DFB laser diode interferometer with image capture timing control for surface profile reconstruction

A DFB laser diode interferometer with sinusoidal phase modulation (SPM) and image capture timing control was proposed for the reconstruction of surface profile. Sinusoidal phase modulation was achieved by controlling the injection current of light diode. The surface profile was reconstructed on four consecutive fringe images. Random phase error and low-frequency phase shift would be superposed on the interference fringes due to external disturbances such as mechanical vibration and temperature fluctuation. A simple peak detection circuit that would take less time consumption than phase generated carrier (PGC) was built for eliminating external disturbances, and the phase of fringe image could be stabilized in about one millisecond, which is conducive to real-time surface profile reconstruction. A novel method to capture four consecutive fringe images in adjacent modulation period was presented by controlling pulse sequence to trigger camera exposure and image readout operation. The whole system was tested on an optical table without vibration isolation and being kept in thermostatic chamber. The repeatability was about 0.018 wave (approximately 14 nm for 760 nm wavelength). The feasibility for high-resolution surface profile reconstruction had been verified. Keywords Profile reconstruction; SPM; Fringe projection; Disturbance elimination; Timing control