Patent ID: 6563947
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
A device for detecting a wavefront defined by a plurality of contiguous light beams which comprises:an optical means for isolating each individual said light beam of said plurality of light beams; an optical means for focusing each individual said light beam to a focal point in an x-y plane; a plurality of clusters, each said cluster including a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns with each row having a plurality of pixels aligned in an x-direction and each column having a plurality of pixels aligned in a y-direction, and wherein each said pixel includes a first photodetector for generating a first electrical current in response to an illumination thereof by said focal pint and a second photodetector for generating a second electrical current in response to an illumination thereof by said focal point; a plurality of first electronic circuits for summing said first electrical currents generated by said first photodetectors in each row to generate a respective y-signal for said row; a plurality of second electronic circuits for summing said second electrical currents generated by said second photodetectors in each column to generate a respective x-signal for said column; an electronic means for receiving said x-signals and said y-signals from said cluster to determine an x-y position for said focal point of said individual light beam incident on said cluster; and a computer means for comparing respective said x-y positions of said plurality of focal points of said plurality of light beams for detection of said wavefront.