Patent ID: 8456637

Claim:
A dual beam assembly to be attached to a chromatic confocal point sensor pen which provides a single source beam having a measurement range R in the absence of the dual beam assembly, the dual beam assembly comprising: a mounting element configured to be attached to the chromatic confocal point sensor pen; and a first reflective element, wherein: the dual beam assembly is configured such that when the mounting element is operably attached to the chromatic confocal point sensor pen: the first reflective element is positioned in the source beam and divides the source beam into a first measurement beam and a second measurement beam; and the dual beam assembly outputs the first and second measurement beams to different workpiece portions along first and second measurement axes, and returns workpiece measurement light arising from the first and second measurement beams back to the chromatic confocal point sensor pen: and the first reflective element comprises one of: a pattern of reflective regions and transmissive regions that divides the source beam; and a prismatic element which includes at least one partially reflective and partially transmissive surface that divides the source beam.