Patent ID: 7936462

Claim:
A system to perform optical imaging of a sample, comprising: an optical radiation source; a frequency clock module monitoring an output optical frequency of the optical radiation source, and outputting frequency clock signals; an optical interferometer in connection with the optical radiation source and the sample, wherein the optical interferometer outputting interference signals containing information about the sample; a data acquisition (DAQ) device adapted for an analog to digital conversion processes, wherein the frequency clock module outputs the frequency clock signals to trigger the data acquisition process of the DAQ device; and a computer controlling the DAQ device, processing the data and constructing multi-dimensional images of the sample, wherein the DAQ device is a stand-alone device in communication with the computer or is a plug-in device installed inside the computer, and wherein the computer has a number of memory devices that are accessible to both the DAQ device and the processor, and wherein the software executing on the processor controls the data acquisition process of the DAQ device which is triggered by the frequency clock signals of the light source, processes the data points transferred from the DAQ device to computer memory and generates multi-dimensional OCT images and further providing an operational interface for a user to control the imaging system, and wherein the software, when executing on the processor, configures the data acquisition routine and signal processing routine in parallel; controls the DAQ device to start the data acquisition routine; and without waiting for the data acquisition routine to be finished, the software, when executing, starts the signal processing routine to process the previously acquired data stored in memory; the software, when executing, then checks the status of both routines and waits for the finish of the routine that takes longer time to execute until next executing cycle of the software starts.