JP2006343295A - Filter type monochromator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filter type monochromator capable of attaching a large number of filters and replacing the filters in a short time. <P>SOLUTION: This filter type monochromator is provided with a disk-like turret 10 with optical interference filters arranged detachably in a plurality of through-holes respectively provided along multiple concentric circles, the first motor 30 for rotating the turret 10 circumferentially, two parallel guide shafts 40 for moving the turret horizontally, and a horizontal moving member 42 movable along a shaft axial direction, a position of an optical path for irradiation from a light source lamp unit via a condenser lens is fixed, the turret 10 is moved circumferentially by driving the first and second motors 30, 70, using the position of the optical path as a reference, to be switched to the desired optical interference filter 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a spectroscopic device provided with an optical interference filter and a switching mechanism thereof, and more specifically, using a turret provided with a plurality of optical interference filters having different wavelength bands along a plurality of disc-shaped concentric circles. The present invention relates to a spectroscopic device provided with a switching mechanism for sequentially switching to a desired optical interference filter by rotating and horizontally moving the lens.

  Conventionally, the spectroscopic techniques include (a) a prism, (b) a diffraction grating, and (c) an apparatus using an optical interference filter.

  (A) The prism type is brighter than a spectroscopic device using a diffraction grating, but has a disadvantage that the wavelength separation is proportional to the reciprocal of the wavelength, and therefore the separation ability on the long wavelength side is low.

  (B) Although the spectroscopic device using a diffraction grating is superior to the prism type in wavelength separation and wavelength scanning time, it has a drawback in that the amount of light to be used is reduced because incident light is separated into higher-order light of diffraction. In addition, since a thin window called a slit is passed, there is a problem that it is difficult to manufacture a bright spectroscopic device.

  (C) The optical interference filter has a structure called “Aging” in which the wavelength (frequency characteristics) of the conventional filter technology changes with the passage of time depending on the usage environment. There was a problem that was difficult to use.

  As described above, in the conventional spectrometers (a) and (b), “brightness” and “wavelength selection scanning time, stray light” are in contact with each other, and it is difficult to satisfy both performances at the same time.

  However, recently, (c) the defect of the optical interference filter has been eliminated, and it has become possible to manufacture a highly accurate and stable filter. Therefore, a filter type spectroscopic device having higher wavelength separation capability than (a) prism type and (b) several tens times as bright as that of the diffraction grating type can be obtained.

The performance items generally required for spectroscopic devices are shown below.
(1) A bright system that collects as much spectral light as possible.
(2) Many wavelength selections can be made.
(3) Wavelength selection (wavelength switching scanning) can be performed quickly.
(4) Little stray light.

  Therefore, the filter type spectroscope is required to increase the number of filters in order to improve the wavelength selection performance of the item (2). However, although the wavelength selection performance depends on the number of filters, it is not easy to increase the number of filters to be mounted. However, the filter type has been desired to be applied in fields requiring spectroscopic and intense light (diffuse / light reflectance measurement, fluorescence measurement, spectral light source for calibration of sensors, etc.).

  Patent Document 1 relates to a switching turret for optical elements such as a band-pass filter and a polarizing filter provided in a microscope. There is also a positioning adjustment in the rotation direction of the polarizing filter, and the required first and second optical elements are switched. It is an invention of a configuration in which it is detachably attached and replaced while rotating to the four openings of the turret.

  In Patent Document 2, a turret equipped with a plurality of types of excitation filters, a turret equipped with a dichroic mirror, and a turret equipped with an absorption filter are independently rotated to obtain one of various combinations of optical path widths. It is an invention of a configuration that can be selected.

  Patent Document 3 is an invention of an apparatus having a configuration in which an optical element (excitation filter and absorption filter) is attached to a polygonal turret and the turret is rotated to switch. In any of the above inventions, there has been a problem that it takes time to change or replace the filter.

Therefore, there has been a demand for a filter-type spectroscopic device that can select one of a large number of filter groups placed away from a position where the measurement unit is located and has a short switching and setting time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-31763 (second page, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-94940 (pages 2, 3 and 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-208981 (pages 2, 3 and 3)

  Providing a filter-type monochromator equipped with a large number of filters and capable of changing filters in a short time.

