JP2007266137A - Laser device and laser module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser device and laser module which can be prevented from a decline in light use efficiency due to the contamination of an optical fiber by dust, etc. caused by the optical dust collection effect and can also prevent burn-in, damages, etc. at a light collecting position having a high light density. <P>SOLUTION: The laser device comprises the optical fiber 30; the laser module 10 which has such a structure that a semiconductor laser 12 for emitting laser light and a lens 16 for condensing the laser light are stored in a housing 14 and which can be connected to the optical fiber 30; and a vibration element 40 which changes the relative position between the condensing position A of the laser light and a laser light incident-side end face of the optical fiber 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser device and a laser module, and in particular, a laser device and a laser module that connect a laser module having a laser light source such as a semiconductor laser and one end of an optical fiber and emit laser light from the other end of the optical fiber. About.

  In areas where intense laser light is irradiated, such as the laser light incident surface of an optical fiber, the outgas from the adhesive used to attach the optical fiber to the ferrule is photochemically reacted by the laser beam with high energy density and attached to the surface. However, it accumulates as a solid or liquid substance, causing a problem that the coupling efficiency to the optical fiber is remarkably reduced.

  In order to solve this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a semiconductor laser module in which a light transmissive and gas barrier member (SiO 2 film) is formed on the ferrule tip surface including the laser light incident surface of an optical fiber.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 prevents light utilization efficiency from deteriorating due to the adhering and adsorbing of organic substances on the light output end face of each optical component or optical fiber array constituting the semiconductor laser module. Therefore, a semiconductor laser module in which a photocatalyst layer activated by laser light emitted from a semiconductor laser is coated on at least one of an inner wall surface inside the semiconductor laser, a light passage region in the semiconductor laser module, and an incident / exit surface of the optical fiber Is disclosed.
JP 2005-215426 A JP 2004-179595 A

  However, although the technique described in Patent Document 1 can prevent outgas from the adhesive, it has no effect on dirt or dirt caused by organic volatiles floating in the air.

  Further, the technique described in Patent Document 2 has problems such as a loss of loss due to absorption and destruction of the coating film because the photocatalytic film is colored black when coated at a low temperature. On the other hand, if the coating is performed at a high temperature in order to suppress absorption, there is a problem that the resin melts because the optical fiber is coated with the resin.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can prevent the optical fiber from being contaminated by dust or the like due to the light dust collection effect, thereby reducing the light utilization efficiency, and can collect light with high light density. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser device and a laser module that can prevent image sticking, damage, and the like from occurring at a position.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the laser device according to claim 1 is capable of connecting an optical fiber and the optical fiber, and contains a laser light source that emits laser light and a condensing lens that condenses the laser light. It is characterized by comprising: a laser module housed in a body; and fluctuating means that fluctuates the relative position between the condensing position of the laser light and the incident side end face of the optical fiber of the optical fiber.

  According to the present invention, the optical fiber is contaminated by dust or the like due to the light dust collection effect because the variation means for varying the relative position between the condensing position of the laser light and the incident side end face of the optical fiber is provided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light utilization efficiency from being lowered and to prevent the occurrence of image sticking or damage at a light condensing position with a high light density.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the fluctuating unit may be a vibrating unit that vibrates the optical fiber.

  In this case, as described in claim 3, the vibrating means may be configured to vibrate the ferrule that holds the optical fiber.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a ferrule that holds the optical fiber is fixed to the housing, a part of the optical fiber is stretched into the housing, and the vibration unit is stretched into the housing. The optical fiber may be configured to vibrate.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the container further includes a liquid chamber filled with a liquid, and a part of the optical fiber is extended into the liquid chamber. It is good also as a structure which vibrates the said optical fiber by vibrating.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the changing means preferably changes the relative position so that the spot diameter of the laser light incident on the core of the optical fiber is within the core diameter.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the vibration means may be a piezo element or an ultrasonic vibration element.

  In addition, as described in claim 8, the laser light source may be configured to emit laser light having a wavelength within a range of 350 nm to 500 nm.

  The laser module of the invention according to claim 9 is a laser module in which an optical fiber can be connected, and a laser light source that emits laser light and a condensing lens that condenses the laser light are housed in a housing body, And fluctuating means for fluctuating the relative position between the condensing position of the laser light and the laser light incident side end surface of the optical fiber.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber from being contaminated by dust or the like due to the light dust collection effect and to reduce the light utilization efficiency, and to prevent the occurrence of burn-in, damage, or the like at a high light density condensing position. Has the effect of being able to.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a side surface of the laser device 1 according to this embodiment. The laser device 1 is configured by connecting an optical fiber cable 24 to a laser module 10.

  As an example, the laser module 10 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape. The laser module 10 includes a semiconductor laser 12 and is accommodated in a housing 14.

