Methods and Systems for Coherent Imaging and Feedback Control for Modification of Materials

摘要

Methods and systems are provided for using optical interferometry in the context of material modification processes such as surgical laser, sintering, and welding applications. An imaging optical source that produces imaging light. A feedback controller controls at least one processing parameter of the material modification process based on an interferometry output generated using the imaging light. A method of processing interferograms is provided based on homodyne filtering. A method of generating a record of a material modification process using an interferometry output is provided.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a material processing beam source that produces a material processing beam that is applied to a location of a material in a material modification process, wherein the material modification process is selected from sintering, welding, and brazing, or a combination thereof; an imaging light source that produces imaging light; a coherent imaging system including an optical interferometer that produces an interferometry output using at least a component of the imaging light that is delivered to a phase change region and/or a surrounding region created in the material before, during, and/or after the material modification process, the interferometry output based on at least one optical path length to at least one point in the phase change region and/or the surrounding region compared to another optical path length; a detector that receives the interferometry output and produces a detector output that is indicative of a characteristic of the phase change region and/or the surrounding region during the material modification process, and a record generator that generates at least one record based on the detector output at a plurality of times.