JP2009181984A - Laser module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser module capable of improving the safety, by prohibiting use of the laser module with the module separated from a protective casing. <P>SOLUTION: As to this laser module 4, if a control part 50 detects that a protective casing 1 is separated from the laser module 4 via connecting elements 24, 25, the control part 50 sends instructions to a switching element 27 so as to short-circuit a circuit inside of which a lithium ion battery 11 in the laser module 4 is installed. A voltage of 3V, which is reverse to the drive voltage of a laser diode 8 is impressed, on the laser diode 8 from a battery 11 that uses lithium ions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser module mounted on various light source devices and the like.

  Laser products equipped with laser modules need to have reliable safety characteristics and are therefore classified according to the assigned class. In any class classified, it is obliged to have a protective housing or a protective enclosure for preventing the human body from being exposed.

  Also, in the case of laser products incorporating high-power laser modules that are classified as exceeding Class 3R, which has a high risk of human exposure, even when performing maintenance and inspection, a protective enclosure or protective enclosure is required. When removing and moving, it is required to make it safe by using a special tool or the like (see Non-Patent Document 1).

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure of a light source device in which a protective housing (or protective enclosure) and a laser module are connected using an adhesive or a special screw.
JIS C 6802 JP-A-8-152548 (released on June 11, 1996)

However, the conventional laser module has the following problems.
That is, in the laser module disclosed in the above publication, the protective housing or protective enclosure and the laser module are connected using an adhesive or special screw, but if the protective housing or the like is broken, only the laser module is separated. Therefore, there is a risk of using the device in a dangerous state without a protective housing or the like. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to ensure sufficient safety without prohibiting the use of the laser module exposed to the outside of the protective housing.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a laser module capable of further improving safety by prohibiting the use of the laser module in a state separated from a protective housing.

  A laser module according to a first invention is a laser module installed inside a protective housing, and includes a light source unit, a detection unit, a power feeding unit, and a control unit. A detection part detects having separated from the protective housing. The power feeding unit applies a reverse voltage to the light source unit. When the control unit detects that the protective housing and the light source unit are separated in the detection unit, the control unit controls the power feeding unit to apply a reverse voltage to the light source unit.

Here, in the laser module installed in the protective housing, it is detected that the light source unit is separated from the protective housing, and safety control is performed to apply a reverse voltage to the light source unit.
Here, the light source unit includes a laser diode that constitutes a light source of the laser module. The protective housing is a housing portion including an enclosure that encloses the laser module so that the laser module is not exposed to the outside. The detection unit includes a switch element that detects a separation state between the light source unit (laser module) and the protective housing. The reverse voltage is a voltage applied for the purpose of destroying the light source unit and means a voltage opposite to the voltage for driving the light source unit of the laser module.

  Thus, for example, when the protective housing is destroyed and the laser module including the light source unit such as a laser diode is exposed, it is detected that the protective housing and the light source unit are separated. By applying a reverse voltage to the light source unit, the light source unit can be destroyed. As a result, it is possible to reliably prohibit the use of the laser module in a state separated from the protective housing, and to configure a module with higher safety than before.

A laser module according to a second aspect of the present invention is the laser module according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the detection unit includes a switch element installed at a connection portion with the protective housing.
Here, a switch element installed at a connection portion between the laser module and the protective casing is used as a detection unit that detects that the laser module and the protective casing are separated from each other.

Here, as the switch element, an element or the like provided in a circuit whose open / close state changes when the laser module is attached to the protective housing can be used.
Thereby, when the laser module is separated from the protective housing, this separation state can be easily detected by the switch element.

  A laser module according to a third invention is the laser module according to the first invention, and the protective housing is electrically grounded. The laser module has an electrode provided on the surface of the connection portion with the protective housing.

  Here, an electrode provided at the surface position of the laser module that contacts the electrically grounded protective housing is used as a detection unit that detects the separation state of the protective housing and the laser module.

  As a result, when the laser module is attached to the protective casing, the protective casing is electrically grounded, so that a current flows between the electrode on the laser module side and the protective casing. Can be formed. As a result, by detecting whether or not a current flows between the electrode and the protective housing, it is possible to easily detect the transition of the laser module from the protective housing to the separated state.

A laser module according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the laser module according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the detection unit has a connection current monitoring unit connected to the electrode.
Here, a connection current monitoring unit that detects the presence or absence of a current flowing between the above-mentioned grounded protective housing and the electrode on the surface of the laser module is provided on the electrode side.