In order to solve the above problems, the filter monochromator of the present invention is a spectroscopic device provided with a plurality of optical interference filters having different wavelength bands and a switching mechanism thereof,
The optical interference filters, and disk-shaped turrets that are detachably disposed in a plurality of through holes provided along a plurality of concentric circles;
A first motor for rotating the turret in the circumferential direction;
A rotating disk connected to the rotating shaft of the first motor;
A connecting member for removably fixing the turret to the rotating disk;
Two parallel guide shafts for moving the turret in the horizontal direction;
In order to support the guide shafts horizontally, the guide shaft support members that are fixed at two places on the spectroscopic frame and support both ends of the guide shafts,
A horizontal moving member that is provided so as to straddle and surround the two guide shafts, and that faces the respective guide shafts through linear bearings, and is movable in the axial direction of the shaft,
A connecting member for connecting and fixing a gripping member on a peripheral edge of the first motor envelope, and mounting and fixing on the horizontal moving member to connect the first motor to the horizontal moving member;
In order to move the horizontal movement member in the horizontal direction, a tape-like belt in which the horizontal movement member is connected by a connection member;
First and second pulleys for rotating the belt;
A second motor connected to a rotating shaft for rotating the first pulley,
Fixing the position of the optical path irradiated from the light source lamp unit via the condenser lens, and using the position of the optical path as a reference, the first and second motors are driven to move the turret in the circumferential direction. It is characterized by sequentially switching to a desired optical interference filter.

  According to the filter type monochromator of the present invention, since multiple filters are arranged on the turret, the number of filters per unit area of the disk surface of the rotating turret is increased compared to the conventional one, and the disk surface The position of the optical path that passes through one of the filters is fixed, and the radial direction X and circumferential direction θ of the disk surface are moved by driving the motor based on the optical path position to switch to the desired filter in a short time. A possible spectroscopic device.

  Since the turret is a multicircular turret, many filters can be concentrated and a spectroscopic device having many wavelength selection performances can be obtained.

  Using computer control, the position coordinates (X, θ) of each filter are stored in advance in the storage device, and when the required filter is clicked on the display unit, the filter is automatically set to the measurement optical path position immediately. It can be set as the apparatus which can be made to do.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a filter type monochromator of the present invention. 2 shows the structure of the filter type monochromator of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, wherein (a) is a plan view and (b) is a front view. FIG. 3 shows the structure of the filter type monochromator shown in FIG. 2, wherein (a) is a left side view and (b) is a right side view. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes an optical interference filter, and reference numeral 10 denotes a disk-shaped turret provided with the optical interference filter 1. Reference numeral 10a denotes a through hole in which the optical interference filter 1 can be detachably installed.

  The through holes 10a are arranged along multiple circumferences. In the example of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a plurality are provided along a quadruple circumference.

  The outermost through hole row is composed of A through holes 10a of 11-1, 11-2, 11-3,... 11-A.

  The next inner through-hole row is composed of B through-holes 10a of 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, ..., 12-B. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the innermost through hole row is composed of D through holes 10a of 14-1, 14-2, 14-3,.

  That is, the multicircular turret 10 of this embodiment has A + B + C + D through holes 10a, and the total number A + B + C + D of the optical interference filters 1 can be set.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a first motor that rotationally drives the turret 10, and reference numeral 31 denotes a rotating disk connected to the rotating shaft of the first motor 30.

  The turret 10 is detachably fixed to the rotating disk 31 by a plurality of connecting members 30a such as screwing.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes two guide shafts in parallel that move the turret 10 in the horizontal direction.

  In order to support the guide shafts 40 horizontally, a guide shaft support member 41 is provided on a gantry 80 on which the spectroscopic device is installed.

  The guide shaft support member 41 is fixed on the gantry 80 while maintaining a predetermined interval. Two guide shafts 40 are arranged in parallel between the guide shaft support members 41 and 41 and both ends of the guide shaft 40 are connected. Are fixed so as to maintain the horizontal direction in a state of being inserted into the insertion openings provided inside the respective guide shaft support members 41.

  Reference numeral 42 denotes a horizontal movement member, which is provided so as to straddle and surround the two guide shafts 40.

  The surfaces facing the respective guide shafts 40 are brought into contact with each other through linear bearings or the like, so that the horizontal movement in the shaft axis direction is smooth.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a connecting member that connects the first motor 30 to which the turret 10 is connected to the horizontal moving member 42.