  As the semiconductor laser 12, for example, a semiconductor laser that emits laser light having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region (for example, 400 nm) can be used. The present invention is particularly effective when the semiconductor laser 12 that outputs laser light having a wavelength at which a light dust collecting effect is likely to occur, for example, a wavelength of 350 nm to 500 nm, is used.

  A lens 16 is provided on the laser beam emission side of the semiconductor laser 12. The lens 16 is fixed in the housing 14 by a lens holder 18.

  The housing 14 is provided with a window (hole) 19 for emitting laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 12 and transmitted through the lens 16 to the outside of the housing 14. Laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 12 and transmitted through the lens 16 passes through the window portion 19 and is emitted to the outside of the laser module 10.

  The lens 16 has an aperture ratio such that the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 12 is condensed near the end portion (point A shown in FIG. 1) of the window portion 19 on the laser light emission side. As a result, the laser light that has passed through the lens 16 is condensed in the vicinity of point A shown in FIG. 1, which is a connection position with an end portion of an optical fiber cable described later.

  Further, the laser beam output end side of the housing 14 has a receptacle structure in which a ferrule holding portion 14A for holding a ferrule of an optical fiber cable described later is provided, and a substantially cylindrical recess is formed. One end of an optical fiber cable described later is inserted into the recess.

  The optical fiber cable 24 has a configuration in which a clad 28 is formed around a core 26, an optical fiber 30 covered with a covering material 29, and a ferrule 32 is attached to one end side where the covering material 29 is removed. By inserting the ferrule 32 side of the optical fiber cable 24 into the ferrule holding part 14A of the laser module 10, both are connected.

  A vibration element 40 is attached to the inner periphery of the ferrule holding part 14A, and a control part 42 and a power supply part 44 are connected to the vibration element 40. The vibration element 40 includes, for example, a piezoelectric element or an ultrasonic vibration element, but is not limited thereto. The vibration element 40 is supplied with power by the power supply unit 44 and is vibration-controlled by the control unit 42.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the ferrule holding unit 14 </ b> A holds the ferrule 32 in a state where a slight gap 46 is generated between the ferrule 32 and the inserted ferrule 32. Accordingly, the optical fiber 30 held by the ferrule 32 can be vibrated satisfactorily.

  The control unit 42 constantly vibrates the vibration element 40 while the semiconductor laser 12 emits light. As a result, the relative position between the condensing position of the laser light and the laser light incident side end face of the optical fiber 30 constantly fluctuates, so that the organic matter adheres to the optical fiber 30 due to the light dust collection effect, and the light utilization efficiency decreases. Can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to prevent image burn-in, damage, and the like from occurring at a light collecting position where the light density is high.

  Note that the control unit 42 preferably controls the vibration element 40 so that the vibration amplitude of the optical fiber 30 is equal to or less than the maximum vibration amplitude value ΔX represented by the following equation.

ΔX = d−ω0 (1)
Here, d is the core diameter (diameter) of the core 26 of the optical fiber 30, and ω0 is the beam diameter at which the intensity of the laser light on the laser light incident surface of the optical fiber 30 is 1 / e ² . For example, when the core diameter d is 60 μm and the beam diameter of the laser beam is 10 μm, the maximum vibration amplitude value ΔX is 50 μm.

  As described above, by controlling the vibration amplitude of the optical fiber 30 to be equal to or less than the maximum vibration amplitude value ΔX, even when the optical fiber 30 is vibrated, the laser light can be reliably incident on the optical fiber 30 while suppressing loss.

  Note that the control unit 42 may control the vibrating element 40 to vibrate periodically, for example, when the semiconductor laser 12 is not emitting light. Thereby, dust or the like attached to the optical fiber 30 can be removed.

  Next, a modified example of the laser device will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as the laser apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, FIG. 2 shows a laser device 1A according to a first modification. The laser apparatus 1A is configured by connecting a laser module 10A and an optical fiber cable 24A, and as shown in the figure, a ferrule 32 of the optical fiber 30 is held by a ferrule holding portion 14A. The ferrule holding part 14A is fixed to the housing 14 by welding or the like, for example, and the inside of the housing 14 is sealed.

  The optical fiber 30 is extended into the housing 14 from the ferrule 32 held by the ferrule holding portion 14 </ b> A, and the vibrating element 40 is attached to the extended optical fiber 30. The laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 12 is collected near the end portion (point A in the figure) of the optical fiber 30 that is extended into the housing 14.

  When the vibration element 40 vibrates by the vibration control of the control unit 42, the tip of the optical fiber 30 extended into the housing 14 vibrates. As a result, the relative position between the condensing position of the laser light and the laser light incident side end face of the optical fiber 30 is fluctuated, so that the organic matter is prevented from adhering to the optical fiber 30 due to the light dust collection effect, thereby preventing the light utilization efficiency from being lowered. be able to. In addition, it is possible to prevent image burn-in, damage, and the like from occurring at a light collecting position where the light density is high.

