An apparatus for oral imaging has a light source energizable to generate a light frequency signal ranging from a minimum to a maximum frequency. An image acquisition apparatus scans the generated light frequency signal to successive positions on a sample surface and to combine a returned signal from each successive position with the generated light frequency signal. The image acquisition apparatus has a detector that obtains a beat frequency signal from the combined returned signal and the generated light frequency signal. A processor that is in signal communication with the detector generates a processed beat signal from the combined signals, wherein the processed beat signal is indicative of the distance from the tunable laser source to the sample surface at the corresponding position. A display is in signal communication with the processor and is energizable to display distance data according to the processed beat signal for each scanned position.

An apparatus for oral imaging has a light source energizable to generate a light frequency signal ranging from a minimum to a maximum frequency. An image acquisition apparatus scans the generated light frequency signal to successive positions on a sample surface and to combine a returned signal from each successive position with the generated light frequency signal. The image acquisition apparatus has a detector that obtains a beat frequency signal from the combined returned signal and the generated light frequency signal. A processor that is in signal communication with the detector generates a processed beat signal from the combined signals, wherein the processed beat signal is indicative of the distance from the tunable laser source to the sample surface at the corresponding position. A display is in signal communication with the processor and is energizable to display distance data according to the processed beat signal for each scanned position.

An analysis apparatus includes an acquisition part that acquires a plurality of interference images based on lights having a plurality of different wavelengths from an interference measurement apparatus, a removing part that outputs an interference component by removing a non-interference component included in an interference signal for each pixel in the plurality of the interference images, a conversion part that generates an analysis signal by performing a Hilbert transformation on the interference component, and a calculation part that calculates a distance between a reference surface and a surface of an object to be measured by specifying a phase gradient of a wavelength of light radiated onto the reference surface and the surface of the object to be measured on the basis of the interference component and the analysis signal.

System and methods for Light Detecting and Ranging (LIDAR) are disclosed. The LIDAR system includes a light source that is configured project a beam at various wavelengths toward a wavelength dispersive element. The wavelength dispersive element is configured to receive the beam and direct at least a portion of the beam into a field of view (FOV) at an angle dependent on frequency. The system also includes a detector that is positioned to receive portions of the beam reflected from an object within the FOV and a processor that is configured to control the light source and determine a velocity of the object.

Methods and apparatus are provided for imaging a response of a sample to radiative heating. A method in accordance with one embodiment has steps of: illuminating a first area of the sample with a radiative heating beam; illuminating a portion of the first area with a probe beam; collecting light exiting the sample due to interaction of the probe beam with the sample; superimposing the light exiting the sample with a reference beam derived from the probe beam, wherein the reference is characterized by an optical phase relative to the probe beam; detecting a spatial portion of the light exiting the sample and the reference beam with at least one detector to generate an interference signal; and processing the interference signal to obtain an image of the sample associated with absorption of the radiative heating beam.

Methods and apparatus are provided for imaging a response of a sample to radiative heating. A method in accordance with one embodiment has steps of: illuminating a first area of the sample with a radiative heating beam; illuminating a portion of the first area with a probe beam; collecting light exiting the sample due to interaction of the probe beam with the sample; superimposing the light exiting the sample with a reference beam derived from the probe beam, wherein the reference is characterized by an optical phase relative to the probe beam; detecting a spatial portion of the light exiting the sample and the reference beam with at least one detector to generate an interference signal; and processing the interference signal to obtain an image of the sample associated with absorption of the radiative heating beam.

The optical interference tomographic imaging device is provided with: a wavelength sweeping laser light source; a branching unit that branches light emitted from the wavelength sweeping laser light source to object light and reference light; an irradiation unit that scans a predetermined range by irradiating different positions on the surface of the measurement target object with the object light outputted from the branching unit; a measurement unit that, after irradiation on the measurement target object, generates information about a change in the interference light intensity ratio between the reference light and the object light scattered from the measurement target object; and a control unit that, on the basis of the information about the change in the interference light intensity ratio generated by the measurement unit, acquires structure data in the depth direction of the measurement target object.

Apparatus include a polarization state generator situated to provide an interferometer source beam with a region of polarized source light with a polarization state that is in-plane as subsequently incident on a sample and a region of polarized source light with a polarization state that is perpendicular to in-plane as subsequently incident on the sample, and an interferometer unit configured to split the interferometer source beam into test and reference arm beams, to direct the test arm beam to the sample and the reference arm beam to a reference surface, and to recombine the test and reference arm beams to produce an interferometer output beam. Methods use a polarization state generator to produce an interferometer source beam with a region of polarized source light with a polarization state that is in-plane as subsequently incident on a sample and a region of polarized source light with a polarization state that is perpendicular to in-plane as subsequently incident on the sample, and use an interferometer unit which splits the interferometer source beam into test and reference arm beams, directs the test arm beam to the sample and the reference arm beam to a reference surface, and recombines the test and reference arm beams to produce an interferometer output beam.

Systems and methods for alignment and testing of a photonic device include a light source, an interferometer, a detector, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit may generate control signal(s) for the light source to project a beam through the interferometer to a device under testing (DUT). The interferometer may receive an interference beam from an optical fiber of the DUT. The processing circuit may align optical fiber(s) for the DUT, determine one or more characteristics for the DUT, and so forth based on the interference beam and a reference beam generated by the interferometer.

A wavelength-swept light source projects a light beam. An interferometer includes a splitting unit that splits the light beam projected from the wavelength-swept light source into light beams radiated toward a plurality of spots on a measurement target. Each of the interference beam is generated by interference between a measurement beam radiated toward the measurement target and reflected at the measurement beam, and a reference beam passing through an optical path that is at least partially different from an optical path of the measurement beam. A light-receiving unit receives the interference beams from the interferometer. A processor calculates distance to the measurement target by associating a detected peak of the interference beams with one of the spots. The optical path length difference between the measurement target and the reference beam is made different among the light beams split in correspondence with the plurality of spots.