  The connecting member 50 is placed on and fixed on the horizontal moving member 42 and fixedly coupled to the lower ends of the left and right gripping members 51 and 51 that grip the peripheral edge of the envelope of the first motor 30. It connects via 51a. In addition, you may manufacture the connection member 50 and the holding member 51 integrally.

  In order to linearly move the horizontal moving member 42 in the horizontal direction (the axial direction of the shaft 40 and the X direction), an endless belt 60 in which the horizontal moving member 42 is connected by a connecting member such as a screw clamp, and the belt 60 are rotated. The first and second pulleys 61 to be moved and the second motor 70 connected to the rotating shaft for rotating the first pulley constitute a horizontal movement mechanism.

  Here, the first pulley 61 is above the second motor gripping member 71 that houses and fixes the second motor 70, and the rotation center axis of the second motor 70 and the rotation center axis of the first pulley 61 are The gears are connected at a reduced rotational speed.

  Reference numeral 90a denotes a light source lamp unit, and 90b denotes its condenser lens system. Reference numeral 90 denotes the optical path described above, and the optical path position is fixed. Based on the position of the optical path 90, the first motor 30 and the second motor 70 are driven to rotate and horizontally move the turret 10 in the rotation direction (circumferential direction) θ and the horizontal direction (radial direction) X. The optical interference filter is sequentially switched in a short time.

  By adopting such a structure, in this embodiment, it is possible to mount a high-performance interference filter approximately 10 times that of a conventional monochromator, and a monochromator with high wavelength selection performance by switching them in a short time. Can be obtained.

  The filter monochromator of the present invention can be easily made into an electronically controlled spectrometer when combined with a microcomputer control unit.

  That is, a coordinate file for storing the relationship between the filter and the coordinate position is stored in advance in the storage device of the computer control unit for each position coordinate (X, θ) of each filter of the multicircular turret. When the desired filter is clicked from the table, the first and second motors 30 and 70 are automatically driven, and the clicked filter is set at the optical path position 90.

  It should be noted that when the optical interference filter 1 is inserted into the through hole 10a of the turret 10, it may be configured to fit, or a female screw is cut inside the through hole 10a and the outside of the filter 1 is set as a male screw. Also good. In the latter case, the angle of the interference filter can be easily adjusted.

It is a perspective view which shows the filter type monochromator of this invention. The structure of the filter type monochromator of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. The structure of the filter type monochromator shown in FIG. 2 is shown, (a) is a left side view, and (b) is a right side view.

Explanation of symbols

X horizontal direction θ circumferential direction 1 optical interference filter 10 turret 10a through hole 11-1, 11-2,... Outermost through hole array 12-1, 12-2,. 30 First motor 31 Rotating disk 31a Connection member 40 Guide shaft 41 Guide shaft support member 42 Horizontal movement member 42a Linear bearing 50 Connection member 50a Connection member 51 Motor envelope gripping member 51a Fixing member 60 Belt 61 First and first 2 pulley 70 second motor 71 second motor gripping member 80 mount (spectrometer installation mount)
90 Optical path 100 Filter monochromator

Claims (1)

A spectroscopic device provided with a plurality of optical interference filters having different wavelength bands and a switching mechanism thereof,
The optical interference filters, and disk-shaped turrets that are detachably disposed in a plurality of through holes provided along a plurality of concentric circles;
A first motor for rotating the turret in the circumferential direction;
A rotating disk connected to the rotating shaft of the first motor;
A connecting member for removably fixing the turret to the rotating disk;
Two parallel guide shafts for moving the turret in the horizontal direction;
In order to support the guide shafts horizontally, the guide shaft support members that are fixed at two places on the spectroscopic frame and support both ends of the guide shafts,
A horizontal moving member that is provided so as to straddle and surround the two guide shafts, and that faces the respective guide shafts through linear bearings, and is movable in the axial direction of the shaft,
A connecting member for connecting and fixing a gripping member on a peripheral edge of the first motor envelope, and mounting and fixing on the horizontal moving member to connect the first motor to the horizontal moving member;
In order to move the horizontal movement member in the horizontal direction, a tape-like belt in which the horizontal movement member is connected by a connection member;
First and second pulleys for rotating the belt;
A second motor connected to a rotating shaft for rotating the first pulley,
Fixing the position of the optical path irradiated from the light source lamp unit via the condenser lens, and using the position of the optical path as a reference, the first and second motors are driven to move the turret in the circumferential direction. A filter type monochromator characterized by sequentially switching to a desired optical interference filter.

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