Optical scanner calibration device

Details Optical scanner calibration device Optical scanner calibration device

1999-02-26

2000-06-13

Font, Frank G.

Optics: measuring and testing

Of light reflection

With diffusion

388213, 388445, G01N 2155

Patent

active

060756136

ABSTRACT:
An optical scanning system includes a power meter that during calibration operations is illuminated by an attenuated excitation beam. The power meter measures optical power in the attenuated excitation beam at various index settings of a variable optical attenuator, and the system constructs a lookup table that relates incident excitation beam power to the index settings of the attenuator. The system then uses the table to select the appropriate setting for the attenuator in order to deliver to the sample an excitation beam of a specified optical power. The system calibrates the gain of a detector by redirecting, or reflecting, the excitation beam of known intensity to the detector. A photometric device in the detector produces a signal that is proportional to the intensity of the beam at various gain settings. The system then produces a lookup table that relates the gain settings to the actual gain of the detector, that is, to the ratio of the known incident power to the detector readings. The system thereafter uses the table to select the appropriate gain setting for data collection and/or to normalize the data. A beam splitter included in the system preferably discriminates between the light is passes and the light it redirects based on the spatial properties of the light. During calibration operations the excitation beam is reflected to the detector as wide diameter beams, which are passed through the beam splitter. During sample measurement operations the excitation beam is reflected by the sample as a narrow-diameter beam, which the beam splitter directs away from the detector.

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patent: 5719391 (1998-02-01), Kain
patent: 5838435 (1998-11-01), Sandison

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