METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE SHAPE, DISTANCE AND ORIENTATION OF AN OBJECT

摘要

A method of determining the external three dimensional external contour of a curved object in one step, which produces and processes a single composite en-face OCT image (a C-scan), which involves generating and processing a set of two dimensional image contours of the object in different image planes using a plurality of optical path lengths in an OCT system with all such contours present in the composite en-face OCT image. The multiple path lengths are generated using a multiple delay element in bulk or in fiber inserted in the path from the source to the OCT system or in one of the OCT arms. The image planes have a known spatial relationship with each other. The three dimensional external contour of the curved object is computed from the two dimensional contours in the composite en-face OCT image and the known spatial relationship between the image planes. Axial position and tilt of a sample are evaluated using an optimum shape object attached to the sample in one step, by processing a s composite en-face OCT image generated by using a plurality of optical path delays.