JP2006266891A - Laser irradiation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser irradiation device capable of forming a reference point and a reference line having improved visibility in a plurality of directions although the laser irradiation device has a single laser light source and low output. <P>SOLUTION: The laser irradiation device for indicating a reference position by applying laser beams comprises a light emitting part 21 for emitting the laser beams 20; and an irradiation optical system 22 for emitting the laser beams while deflecting them in a plurality of directions. The irradiation optical system has an optical path switching optical member on the optical axis of the light emitting part. The optical path switching optical member has a plurality of reflection surfaces and can change postures, allows the laser beams to be reflected on the reflection surface for emission in one posture, and allows the laser beams to be emitted without any reflection in another posture. By selecting the posture of the optical path switching optical member, the optical path of the laser beams can be switched selectively in two orthogonal directions by selecting the posture of the optical path switching optical member. The laser beams can be applied selectively at least in one direction of a plurality of directions by switching the optical path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser irradiation apparatus that irradiates a wall surface, a ceiling surface, or the like with a laser beam in order to form a reference line or a reference point.

  When building work, installing windows, installing columns, or installing lighting fixtures on the ceiling, a horizontal reference line (inking line), vertical reference line, and reference point indicating the installation position are required. There is a laser irradiating device for creating a reference line and a reference point.

  The laser irradiation apparatus creates a horizontal reference line, a vertical reference line, and a reference point by irradiating a visible laser beam on a wall surface and a ceiling surface. As a conventional laser irradiation apparatus, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is disclosed. is there.

  In FIG. 7, a conventional laser irradiation apparatus will be briefly described.

  In the figure, 1 is a laser diode that emits visible light, 2 is a lens, 3, 4 and 5 are beam splitters, and 6 and 7 are cylindrical lenses.

  The laser beam emitted from the laser diode 1 is converted into a parallel light beam by the lens 2 and is split by the beam splitter 3 into three directions, horizontal and vertical and vertical directions. A horizontal laser beam 11 is diffused in a fan shape in the horizontal direction by the cylindrical lens 6 and irradiated onto a wall surface or the like to form a horizontal reference line, and the laser beam divided in the upward direction is Further, the laser beam 12 is divided into two directions of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and the laser beam 12 divided in the horizontal direction is diffused in a fan shape in the vertical direction by the cylindrical lens 7 and irradiated onto a wall surface or the like to form a vertical reference line. The upper vertical laser beam 13 transmitted through the beam splitter 4 is applied to the ceiling surface and the like to form a reference point, and the laser beam 14 transmitted through the beam splitter 5 is applied to the floor surface and the like. To form a reference point.

  In the figure, 8 is a tilt detector having a free liquid level 9, and 10 is a light receiving sensor for receiving the laser beam reflected by the beam splitter 5, and the free liquid level 9 is tilted with respect to the vertical. As a result, the light receiving position of the light receiving sensor 10 changes, and the inclination of the laser irradiation apparatus can be detected by the change in the light receiving position.

  Therefore, in the conventional laser irradiation apparatus, the laser beams 11, 12, 13, and 14 are simultaneously irradiated, and a horizontal reference line, a vertical reference line, and two upper and lower reference points are formed simultaneously.

  In actual work such as building work, the horizontal position of the window is obtained from the horizontal reference line, the work necessary for installing the window is performed, and the verticality when installing the wall and pillar is obtained based on the vertical reference line . These window installation work and wall and column construction are performed sequentially in accordance with the work process and are not performed simultaneously. Therefore, any one of the upper and lower reference points, the horizontal reference line, and the vertical reference line that are simultaneously formed by the conventional laser irradiation apparatus is used, and a plurality of reference points and reference lines are used at the same time. There is nothing.

  In a laser irradiation apparatus, when a reference line or the like is formed, the visibility of the reference line or the like is important, and a brightness that can be clearly recognized by an operator is required. For this reason, in the conventional laser irradiation apparatus, sufficient brightness | luminance which can be visually recognized for each of the laser beam divided into plurality is required, and the laser diode 1 is required to have a large output.

