Manual of U.S. Patent Classification
as of June 30, 2000

Class
356
OPTICS: MEASURING AND TESTING

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Subclass definitions may be accessed by clicking on the subclass number, below.

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Subclass		Title
ClassTitle		===> OPTICS: MEASURING AND TESTING
2		CONTOUR PLOTTING
3		RANGE OR REMOTE DISTANCE FINDING
3.01		. Triangulation ranging to a point with one projected beam
3.02		. . Using photodetection with a fixed axial line of sight
3.03		. . Using a source beam with a fixed axial direction or plane
3.04		. . . With a single staring photodetector having one element
3.05		. . . . Having moving receiver optics
3.06		. . . With a single photodetector having multiple elements
3.07		. . . . Having electronic scanning of the photodetector
3.08		. . . With at least one paired set of staring photodetectors
3.09		. . Requiring scanning of a source beam
3.1		. Triangulation ranging to a point with two or more projected beams
3.11		. . Using photodetection at the source station(s)
3.12		. . Using photodetection remote from the source station(s)
3.13		. Triangulation ranging with photodetection, but with no projected beam
3.14		. . Using at least a pair of viewing axes
3.15		. . . With one viewing axis fixed
3.16		. . . With moving optical elements in all viewing axes
4.01		. With photodetection
4.02		. . Of a simulation or test
4.03		. . Of focused image size or dimensions
4.04		. . Of degree of defocus
4.05		. . Of focal point search
4.06		. . Of differential amplitude at two source or detector distances
4.07		. . Of intensity proportional to distance
4.08		. . Of height relative to a light plane
4.09		. . Of light interference fringes
4.1		. . . Having different frequency sources
5.01		. . Of pulse transit time
5.02		. . . Having return coincide with swept display or detector
5.03		. . . Having one or more return pulse gates or windows
5.04		. . . . Including a displayed image
5.05		. . . Having pulse transmission trigger significance
5.06		. . . . Including optical pick-off of transmission start
5.07		. . . . . With specific counter type timing of returns
5.08		. . . . Including specific counter type timing of returns
5.09		. . Of frequency difference
5.1		. . Of CW phase delay
5.11		. . . Having multiple carrier or modulation frequencies
5.12		. . . . Including an alternating reference path
5.13		. . . Having an alternating reference path
5.14		. . . Having polarization discrimination
5.15		. . . Having specific IF mixing of returns
6		. Instrument condition testing or indicating
7		. Periscope or offset type
8		. With view finder
9		. Base line instrument (i.e., base is a part of instrument)
10		. . With filter or light valve
11		. . Range finder combined with height finder
12		. . Stereoscopic
13		. . . Ortho-pseudo type
14		. . . Stationary measuring marks
15		. . Length of base line variable
16		. . Image displaced by moving refracting element
17		. . Image displaced by rotating reflecting element
18		. . With mounting, supporting, adjusting, or folding structure
19		. . Prism structure for determining coincidence
20		. External basis type
21		. . Object size or distance known
22		. . . With displaced images
23		MOTION STOPPING (E.G., STROBOSCOPES)
24		. Periodically moving reflecting or refracting element
25		. Periodically moving light interrupting element
26		. . Vibrating or oscillating element
27		VELOCITY OR VELOCITY/HEIGHT MEASURING
28		. With light detector (e.g., photocell)
28.5		. . Of light interference (e.g., interferometer)
29		OPTICAL ELEMENT OR RETICLE RESPONDS TO RELATIVE VELOCITY OF REMOTE OBJECT
30		CRYSTAL OR GEM EXAMINATION
31		. Axes determination
32		MATERIAL STRAIN ANALYSIS
33		. With polarized light
34		. . Attached detector
35		. . Sheet material
35.5		. By light interference detector (e.g., interferometer)
36		WITH SAMPLE PREPARATION
37		. Condensation nuclei detector
38		. Depositing particles on optical surface
39		BLOOD ANALYSIS
40		. Hemoglobin concentration
41		. . Oximeters
42		. . Standards
43		OPTICAL PYROMETERS
44		. With sample engaging rod or tube
45		. Plural color responsive
46		. With incandescent standard
47		. . Automatic intensity control
48		. . Modulating (e.g., flicker beam)
49		. . Telescopic
50		. . . Current control
51		INFRARED AND ULTRAVIOLET
52		EGG CANDLING
53		. Photoelectric
54		. With counting, marking, or weighing
55		. With egg transfer
56		. . With egg turning or jarring
57		. . . Endless conveyor
58		. . Endless conveyor
59		. . Manual transfer
60		. . . With light shading chamber
61		. . . Portable receptacles
62		. With light shading chamber
63		. . Hood type
64		. With light box
65		. . With egg turning or jarring
66		. . With particular illumination means
67		. . . With particular electrical switching
68		. Lamp attachments
