APPARATUS FOR THE POINT-BY-POINT SCANNING OF AN OBJECT

摘要

An apparatus is described for point-by-point scanning of an object, which may be a phase object, an amplitude object or a combined amplitude and phase object. The object is scanned with a light, sound, electron or X-ray beam which is converged to a spot on the object. A pair of detectors disposed in the path of the modulated radiation coming from the object convert the variations in the radiation into corresponding electrical signals which are fed to a summing circuit. A variable phase shifter connected between at least one of the detectors and the summing circuit is used to introduce a phase shift in the electrical signal such as to optimize the output signal of the summing circuit for the type of object being scanned.