  A laser diode having a large output and a power supply device for driving the laser diode are expensive, and the manufacturing cost of the device increases. In addition, since the power consumption is large, the battery is consumed greatly, the driving time of the laser irradiation apparatus is limited, and the running cost is increased.

  Considering the reduction of power consumption, a laser diode that irradiates a laser beam in each direction such as vertical and horizontal is provided, and only a laser diode that emits a laser beam that forms a reference line for work is turned on. Although there are laser irradiation apparatuses, a plurality of laser light sources are required, which complicates the structure and increases the manufacturing cost of the apparatus. Further, when a laser diode that irradiates a green laser beam with excellent visibility is employed, the green laser diode is expensive, and the use of a plurality of laser diodes is very expensive.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-229685

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a laser irradiation apparatus capable of forming a reference point and a reference line that are excellent in visibility in a plurality of directions even with a low output with a single laser light source.

  The present invention is a laser irradiation apparatus that indicates a reference position by irradiating a laser beam, and includes a light emitting unit that emits the laser beam, and an irradiation optical system that deflects and emits the laser beam in a plurality of directions. The irradiation optical system has an optical path switching optical member on the optical axis of the light emitting unit, and the optical path switching optical member has a plurality of reflecting surfaces and can change the posture, and the laser beam can be changed in one posture. The laser beam is reflected and emitted by the reflecting surface, and is emitted without being reflected by the reflecting surface in other postures. The laser beam is selectively selected in two orthogonal directions by selecting the posture of the optical path switching optical member. The optical path switching optical member is related to a laser irradiation apparatus configured to selectively irradiate the laser beam in at least one of a plurality of directions by switching the optical path, and the optical path switching optical member has a side surface. This is a two-sided pentaprism, and the change of posture is related to a laser irradiation device whose side is perpendicular to the optical axis by rotating, and the optical path switching optical member is a pentaprism. The present invention relates to a laser irradiation apparatus that enables the pentaprism to slide out of the optical path, and the optical path switching optical member is a rhombus prism having two parallel side surfaces, and the change in posture is rotated by rotating the side surface. The optical path switching optical member is a rhombus prism, and the laser irradiation apparatus enables the rhomboid prism to be slid out of the optical path. The optical system relates to a laser irradiation apparatus having an optical path direction adjusting member in at least one direction of the laser beam emission direction, and the optical path switching optical member And the optical path switching optical member is composed of two reflecting mirrors having the same function as a rhombus prism. In addition, the irradiation optical system is provided with a first cylindrical lens that forms a first line laser beam in one of the irradiation directions of the laser beam, and a first cylindrical lens that forms the first line laser beam in the irradiation direction of the laser beam. A second cylindrical lens that forms two line laser beams, and the first line laser beam and the second line laser beam are orthogonal to each other.

  According to the present invention, a laser irradiation apparatus that indicates a reference position by irradiating a laser beam, a light emitting unit that emits the laser beam, and an irradiation optical system that deflects and emits the laser beam in a plurality of directions. And the irradiation optical system has an optical path switching optical member on the optical axis of the light emitting unit, and the optical path switching optical member has a plurality of reflecting surfaces and is capable of changing the posture, and the laser can be changed in one posture. The light beam is reflected by the reflecting surface and emitted, and in other postures, the light beam is emitted without being reflected by the reflecting surface, and the optical path switching optical member is selected in two orthogonal directions by selecting the posture of the optical path switching optical member. The optical path of the laser beam can be switched, and the laser beam is selectively irradiated in at least one of a plurality of directions by switching the optical path. In this case, since the laser beam is switched and irradiated by the irradiation optical system, sufficient luminance can be obtained without increasing the emission intensity even with a single light source, and the laser irradiation apparatus can be made inexpensive. Excellent effects such as being able to be configured are exhibited.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a laser irradiation apparatus 16 according to the present invention, in which 17 is a base, 18 is a laser beam irradiation unit, the base 17 has a leg 19 whose height is adjustable, The laser irradiation device 16 can be installed horizontally. The laser beam irradiation unit 18 is provided to be rotatable about a vertical axis with respect to the base 17, and by rotating the laser beam irradiation unit 18, the irradiation direction of the laser beam 20 can be moved. Yes.