  Thereby, in a connection current monitoring part, separation from a protection case of a laser module can be easily detected by detecting that current does not flow into an electrode. As a result, the control unit can transmit a signal indicating separation of the laser module from the protective housing to the power supply unit, and can apply a reverse voltage to the light source unit of the laser module to destroy the light source.

  A laser module according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the laser module according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the connection current monitoring unit includes a resistance element that detects a current between the connection portions of the laser module and the protective housing. Yes.

Here, in order to detect a current flowing between the electrode on the laser module side and the grounded protective housing, a resistance element for current detection is used.
Thereby, the separation of the laser module from the protective housing can be easily detected based on the current value obtained in the resistance element.

A laser apparatus according to a sixth invention includes the laser module according to any one of the first to fifth inventions.
As a result, it is possible to reliably prohibit the use of the laser module in a state where it is separated from the protective housing, and to obtain a similar effect as described above, which can constitute a module with higher safety than before. it can.

  According to the laser module of the present invention, it is possible to surely prohibit the use of the laser module in a state separated from the protective housing, thereby further improving the safety compared to the conventional case.

Embodiments 1 and 2 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
A laser device (laser device) 30 equipped with a laser module 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[Configuration of Laser Device 30]
As shown in FIG. 1, the laser device 30 according to the present embodiment includes a protective housing 1, a slit lamp 2, a fiber 3, a laser module 4, a wavelength conversion unit 5, and an output connector 6. ing.

The protective housing 1 is a box-shaped enclosure including a laser module 4 and a wavelength conversion unit 5 and the like, and an output connector 6 is attached to the surface thereof.
The slit lamp 2 has a fiber 3 connected to one end side, and emits laser light propagated through the fiber 3 from the other end side.

  The fiber 3 is connected to the output connector 6 and the tip of the slit lamp 2. The fiber 3 propagates the laser beam emitted from the laser module 4 and emitted from the emission connector 6 in the protective housing 1 to the slit lamp 2.

  The laser module 4 is configured to generate second pump radiation at a wavelength in the range of 1000 nm to 1100 nm, for example, 1064 nm, that excites Yb ions in the Yb-doped double clad fiber. The configuration of the laser module 4 will be described in detail later.

  The wavelength conversion unit 5 is provided in the protective housing 1 similarly to the laser module 4. Then, the laser beam emitted from the laser module 4 is introduced into the wavelength conversion unit 5 and emitted to the emission connector 6. The configuration of the wavelength conversion unit 5 will be described in detail later.

  The outgoing connector 6 is provided on the surface of the protective housing 1, and one end side of the fiber 3 is connected thereto. The emission connector 6 emits the laser light emitted from the wavelength conversion unit 5 through the fiber 3.

  In the present embodiment, laser light is emitted from the laser module 4 in the protective housing 1 of the laser device 30 having the above-described configuration. Then, the laser light emitted from the laser module 4 is introduced into the wavelength conversion unit 5, and then the slit lamp is passed through the output connector 6 and the fiber 3 connected from the wavelength conversion unit 5 to the outside of the protective housing 1. 2 is emitted.

[Configuration of Laser Module 4]
As shown in FIG. 2, the laser module 4 of the present embodiment includes a Yb-doped double clad fiber 7, a laser diode (light source unit) 8, a Peltier element 9, a thermistor 10, a battery (power feeding unit) 11, A switch circuit (power feeding unit) 12, first and second Bragg diffraction gratings 13 and 14, a connection element (detection unit, switch element) 24, and a control unit 50 are included.

One end of the Yb-doped double clad fiber 7 is bonded to a fiber (not shown) for emitting the second pump light.
The laser diode 8 is optically coupled to the tip portion of the Yb-doped double clad fiber 7 and generates pumping light for pumping the Yb-doped double clad fiber 7.

The Peltier element 9 and the thermistor 10 are disposed below the laser diode 8 and connected to a control circuit (not shown) provided outside.
The thermistor 10 detects the environmental temperature in the laser module 4, and the Peltier element 9 becomes a heating body or a cooling body so that the environmental temperature becomes a set temperature 25 ° C. As a result, the ambient temperature can be made substantially constant, and the output and wavelength of the laser light emitted from the laser module 4 can be kept constant.

  The battery 11 is a battery using lithium ions, and applies a driving voltage for the laser module 4 and a reverse voltage for destroying the laser diode 8 based on a predetermined condition.

  The switch circuit 12 is connected to a battery 11 using lithium ions, and shorts the circuit when the laser module 4 and the protective housing 1 are separated. As a result, a reverse voltage can be applied from the battery 11 to the laser diode 8, and the laser diode 8 can be destroyed to make it impossible to output.