  In FIG. 2, only the optical fiber 30 is extended into the housing 14. However, the optical fiber 30 may be extended into the housing 14 together with the ferrule 32 and may be configured to vibrate together with the ferrule 32.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a laser device 1B according to a second modification. The laser device 1A is formed by connecting a laser module 10B and an optical fiber cable 24A. As shown in the figure, a liquid chamber 52 filled with a liquid 50 is provided in the housing 14 of the laser module 10B. The front end side of the optical fiber 30 extends into the liquid chamber 52. The vibration element 40 is attached between the bottom surface of the liquid chamber 52 and the housing 14.

  In such a configuration, when the vibration element 40 vibrates due to vibration control of the control unit 42, the tip of the optical fiber 30 extended into the liquid chamber 52 vibrates due to cavitation generated in the liquid chamber 52. Thereby, since the relative position of the condensing position of a laser beam and the incident side end surface of the optical fiber 30 fluctuates, it is possible to prevent image sticking or damage from occurring at a condensing position with a high light density. Further, since the periphery of the tip of the optical fiber 30 is filled with the liquid 50, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from adhering.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows a laser device 1C according to a third modification. The laser device 1C is formed by connecting a laser module 10C and an optical fiber cable 24. As shown in the drawing, a glass stub 54 is provided at a laser light exit window portion of the housing 14 of the laser module 10C. The laser module 10C and the optical fiber cable 24 are connected in a state where the glass stub 54 and the end face on the laser light incident side of the optical fiber cable 24 inserted into the ferrule holding portion 14A are in contact with each other. Thereby, it can prevent that organic substance adheres to the optical fiber 30 by light dust collection effect, and light use efficiency falls.

  In addition, a vibrating element 40 that vibrates the glass stub 54 and the ferrule holding portion 14A at the same time is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the ferrule holding portion 14A.

  When the vibration element 40 vibrates by vibration control of the control unit 42, the glass stub 54 and the ferrule 32 vibrate simultaneously, and the tip of the optical fiber 30 vibrates. Thereby, since the relative position of the condensing position of a laser beam and the incident side end surface of the optical fiber 30 fluctuates, it is possible to prevent image sticking or damage from occurring at a condensing position with a high light density.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the tip end side of the optical fiber 30 is vibrated has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the semiconductor laser 12 and the lens 16 may be vibrated. What is necessary is just to be able to fluctuate a relative position with the incident side end face of a laser beam.

It is sectional drawing of a laser apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the laser apparatus which concerns on a 1st modification. It is sectional drawing of the laser apparatus which concerns on a 2nd modification. It is sectional drawing of the laser apparatus which concerns on a 3rd modification.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A, 1B, 1C Laser device 10, 10A, 10B, 10C Laser module 12 Semiconductor laser 14 Housing (container)
14A Ferrule holding part 16 Lens 18 Lens holder 19 Window part 24A Optical fiber cable 26 Core 28 Cladding 29 Covering material 30 Optical fiber 32 Ferrule 40 Vibration element (vibration means)
42 Control Unit 44 Power Supply Unit 52 Liquid Chamber 54 Glass Stub

Claims (9)

With optical fiber,
A laser module in which the optical fiber can be connected, and a laser light source for emitting laser light and a condenser lens for condensing the laser light are accommodated in a container;
Fluctuation means for varying the relative position between the condensing position of the laser light and the incident side end surface of the laser light of the optical fiber,
A laser apparatus comprising:   The laser apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit is a vibrating unit that vibrates the optical fiber.   The laser apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the vibration unit vibrates a ferrule that holds the optical fiber.   The ferrule holding the optical fiber is fixed to the container, a part of the optical fiber is extended into the container, and the vibration means vibrates the optical fiber extended into the container. Item 3. The laser device according to Item 2.   The container further includes a liquid chamber filled with a liquid, and a part of the optical fiber is extended into the liquid chamber, and the vibration unit vibrates the optical fiber by vibrating the liquid. 3. The laser device according to claim 2, wherein   6. The variable means according to claim 1, wherein the relative position varies the relative position so that a spot diameter of the laser beam incident on the core of the optical fiber is within the core diameter. 2. The laser device according to item 1.   The laser apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration unit is a piezo element or an ultrasonic vibration element.   The laser apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the laser light source emits laser light having a wavelength in a range of 350 nm to 500 nm. An optical fiber is connectable, and a laser light source for emitting laser light and a condensing lens for condensing the laser light are housed in a housing body,
Fluctuation means for varying the relative position between the condensing position of the laser light and the incident side end surface of the laser light of the optical fiber,
A laser module characterized by comprising:

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