Patent ID: 8625091
Filing Date: 2014-01-07
Classification: G01J,H01S

Abstract:
1. A spectrometer for characterizing a sample, said spectrometer comprising: a triggering element for generating a series of trigger signals; a first laser operatively coupled to said triggering element for receiving said series of trigger signals and emitting toward said sample a first laser light pulse having a first wavelength in response to receiving each of said trigger signals from said series of trigger signals, said first laser light pulses being each emitted after a corresponding predetermined first laser delay after reception of each of said trigger signals, said first laser being wavelength tunable so that said first wavelength is selectively variable, said predetermined first laser delay being dependent on said first wavelength; a second laser operatively coupled to said triggering element for receiving said series of trigger signals and emitting toward said sample a second laser light pulse having a second wavelength in response to receiving each of said trigger signals from said series of trigger signals, said second laser light pulses being each emitted after a corresponding predetermined second laser delay after reception of each of said trigger signals; a dithering element operable between an active state and an inactive state, wherein, in said active state, said dithering element is operatively coupled to said first and second lasers and to said triggering element for selectively retarding transmission of said trigger signals to at least one of said first and second lasers such that said first and second laser light pulses are received at said sample substantially non-simultaneously, and, in said inactive state, said trigger signals are transmitted to said first and second lasers such that said first and second laser light pulses are received at said sample substantially simultaneously; a delaying element operatively coupled to said first and second lasers and to said triggering element for retarding transmission of said trigger signals to at least one of said first and second lasers in a manner such that said first and second laser light pulses are received at said sample substantially simultaneously when said dithering element is in said inactive state; a light detector for detecting light from said sample produced in response to illumination with said first and second laser light pulses; whereby said delaying element compensates for variations in said first laser delay as a function of said first wavelength to maintain substantially simultaneous illumination of said sample with said first and second laser light pulses with said dithering element in said inactive state, and said dithering element selectively delays said first and second laser light pulses with respect to each other to allow alternatively simultaneous and non-simultaneous illumination of said sample with said first and second laser light pulses, said spectrometer allowing for characterization of said sample both with substantially simultaneous and substantially non-simultaneous illumination with said first and second laser light pulses.