Beam steering optical system and method and ophthalmic apparatus using same having spaced apart irradiation and observation paths

摘要

A beam steering optical system having a system pupil includes an irradiating optical system producing an irradiating light beam for irradiating an object. The system also includes a two-sided rotatable mirror positioned to cover only a first portion of the system pupil and to receive and reflect with a first surface the irradiating light beam. An objective lens receives the irradiating light beam reflected from the mirror and focuses the irradiating light beam on the object. These elements together define an irradiation path for the irradiating light beam. When reflected by the object, the irradiating light beam is denoted as a detecting light beam. The objective lens receives the detecting light beam reflected by the object and directs it to a second portion of the system pupil not covered by mirror. A beam redirector receives the detecting light beam after passing through the second portion of the system pupil, and redirects it to a second surface of the mirror, which reflects the detecting light beam to a position-sensing photodetector. The mirror steers both beams through the same angle when rotating. The objective lens, the mirror, the beam redirector, and the photodetector together define an observation path for the detecting beam. The irradiation path and the observation path are spaced from each other to prevent cross-talk therebetween.