Appeal No. 1998-2473
Application No. 08/556,890
fiber. Based on the intensity of the reflected light as measured by a detector, an actuator
dithers the position of a lens relative to the proximate end of the optical fiber. The actuator
operates at a predetermined dither frequency and moves the lens relative to the fiber along
the axis of the fiber and the average position of the lens relative to the proximate end of the
fiber along the axis is adjusted so as to maximize the average power detected at the dither
frequency.
Independent claim 1 is reproduced as follows:
1. An apparatus for applying an optical signal to a surface and collecting the
light emitted by said surface in response to said application of said optical
signal, said optical signal and said collected light traversing an optical fiber
having an end proximate to said surface, said apparatus comprising:
a lens for coupling said optical signal to said surface and for
collecting said light emitted by said surface and coupling said
collected light into said optical fiber;
a detector for measuring the intensity of light collected in said optical
fiber and for generating a detection signal indicative of said
measured intensity as a function of time; and
means for moving one of said lens and said optical fiber relative to
the other at a first frequency back and forth along a first axis, said lens
having an average position relative to said optical fiber along said
first axis controlled by said moving means, said average position
being repetitively adjusted to maximize the average power of said
detection signal at said first frequency.
2
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