Patent ID: 6717663
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An optical configuration for use in measuring a difference in refractive index between a test sample and a reference sample, said optical configuration comprising:an optical path defining a Y-Z meridional plane of said optical configuration; a first optical interface associated with said test sample; a second optical interface associated with said reference sample; said first and second optical interfaces being located on opposite sides of said Y-Z meridional plane; an illumination beam traveling along said optical path, light from said illumination beam being incident upon said first and second optical interfaces to provide a first partial beam defined by the refractive index of said test sample and a second partial beam defined by the refractive index of said reference sample; a linear scanned array comprising a plurality of photoelectric cells each providing an output pulse during a scan having an amplitude determined by the amount of illumination of the corresponding cell by incident light, said linear scanned array being aligned in said Y-Z meridional plane; and optical means for directing said first and second partial beams to illuminate different respective segments of said linear scanned array, said first partial beam exhibiting a feature indicative of said refractive index of said test sample at a first location on said array and said second partial beam exhibiting a feature indicative of said refractive index of said reference sample at a second location on said array; whereby said difference in refractive index can be determined from a difference between said first and second locations on said array.