SS-OCT System Base Unit
Chapter 3: Description
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MTN013142-D02
3.2.
SS-OCT Base Unit Components
The base unit is delivered together with PC that has the ThorImage
®
OCT software pre-installed. Scanner, stand
(OCT-STAND), and stage are not included in the base unit and must be ordered separately. When ordered
together with a scanner, the system will be pre-assembled at Thorlabs and the PC settings will already be
calibrated and optimized for the usage of the delivered OCT Scanner.
3.2.1.
Base Unit
The base unit is the main component of the SS-OCT system. This unit sends light to the application,
communicates with the PC through a USB connection, and delivers the measurement data to the PC. The base
unit contains a MEMS-VCSEL Swept Source Laser which is directed through a fiber from the back panel of the
device. The back-scattered and reflected light from the application is returned through the same optical fiber to
an interferometer (as described Figure 16). Other components in the base unit include a balanced detector,
analog and digital timing circuitry, analog control signals for the application, and data acquisition hardware.
Figure 21
Base Unit (VEG200 Series)
The central wavelength of the MEMS-VCSEL in the Vega base unit is typically 1300 nm. The use of near-IR
broad sweeping bandwidth sources balances the desire for low scattering losses with the need to operate within
the wavelength range that will provide higher penetration depth into the sample. Near-IR broadband sources
are a perfect compromise between sufficient transparency and a significantly reduced scattering coefficient.
3.2.2.
PC with Graphical User Interface
This SS-OCT system is delivered with application software made for the imaging scanners provided by
Thorlabs. All required data analysis as well as 2D and 3D display can be performed within the software package.
The data can be saved, analyzed and exported for further use.
Detailed operating instructions for the SS-OCT software are provided in the SS-OCT Software User’s Manual.
3.2.3.
SDK
A software development kit (SDK) is provided with the system. The SDK gives access to all software routines
used to control the units and to process the acquired data. It allows a quick start for application-specific software
development. The SDK is implemented in two programming languages, C and LabVIEW. For professional and
advanced users, the C interface guarantees a seamless integration into their own object oriented software. For
easy access to the functionality we also provide a LabVIEW interface. The LabVIEW interface has the same
functionality as the C interface and maintains the same high processing speed achieved with the C interface.
Hardware control through the SDK ranges from low level functions such as setting the galvo scanners to a
desired position, to very powerful functions such as initiating full 3D measurements. The programmer can:
