Optical feedback displacement sensor using a laser diode and its performance improvement

• Published in: Measurement science & technology Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 45 - 52
• Main Authors: Kato, J, Kikuchi, N, Yamaguchi, I, Ozono, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.01.1995; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General equipment and techniques; Imaging detectors and sensors; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Optical elements, devices, and systems; Optics; Physics; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Feedback; Displacements; Instrumentation; Optics; Sensors; Experimental study; Laser diodes; Interferometers
• ISSN: 0957-0233; 1361-6501
• DOI: 10.1088/0957-0233/6/1/009

Proposes a new compact interferometric sensor for displacement measurement which utilizes the output intensity undulation caused by the optical feedback effect of a frequency modulated laser diode (LD). In order to stabilize the undulation signal, the relationship between the feedback rate and the oscillation behaviour of the LD was investigated experimentally. Results revealed that the undesired higher order undulation could be suppressed by a low feedback rate. A new current modulation technique for the LD was developed for improving the performance of the signal processing based on a pseudo-heterodyne scheme. (Original abstract-amended)