A device to perform a method for confocal function determination and/or correction in an OCT imaging system, characterized in that the device determines a confocal function and/or corrects the influence of the confocal function and/or corrects the confocal function, achieves the object of the invention to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art. system and a method are further disclosed.

A scanning imaging method includes splitting an optical beam into a reference beam and a scanning beam, generating an interference map, and processing the interference map to produce a reconstructed image of a sample. Generating the interference map includes, for each of a plurality of sections of the sample, generating a respective interference-map element of the interference map by: (i) illuminating the section with the scanning beam to generate a plurality of scattered beams, each scattered beam corresponding to a respective spatial frequency of the scanning beam, (ii) attenuating the reference beam, (iii) generating a plurality of interference signals at least in part by interferometrically combining the plurality of scattered beams and the attenuated reference beam while modulating a phase difference between the reference beam and the plurality of scattered beams, and (iv) detecting the plurality of interference signals to yield the respective interference-map element.

The present invention provides a novel simple, portable, compact and inexpensive approach for interferometric optical thickness measurements that can be easily incorporated into an existing microscope (or other imaging systems) with existing cameras. According to the invention, the interferometric device provides a substantially stable, easy to align common path interferometric geometry, while eliminating a need for controllably changing the optical path of the beam. To this end, the inexpensive and easy to align interferometric device of the invention is configured such that it applies the principles of the interferometric measurements to a sample beam only, being a single input into the interferometric device.

The present application provides an optical fiber-typed spectral confocal coherence tomography optical system and an application thereof. The system includes an optical fiber coupler, a broadband light source, a reference component, a sample component and a spectrometer. The reference component is connected to a first output end of the optical fiber coupler, for receiving a light source signal emitted by the optical fiber coupler and controllably forming the light source signal into an interference signal. The sample component is connected to a second output end of the optical fiber coupler, for receiving the light source signal emitted by the optical fiber coupler and forming a spectral confocal signal after the light source signal passes through a sample to be tested. The spectrometer is connected to a third output end of the optical fiber coupler.

The present invention relates to an objective (3) for a confocal system (1) of spectral interferometric measurement, comprising: a source hole (14); a second beam splitter (12) having a partially reflective face (12a), a first beam splitter (10) having a face which is configured to form a reference surface (6) and being located between the source hole (14) and the second beam splitter (12); andlenses (11, 13). The first and second beam splitters are positioned in the objective (3) such that an optical distance (d.sub.ref) between the reference surface (6) and the partially reflective surface (12a) is substantially equal to an optical distance (d.sub.m) between the partially reflective surface (12a) and a focal plane of the objective (3).