Investigation of positioning algorithm and method for increasing the linear measurement range for four-quadrant detector

The paper studied the relationship between the light spot position and the output voltage in the case of laser spot which is in the four-quadrant (4Q) detector whose shape is circle or elliptic, energy distribution uniform or Gaussian. The study is based on add–subtract algorithm, diagonal algorithm and difference over sum (Δ/∑) algorithm. By using methods of polynomial fitting it can get a simple polynomial expression to enhance measuring speed and the simulation error is given. A method of using Binary Optics Elements (BOE) to shape the laser beam in the 4Q detector to square light spot with uniform intensity distribution is proposed to expand linear measurement range. The simulation result is verified for a circular spot with Gaussian energy distribution.