Polarizing interferometer using multiorder and zero order birefr

Details Polarizing interferometer using multiorder and zero order birefr Polarizing interferometer using multiorder and zero order birefr

1997-10-10

2000-08-08

Parker, Kenneth

Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems

Particular excitation of liquid crystal

349 1, 356346, G02F 1133

Patent

active

06100944&

ABSTRACT:
The present invention provides a polarizing interferometer multiplex spectrometer using a zero-order switch, a multi-order switch and an output polarizer to multiplex the recovery of an entire input spectrum. The zero-order switch and multi-order switch require input light of a fixed polarization; thus the present invention provides a preferred embodiment that uses a zero-order switch and a multi-order switch positioned between an input polarizer and an output polarizer. For a sequence of time delays incremented by the multi-order and zero-order switches, the total transmitted power at all wavelengths is measured. From these, the coefficients of a Fourier series representation of the input spectrum are obtained, and the entire spectrum is mathematically reconstructed. Although the structure is similar to a tunable interference filter, the PIMS does not function as a filter, and more particularly, does not scan the transmission wavelength and measure power as a function of wavelength. The present invention further provides a multi-order switch that uses an active LC device to switch between summing and differencing the retardances of two fixed retarders. The present invention further provides a method of obtaining a Fourier series representation of a spectrum of input light.

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