  The laser beam irradiation unit 18 includes a light emitting unit 21 that emits a visible laser beam 20 and an irradiation optical system 22 that selectively deflects and irradiates the laser beam 20 in the horizontal and vertical directions.

  The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The light emitting unit 21 includes a laser diode 1 and a lens 2 that converts a laser beam 20 emitted from the laser diode 1 into a parallel beam. An optical path switching optical member and a light beam splitting optical member are provided on the optical axis 23 of the light emitting section 21. For example, a pentaprism 24 is used as the optical path switching optical member, and for example, a beam splitter is used as the light beam splitting optical member. 25 is used. The pentaprism 24 is supported by a support member (not shown). The support member can rotate the pentaprism 24 about a rotation axis orthogonal to the optical axis 23, and the pentaprism 24 does not rotate at 0 °. Each can be held in a posture and a posture rotated by 90 °.

  When the pentaprism 24 is not rotated, that is, in an attitude of 0 °, the incident laser beam 20 is reflected and deflected in a direction perpendicular to the incident optical axis and emitted. On the reflection optical axis 26 from the pentaprism 24, a wedge prism 27 and a first cylindrical lens 28 are provided. The wedge prism 27 is provided as an optical path direction adjusting member, and can be rotated around the reflected optical axis 26. By rotating, the wedge prism 27 can be adjusted in the optical path direction. The first cylindrical lens 28 has a vertical center line orthogonal to the reflection optical axis 26 and diffuses the incident laser beam 20 in a direction perpendicular to the center line to form a line laser beam.

  When the pentaprism 24 is rotated at 90 °, two vertically parallel surfaces are perpendicular to the optical axis 23, and the laser beam 20 causes the pentaprism 24 to pass without deflecting the optical path. It is designed to be transparent. An antireflection film is preferably formed on the two vertically parallel surfaces of the pentaprism 24.

  The beam splitter 25 and the wedge prism 29 are disposed on the optical axis 23 of the laser beam 20 transmitted through the pentaprism 24. The beam splitter 25 divides the incident laser beam 20 into a light beam that transmits in the vertical direction and a light beam that reflects in the horizontal direction.

  A wedge prism 32 and a second cylindrical lens 33 are provided on the reflection optical axis 31 of the laser beam 20 reflected by the beam splitter 25, and the wedge prism 32 is rotatable about the reflection optical axis 31. The second cylindrical lens 33 has a horizontal center line orthogonal to the reflection optical axis 31. Similarly to the wedge prism 27, the wedge prism 32 is provided as an optical path direction adjusting member, and the second cylindrical lens 33 is also diffused in a direction perpendicular to the center line of the second cylindrical lens 33 to form a line laser beam. .

  For example, a vertical correction device 34 may be provided on the optical axis 23 between the light emitting unit 21 and the pentaprism 24. The vertical correction device 34 has a free liquid surface 9 and utilizes the fact that the free liquid surface 9 is always horizontal, detects the laser beam 20 reflected by the free liquid surface 9 and detects the laser irradiation device 16 ( The leg 19 (see FIG. 1) is adjusted so that the inclination of the laser irradiation device 16 is corrected by detecting the inclination of the laser irradiation device 16 or the reflected light is optically corrected to generate vertical light. It ’s what you get.

  Note that one or all of the wedge prism 27, the wedge prism 29, and the wedge prism 32 may be omitted if it is not necessary to adjust the optical path direction.

  The operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 shows a case where a horizontal reference line is formed, and the pentaprism 24 is in an attitude of 0 °.

