Patent ID: 6473185
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
An interferometer assembly, comprising:a radiation source for emitting a beam along a first path; a beamsplitter in said first path of said beam to split said beam into a reflected beam and a translated beam, said translated beam proceeding substantially along said first path of said beam to a reference mirror, and said reflected beam proceeding along a second path toward a test surface; a retroreflector positioned in reflective relation with said second path of said reflected beam, to receive from said test surface said reflected beam, said reflected beam then being reflected from said retroreflector back to said test surface and through said beamsplitter along a third path; and a detection system in reflective relation with said paths of said translated beam and said reflected beam, to receive said translated beam after it has reflected off of said reference mirror and back off of said beamsplitter along a fourth path, and to receive said reflected beam after it comes from said test surface through said beamsplitter along said third path; wherein receipt of said third path of said reflected beam and said fourth path of said translated beam by said detection system creates an interference pattern viewable to a user of said interferometer assembly, without the need of aligning said test surface.