69		CUTTING BLADE SHARPNESS
70		OIL TESTING (E.G., CONTAMINATION)
71		DOCUMENT PATTERN ANALYSIS OR VERIFICATION
72		WITH PLURAL DIVERSE TEST OR ART
73		PLURAL TEST
73.1		FOR OPTICAL FIBER OR WAVEGUIDE INSPECTION
300		BY DISPERSED LIGHT SPECTROSCOPY
301		. With Raman type light scattering
302		. For spectrographic (i.e., photographic) investigation
303		. . With spectral analysis
304		. . With sectored disc
305		. . With diffraction grating
306		. With internal standard comparison
307		. With background radiation comparison
308		. With synchronized spectrum repetitive scanning (e.g., cathode-ray readout)
309		. . Using plural beams
310		. With aperture mask
311		. With sample excitation (e.g., burning)
312		. . By electrical resistance heating (e.g., graphite tube)
313		. . By arc or spark
314		. . . Including sputtering
315		. . By flame
316		. . By high frequency field (e.g., plasma discharge)
317		. . By light
318		. . . Monochromatic (e.g., laser)
319		. Utilizing a spectrophotometer (i.e., plural beam)
320		. . Having plural wavelengths
321		. . Having servo equalization
322		. . . With polarized light beams
323		. . Having beam modulation
324		. . . With plural dispersion
325		. . . Prior to testing
326		. Utilizing a spectrometer
327		. . Having light polarizing means
328		. . Having diffraction grating means
329		. . . Including servo slit adjustment means
330		. . Having optical gating means
331		. With monochromator structure
332		. . Having adjustable color or bandwidth
333		. . . In a double monochromator
334		. . . With diffraction grating means
335		FOR SIZE OF PARTICLES
336		. By particle light scattering
337		BY PARTICLE LIGHT SCATTERING
338		. With photocell detection
339		. . At right angles to the light beam (e.g., nephelometer)
340		. . At variable angle to the light beam
341		. . For light comparison means
342		. . Of back-scattered light
343		. . Using plural photocells
344		BY ELECTROPHORESIS
450		BY LIGHT INTERFERENCE (E.G., INTERFEROMETER)
451		. Spectroscopy
452		. . Having particular linear mirror drive or configuration
453		. . Polarization
454		. . Fabry-Perot type or Etalon Type
455		. . Having a rotating, pendulous, or wedge scanning element
456		. . Imaging
457		. Holography
458		. . For optical configuration
459		. Rotation rate (e.g., ring laser gyros)
460		. . By fiber or waveguide interferometer (e.g., Sagnac effect)
461		. . . Resonant loop
462		. . . Multi-axis (X-Y-Z) having multiplexing
463		. . . Multiple harmonic output
464		. . . Having null feedback loop
465		. . . Fiber coil winding
466		. . . Having m x n loop coupler where (m is greater than 2) and (n is greater than or equal to 2) (e.g., passive bias)
467		. . Four frequency, multi-oscillator, non-planar cavity
468		. . Cavity output beam combiner
469		. . Cavity mirror details
470		. . Passive cavity (laser source outside cavity)
471		. . Multi-axis cavity
472		. . Lock-in prevention
473		. . . Path length control (PLC)
474		. . . Having dither signal removal from output
475		. . . Having dither signal control
476		. . . By dithering (suspensions, drives, flexures)
477		. Using fiber or waveguide interferometer
478		. . Multiplexed sensor array
479		. . Having a short coherence length source
480		. . Resonant cavity
481		. . Refraction indexing
482		. . For distance or displacement measurement
483		. . Plural counter-propagating beams (e.g., non-motion Sagnac device)
484		. Having light beams of different frequencies (e.g., heterodyning)
485		. . For dimensional measurement (e.g., thickness gap, alignment, profile)
486		. . . Displacement or distance
487		. . . . Polarization
488		. . . . . Having wavefront division (e.g., by diffraction)
489		. . . Contour or profile
490		. . . Alignment
491		. Having polarization
492		. . For dimensional measurement
493		. . . Displacement or distance
494		. . . . Having wavefront division (e.g., by diffraction)
495		. . . Contour or profile
496		. For dimensional measurement
497		. . Having short coherence length source
498		. . Displacement or distance
499		. . . Having wavefront division (e.g., by diffraction)
500		. . . X-Y and/or Z table
501		. . . Of probe head (e.g., atomic force microscope)
502		. . . Surface displacement due to acoustic wave propagation)
503		. . Thickness
504		. . . Refraction from surfaces of different refractive index
505		. . Gap
506		. . . Fabry-Perot type
507		. . . Between slider/disc (e.g., flying height)
508		. . For orientation or alignment
509		. . . Between mask and wafer
510		. . . Tilt
511		. . Contour or profile
512		. . . By wavefront detection
513		. . . . Of highly reflective surface (e.g., mirror)
514		. . . . . Planar surface
515		. . . . Of transmission (e.g., lens)
516		. . . Step height (differential, between points)
517		. For refractive indexing
518		. . Having Schlieren effect
