Patent ID: 6806960
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
A multi-axis interferometer comprising:a first beam splitter system aligned to receive an input beam and separate the input beam into a first beam and a second beam; a first reflector system positioned to receive the first beam from the first beam splitter system, the first reflector system directing the first beam back to the first beam splitter system; a second reflector system positioned to receive the second beam from the first beam splitter system, the second reflector system directing the second beam back to the first beam splitter system, whereupon the first beam splitter system forms a combined beam in which central axes of the first and second beams are parallel and walked-off from each other by a distance that depends on relative misalignment of the first and second reflector systems; a return reflector positioned to receive the combined beam from the first beam splitter system; and a second beam splitter system positioned to receive at least a portion of the combined beam from the return reflector, wherein the second beam splitter system splits the portion received into a plurality of separated beams that are directed into the first beam splitter system.