Patent ID: 6577400
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G01B,G01M,G03F

Abstract:
Interferometer for measuring a phase difference between a reference beam and an object beam transformed by an optical element, comprising:light source means, for generating the object beam and the reference beam, an optical device, for allowing the transformed object beam and the reference beam to interfere in a detection plane, and detection means, for detecting the phase difference between wave fronts of the transformed object beam and the reference beam in the detection plane, wherein the optical device comprises: a first light conductor having an input surface that couples the object beam generated by the light source means into the first light conductor and having a first output surface that generates an object beam having a spherical wave front, a second light conductor having an input surface that couples the reference beam generated by the light source means into the second light conductor and having a second output surface that generates a reference beam having a spherical wave front, the reference beam being directed onto the detection plane, and wherein the arrangement of the first light conductor and the optical element is such that the transformed object beam directly interferes with the reference beam in the detection plane.