IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,313,448
Granted Patent B2
US 12,313,448 · App. 17/898,618 · Granted May 27, 2025

Laser interferometer

Inventors: Kohei Yamada (Shiojiri, JP); Nobuhito Hayashi (Chino, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
G01H9/00G01B9/02G01B9/02002G01B9/02045G01B9/02083G01B2290/70
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,313,448
App. No.
17/898,618
Granted
May 27, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A laser interferometer includes: a laser light source configured to emit laser light; a light shielding element having an opening through which the laser light passes; an optical modulator configured to modulate the laser light into reference light having a different frequency; and a light receiving element configured to receive object light generated by reflecting the laser light by an object to be measured and the reference light and output a light receiving signal. 0.10≤φ pin ≤10.0, in which φ pin [mm] is a diameter of the opening.

Claims (47)

1. A laser interferometer comprising:

a laser light source configured to emit laser light;

a light shield having an opening through which the laser light passes;

an optical modulator configured to modulate the laser light into reference light having a different frequency; and

a light receiving sensor configured to receive object light generated by reflecting the laser light by an object to be measured and the reference light and output a light receiving signal, wherein

0.10 [mm]≤φ pin ≤10.0 [mm], wherein φ pin is a diameter of the opening,

the laser light that is incident on the optical modulator is collimated light,

an optical axis of the collimated light is a first optical axis,

when return light obtained by the reference light or the object light traveling toward the laser light source is generated, an optical axis of the return light is a second optical axis,

a position at which the collimated light is generated is a reference position, and

the first optical axis and the second optical axis are shifted from each other such that 0.10 [mm]≤Δy≤10.0 [mm], wherein Δy is a shift width between the first optical axis and the second optical axis at the reference position.

2. The laser interferometer according to claim 1 , wherein

a light intensity distribution in a cross section of the collimated light is a Gaussian distribution, and

0.50σ≤φ pin /2≤3.0σ, wherein σ is a standard deviation of the Gaussian distribution, and φ pin is the diameter of the opening.

3. The laser interferometer according to claim 2 , wherein

the optical modulator includes a vibrator, and

the optical modulator modulates the laser light using the vibrator.

4. The laser interferometer according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a demodulation circuit configured to demodulate a sample signal from the light receiving signal based on a reference signal, the sample signal being derived from the object to be measured; and

an oscillation circuit configured to output the reference signal to the demodulation circuit, wherein

the vibrator is a signal source of the oscillation circuit.

5. The laser interferometer according to claim 1 , wherein

the laser light source is a semiconductor laser element.

6. The laser interferometer according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a collimator lens disposed between the laser light source and the light shield, wherein

the collimator lens collimates the laser light emitted from the laser light source to generate the collimated light.

7. The laser interferometer according to claim 6 , wherein

the optical modulator includes a vibrator, and

the optical modulator modulates the laser light using the vibrator.

8. The laser interferometer according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a demodulation circuit configured to demodulate a sample signal from the light receiving signal based on a reference signal, the sample signal being derived from the object to be measured; and

an oscillation circuit configured to output the reference signal to the demodulation circuit, wherein

the vibrator is a signal source of the oscillation circuit.

9. The laser interferometer according to claim 5 , wherein

the optical modulator includes a vibrator, and

the optical modulator modulates the laser light using the vibrator.

10. The laser interferometer according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a demodulation circuit configured to demodulate a sample signal from the light receiving signal based on a reference signal the sample signal being derived from the object to be measured; and

an oscillation circuit configured to output the reference signal to the demodulation circuit, wherein

the vibrator is a signal source of the oscillation circuit.

11. The laser interferometer according to claim 1 , wherein

the optical modulator includes a vibrator, and

the optical modulator modulates the laser light using the vibrator.

12. The laser interferometer according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a demodulation circuit configured to demodulate a sample signal from the light receiving signal based on a reference signal, the sample signal being derived from the object to be measured; and

an oscillation circuit configured to output the reference signal to the demodulation circuit, wherein

the vibrator is a signal source of the oscillation circuit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2022
From: YAMADA, KOHEI; HAYASHI, NOBUHITO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060936/0771 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-140894 · Aug 31, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230079613A1 · Mar 16, 2023
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