm respectively; and g. a detector collecting light combined by said non-polarizing beam splitter from said sample and reference arms, returned to said polarizing beam splitter in an orthogonal polarization state, and directed through a second output port of said polarizing beam splitter to a detector arm for interference signal detection and processing.