  The laser beam 20 emitted from the light emitting unit 21 is reflected by the pentaprism 24 at a right angle with respect to the optical axis 23 and emitted onto the reflected optical axis 26. The laser beam 20 passes through the wedge prism 27 and enters the first cylindrical lens 28, and the first cylindrical lens 28 diffuses the laser beam 20 in the horizontal direction and emits it as a horizontal line laser beam 36. The horizontal line laser beam 36 irradiates a wall surface or the like to form a horizontal reference line and indicates a horizontal reference position (reference line). By rotating the wedge prism 27, the angle of the laser beam 20 incident on the first cylindrical lens 28 can be finely adjusted, and in the direction of the horizontal line laser beam 36 emitted from the first cylindrical lens 28. Fine adjustment, that is, fine adjustment of the vertical position of the formed horizontal reference line is possible.

  FIG. 4 shows a case where a vertical reference line and a reference point are formed, and the pentaprism 24 is rotated by 90 °. In the 90 ° posture, the laser beam 20 passes through the pentaprism 24 without deflecting the optical path, and is split into a horizontal laser beam 20 and a vertical laser beam 20 by the beam splitter 25.

  The laser beam 20 divided and reflected in the horizontal direction by the beam splitter 25 passes through the wedge prism 32 and enters the second cylindrical lens 33. The second cylindrical lens 33 diffuses the laser beam 20 in the vertical direction and emits it as a vertical line laser beam 37. By rotating the wedge prism 32, the angle of the laser beam 20 incident on the second cylindrical lens 33 can be finely adjusted, and the direction of the vertical line laser beam 37 emitted from the second cylindrical lens 33 can be adjusted. Fine adjustment, that is, fine adjustment in the left-right direction of the formed vertical line is possible.

  The laser beam 20 transmitted through the beam splitter 25 and transmitted through the wedge prism 29 forms a reference point indicating a reference position on the ceiling surface, for example. The wedge prism 29 can finely adjust the position of the reference point.

  Further, in place of the wedge prism 29, a cylindrical lens orthogonal to the optical axis 23 is provided, and the cylindrical lens is rotatable about the optical axis 23, thereby connecting any two points on the ceiling surface or the like. A reference line can be formed.

  Instead of the pentaprism 24, a pentamirror composed of two reflecting mirrors having a reflecting function equivalent to the two reflecting surfaces of the pentaprism 24 may be used. In the case of the pentamirror, since there is nothing blocking the laser beam 20 when rotated by 90 °, the laser beam 20 passes between the two reflecting mirrors and is not deflected. Therefore, even when a pentamirror is used, it has the same action as the pentaprism 24.

  Thus, the horizontal line laser beam 36 and the vertical line laser beam 37 are switched and irradiated by the irradiation optical system 22, so that even if a single light source is used, the light emission intensity is not increased. Sufficient luminance can be obtained, and the laser irradiation apparatus can be configured at low cost.

  5 and 6 show a second embodiment, and show a case where a rhombus prism 38 is used as an optical path switching optical member. 5 and 6, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The rhomboid prism 38 has a first reflecting surface 41 and a second reflecting surface 42 parallel to the first reflecting surface 41, and the laser beam 20 incident on the rhombus prism 38 is incident on the first reflecting surface 41 and the first reflecting surface 41. The light is reflected by the two reflecting surfaces 42 and emitted, and the emission optical axis is parallel to the incident optical axis.

  The rhombus prism 38 is provided so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis orthogonal to the optical axis 23, and the laser beam 20 incident on the rhombus prism 38 in a non-rotating state, that is, in an attitude of 0 °, The light is reflected by the reflecting surface 41 and the second reflecting surface 42 and then emitted. In the 90 ° rotated posture, the two vertically parallel surfaces are perpendicular to the optical axis 23, and the laser beam 20 passes through the rhomboid prism 38 without deflecting the optical path. Yes. An antireflection film is preferably formed on the two parallel surfaces of the rhombus prism 38.

  The reflecting mirror 39 is provided so as to reflect the laser beam 20 deflected and emitted by the rhombus prism 38 in the horizontal direction.

  FIG. 5 shows a case where a horizontal reference line is formed. The laser beam 20 incident on the rhomboid prism 38 is deflected and emitted in the vertical direction, and further reflected by the reflecting mirror 39 in the horizontal direction.

  The laser beam 20 that has passed through the wedge prism 27 is irradiated as a horizontal line laser beam 36 from the first cylindrical lens 28. Also, by rotating the wedge prism 27, the vertical position of the horizontal reference line to be formed can be adjusted.

