Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An optical arrangement of the Michelson interferometer type having a measuring arm for measuring optical properties of at least two mutually spaced regions in an optically transparent and/or diffusive object. A reference arm has a path length variation unit which generates a periodic change in path length for the radiation in the reference arm. Arranged in the measuring arm upstream of the object is a detour unit. The detour unit imparts a detour which is larger than at least one second measuring beam into at least one measuring beam. The detour unit selects a detour to be equal to a distance between regions to be measured in the object. Using the optical arrangement the object is irradiated with the aid of a number of measuring beams corresponding to the number of regions. In each case two measuring beams have an optical path difference which corresponds to a geometrical distance between two regions. Each reflection beam of the measuring beams which is reflected by one of the regions is superimposed in an interfering fashion with a third beam having a temporal variation in path length, and is detected. This arrangement can carry out 'in-vivo' measurements of distances, thicknesses, at and/or in the human eye with the minimization of measuring errors within a sub-second time. The object does not have to be fixed during the measurement.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim