An integrated optical system includes a wavelength tunable optical source and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The PIC includes a set of spatial waveguide switches having an input optically coupled to the wavelength tunable optical source and a plurality of outputs. The PIC also includes an optical emitter having a plurality of inputs, each being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of outputs of the set of spatial waveguide switches, the optical emitter configured to produce at an output an optical beam having a wavelength dependent emission direction that changes as light is switched by the set of spatial waveguide switches such that the optical beam may be steered in two dimensions.

In one embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) in a laser ring is chosen to provide low polarization-dependent gain (PDG) and a booster semiconductor optical amplifier, outside of the ring, is chosen to provide high polarization-dependent gain. The use of a semiconductor optical amplifier with low polarization-dependent gain nearly eliminates variations in the polarization state of the light at the output of the laser, but does not eliminate the intra-sweep variations in the polarization state at the output of the laser, which can degrade the performance of the SS-OCT system.

The source light having a range of optical wavelengths is split into sample light and reference light. The sample light is delivered into a sample, such that the sample light is scattered by the sample, resulting in signal light that exits the sample. The signal light and the reference light are combined into an interference light pattern having optical modes having oscillation frequency components respectively corresponding to optical pathlengths extending through the sample. Different sets of the optical modes of the interference light pattern are respectively detected, and high-bandwidth analog signals representative of the optical modes of the interference light pattern are output. The high-bandwidth analog signals are parallel processed, and mid-bandwidth digital signals are output. The mid-bandwidth digital signals are processed over an i number of iterations, and a plurality of low-bandwidth digital signals are output on the ith iteration. The sample is analyzed based on the low-bandwidth digital signals.

An optical beam controller includes: an optical multiple-beam generator generating a plurality of wavelength-swept optical beams; and an optical frequency difference setter setting an optical frequency difference in any combination of the plurality of optical beams in such a way as to be larger than a band of a photodetector that receives an optical beam.

Improved optical coherence tomography systems and methods to measure retinal data are presented. The systems may be compact, provide in-home monitoring, and have automation to allow the patient to measure himself or herself.

A fiber includes M primary cores and N redundant cores, where M an integer is greater than two and N is an integer greater than one. Interferometric circuitry detects interferometric pattern data associated with the M primary cores and the N redundant cores when the optical fiber is placed into a sensing position. Data processing circuitry calculates a primary core fiber bend value for the M primary cores and a redundant core fiber bend value for the N redundant cores based on a predetermined geometry of the M primary cores and the N redundant cores in the fiber and detected interferometric pattern data associated with the M primary cores and the N redundant cores. The primary core fiber bend value and the redundant core fiber bend value are compared in a comparison. The detected data for the M primary cores is determined reliable or unreliable based on the comparison. A signal is generated in response to an unreliable determination.

A fiber includes M primary cores and N redundant cores, where M an integer is greater than two and N is an integer greater than one. Interferometric circuitry detects interferometric pattern data associated with the M primary cores and the N redundant cores when the optical fiber is placed into a sensing position. Data processing circuitry calculates a primary core fiber bend value for the M primary cores and a redundant core fiber bend value for the N redundant cores based on a predetermined geometry of the M primary cores and the N redundant cores in the fiber and detected interferometric pattern data associated with the M primary cores and the N redundant cores. The primary core fiber bend value and the redundant core fiber bend value are compared in a comparison. The detected data for the M primary cores is determined reliable or unreliable based on the comparison. A signal is generated in response to an unreliable determination.

An interferometry apparatus comprising: a laser source operable to emit a first light beam; a beam splitter arranged to split the first light beam into an object beam and a reference beam, the object beam passing along an object beam arm and the reference beam passing along a reference beam arm; an adaptive delay line located a distance along the reference beam arm, the adaptive delay line being configured to provide, in use, one or more length-adjusted reference beams; a beam splitter arranged to recombine the object beam from the object beam arm and the length-adjusted reference beam(s) from the reference beam arm; and a photodetector operable to detect interference between the object beam and the length-adjusted reference beam(s).

An interferometry apparatus comprising: a laser source operable to emit a first light beam; a beam splitter arranged to split the first light beam into an object beam and a reference beam, the object beam passing along an object beam arm and the reference beam passing along a reference beam arm; an adaptive delay line located a distance along the reference beam arm, the adaptive delay line being configured to provide, in use, one or more length-adjusted reference beams; a beam splitter arranged to recombine the object beam from the object beam arm and the length-adjusted reference beam(s) from the reference beam arm; and a photodetector operable to detect interference between the object beam and the length-adjusted reference beam(s).

Improved optical coherence tomography systems and methods to measure thickness of the retina are presented. The systems may be compact, handheld, provide in-home monitoring, allow the patient to measure himself or herself, and be robust enough to be dropped while still measuring the retina reliably.