  FIG. 6 shows a case where a vertical reference line and a reference point are formed, and the rhombus prism 38 is rotated by 90 °. In the 90 ° posture, the laser beam 20 passes through the rhomboid prism 38 without deflecting the optical path. Note that the rhombus prism 38 may be deviated from the optical path of the laser beam 20 by rotating 90 °.

  The laser beam 20 that has passed through the rhombus prism 38 is split into a horizontal beam and a vertical beam by the beam splitter 25 in the same manner as described above, and passes through the second cylindrical lens 33 so as to pass through the vertical line. A laser beam 37 is formed and passes through the wedge prism 29 to form a reference point on the ceiling surface or the like.

  Instead of the rhombus prism 38, it may be configured by two reflecting mirrors having a reflecting function equivalent to the two reflecting surfaces of the rhombus prism 38 (a configuration in which two reflecting mirrors are arranged in parallel). In the case of two reflecting mirrors, since there is nothing to block the laser beam 20 when rotated by 90 °, the laser beam 20 passes between the two reflecting mirrors.

  Further, instead of the rotating structure, the pentaprism 24 and the rhombus prism 38 may be slid so as to be out of the optical path of the laser beam 20. Although the structure is somewhat complicated, a similar result can be obtained by sliding from the optical path in parallel. A similar result can be obtained by sliding the slide back and left and right.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the irradiation optical system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the case where the horizontal reference line is formed in the irradiation optical system of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the case where the perpendicular | vertical reference line and reference point in the irradiation optical system of the 1st Embodiment of this invention are formed. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the case where the horizontal reference line is formed in the irradiation optical system of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the case where the vertical reference line and reference point in the irradiation optical system of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention are formed. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the optical system of the conventional laser irradiation apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser diode 2 Lens 20 Laser beam 21 Light emission part 22 Irradiation optical system 24 Penta prism 25 Beam splitter 27 Wedge prism 28 1st cylindrical lens 29 Wedge prism 32 Wedge prism 33 2nd cylindrical lens 36 Horizontal line laser beam 37 Vertical line laser beam 38 Rhombus prism 39 Reflector

Claims (9)

  A laser irradiation apparatus that indicates a reference position by irradiating a laser beam, comprising: a light emitting unit that emits the laser beam; and an irradiation optical system that deflects and emits the laser beam in a plurality of directions. The optical system has an optical path switching optical member on the optical axis of the light emitting unit, and the optical path switching optical member has a plurality of reflecting surfaces and can change its posture, and in one posture, the laser beam is reflected by the reflecting surface. It is configured to be reflected and emitted, and to be emitted without being reflected by the reflecting surface in other postures. By selecting the posture of the optical path switching optical member, the optical path of the laser beam can be selectively switched in two orthogonal directions. A laser irradiation apparatus configured to irradiate the laser beam selectively in at least one of a plurality of directions by switching an optical path.   2. The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical path switching optical member is a pentaprism having two parallel side surfaces, and the change of posture is rotated so that the side surface is perpendicular to the optical axis.   The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical path switching optical member is a pentaprism, and the pentaprism can be slid out of the optical path.   2. The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical path switching optical member is a rhombus prism having two parallel side surfaces, and the change of posture is rotated so that the side surface is perpendicular to the optical axis.   The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical path switching optical member is a rhombus prism, and the rhombus prism can be slid out of the optical path.   The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation optical system includes an optical path direction adjusting member in at least one direction of the emission direction of the laser beam.   The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical path switching optical member is constituted by two reflecting mirrors that operate in the same manner as a pentaprism.   The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical path switching optical member is constituted by two reflecting mirrors having the same function as a rhombus prism.   The irradiation optical system includes a first cylindrical lens that forms a first line laser beam in one of the irradiation directions of the laser beam, and a second line laser beam in the other irradiation direction of the laser beam. 2. The laser irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second cylindrical lens is provided, and the first line laser beam and the second line laser beam are orthogonal to each other.

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