519		. Having partially reflecting plates in series (e.g., Fabry-Perot type)
520		. Having shearing
521		. Having wavefront division (by diffraction)
364		BY POLARIZED LIGHT EXAMINATION
365		. With birefringent element
366		. With polariscopes
367		. . Including polarimeters
368		. . . With electro-optical light rotation
369		. Of surface reflection
370		. With light attenuation
371		FOR FLATNESS
121		LAMP BEAM DIRECTION OR PATTERN
122		. With lamp focusing
123		FOCAL POSITION OF LIGHT SOURCE
124		LENS OR REFLECTIVE IMAGE FORMER TESTING
124.5		. For optical transfer function
125		. Focal length measuring
126		. . Deflecting or interrupting optical path
127		. Optical center, cylinder axis, or prism measuring or determining
128		REFRACTION TESTING (E.G., REFRACTOMETERS)
129		. Schlieren effect
130		. Differential
131		. . With servo controlled optical member
132		. . . Reflective optical member
133		. Refractive rod engages specimen
134		. Prism forming fluid specimen container
135		. Prism engaging specimen
136		. . Internally reflecting prism
137		. . Plural prisms
138		ANGLE MEASURING OR ANGULAR AXIAL ALIGNMENT
139		. Plural scales or different portions of same scale simultaneously observable
139.01		. Star/Sun/Satellite position indication with photodetection
139.02		. . With reticle or slot
139.03		. Relative attitude indication along 3 axes with photodetection
139.04		. Automatic following or aligning while indicating measurement
139.05		. . With optical elements moving relative to fixed housing to follow or align
139.06		. . With optical housing moving to follow or align
139.07		. . With photodetection of reflected beam angle with respect to a unidirectional source beam
139.08		. . . With source beam moving to follow or align
139.09		. Wheel alignment with photodetection
139.1		. Photodetection of inclination from level or vertical
140		. Apex of angle at observing or detecting station
141.1		. . With photodetection of reflected beam angle with respect to a unidirectional source beam
141.2		. . With photodetection
141.3		. . . With unidirectional or planar source beam directed at the photodetecting station
141.4		. . . With optical scanning of light beam or detector
141.5		. . . With at least 2-dimensional sensitivity
142		. . Scale and remote point simultaneously observable
143		. . . Artificial reference
144		. . With plural images
145		. . . Lines of sight relatively adjustable with two degrees of freedom
146		. . . Two or more lines of sight deflected
147		. . Measurement in two planes (e.g., azimuth and elevation; hour angle and declination)
148		. . Artificial reference
149		. . . Gyroscope or pendulum stabilized optical element
150		. Sides of angle or axes being aligned transverse to optical axis (e.g., drift meter)
151		. . With light pulsing or interrupting means
152.1		. With photodetection remote from measured angle
152.2		. . With reflection of a unidirectional source beam from a planar or nonretroreflective surface
152.3		. . With reflection of a unidirectional source beam from a retroreflector
153		. Alignment of axes nominally coaxial
154		. With screen
155		. . Wheel alignment
372		BY MENSURATION
373		. Of article displacement
374		. . Including moire' fringe generation
375		. Of position
376		. Of contour or profile
377		. . With curve readers
378		. Of cavities
379		. Of area or volume
380		. . By scanning
381		. Of thickness
382		. . Of light permeable material
383		. Of length
384		. Of width or diameter
385		. . Of moving object
386		. . . By scanning or light interruption
387		. . By scanning or light interruption
388		BY CONFIGURATION COMPARISON
389		. With photosensitive film or plate
390		. With two images of single article compared
391		. With projection on viewing screen
392		. . For comparison with master or desired configuration
393		. . . Having master or desired configuration projection
394		. With comparison to master, desired shape, or reference voltage
395		. With relatively movable optical grids
396		. With scale or optical grid displaced relative to remote fiducial mark
397		. With object being compared and scale superimposed
398		. With object being compared and light beam moved relative to each other (e.g., scanning)
399		BY ALIGNMENT IN LATERAL DIRECTION
400		. With light detector (e.g., photocell)
401		. With registration indicia (e.g., scale)
402		BY SHADE OR COLOR
403		. With merging colors or patterns (e.g., Maxwell disc)
404		. Photography
405		. Tristimulus examination
406		. Trichromatic examination
407		. With sample responsive to plural colors applied simultaneously
408		. With sequential comparison of sample and standard
409		. Fluid color transmission examination
410		. . Of flowing liquids
411		. . . With plural light detectors (e.g., photocells)
412		. . With ionic determination
413		. . With variable light path