  The Bragg diffraction gratings 13 and 14 are mounted on both ends of the Yb-doped double clad fiber 7 and demarcate the Fabry-Perot resonance cavity of the laser module 4. The Bragg diffraction gratings 13 and 14 are not necessarily provided, but are more preferably provided from the viewpoint of selectively extracting light having a wavelength.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the connection element 24 is provided on the surface on the connection side with the protective housing 1, and serves as a detection unit that detects the connection state between the protective housing 1 and the laser module 4. Function.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 50 is connected to a connection element 24 on the laser module 4 side as a detection unit, and a connection element (detection unit, switch element) 25 on the protective housing 1 side (FIG. 4) is determined. In addition, when the control unit 50 determines the separation state between the protective housing 1 and the laser module 4 described above, the control circuit 50 applies a reverse voltage from the battery 11 to the laser diode 8 by short-circuiting the switch circuit 12.

[Configuration of Wavelength Conversion Unit 5]
As shown in FIG. 3, the wavelength conversion unit 5 includes collimating lenses 15 and 18, a condenser lens 16, a polarization inversion device 17, a reflection mirror 19, a spectroscopic mirror 20, a photodiode 21, and a shutter 22. And an alignment unit 23 for fiber coupling.

The collimating lens 15 converts (collimates) the laser light incident from the laser module 4 into parallel light.
The condensing lens 16 condenses the laser light converted into parallel light by the collimating lens 15 toward the polarization inverting device 17.

  The polarization inversion device 17 is disposed at a position where the laser light is collected by the condenser lens 16 and forms a periodic polarization inversion region. Here, the laser light of 1064 nm that is the fundamental wave is converted into the laser light of 532 nm that is the second harmonic.

The collimating lens 18 converts (collimates) the laser light converted into the second harmonic in the polarization inverting device 17 into parallel light again.
The reflection mirror 19 selectively separates the laser beam of 532 nm that is the second harmonic and the laser beam of 1064 nm that is the fundamental wave.

The spectroscopic mirror 20 extracts about 5% of the laser beam of 532 nm that is the second harmonic separated by the reflection mirror 19.
The photodiode 21 is irradiated with laser light that is a second harmonic extracted by the spectroscopic mirror 20, and detects this laser light.

  The shutter 22 is opened and closed at a predetermined timing to adjust the timing at which the second harmonic laser beam sent from the spectroscopic mirror 20 enters the fiber coupling alignment unit 23.

  The fiber coupling alignment unit 23 adjusts the output of the second harmonic laser light incident by the shutter 22 based on the output amount of the laser light detected by the photodiode 21.

[Configuration of Connection Portion between Protective Housing 1 and Laser Module 4]
In the present embodiment, the laser module 4 has a connection element 24 as shown in FIG. 4A at the connection portion with the protective housing 1. On the other hand, the protective housing 1 has a connecting element 25 at a position corresponding to the connecting element 24 on the laser module 4 side, as shown in FIG.

  The connecting elements 24 and 25 are in contact with each other so that the convex portion of the connecting element 25 on the protective housing 1 side fits into the concave portion of the connecting element 24 on the laser module 4 side. At this time, a signal indicating a connection state between the protective housing 1 and the laser module 4 is generated. The control unit 50 determines whether the protective housing 1 and the laser module 4 are connected or disconnected depending on whether or not this signal is detected. Then, the control unit 50 sends a command to a circuit including the switch element 27 (see FIG. 5A and the like) provided in the laser module 4.

Here, each operation in the connected state and the separated state of the protective housing 1 and the laser module 4 will be described as follows with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).
That is, when the control unit 50 detects the connection between the protective housing 1 and the laser module 4 by detecting the contact state of the connection elements 24 and 25, a battery using lithium ions as shown in FIG. 11 is in the first state in which the switch element 27 of the circuit including 11 is opened. At this time, a command indicating that the control unit 50 has shifted to the first state is sent, and the circuit including the switch element 27 does not function. At this time, the laser diode 8 is supplied with a drive voltage from the laser drive circuit 29, and is ready to emit laser light.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 50 detects that the protective housing 1 and the laser module 4 are separated via the connection elements 24 and 25, it is a dangerous state in which the laser module 4 is exposed from the protective housing 1. It is expected that. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, the control unit 50 instructs the switch element 27 to short-circuit the circuit in which the lithium ion battery 11 in the laser module 4 is installed. send. A voltage of 3 V opposite to the drive voltage of the laser diode 8 is applied to the laser diode 8 from the battery 11 using lithium ions.

  At this time, the relationship between the output of the laser diode 8 and the reverse voltage is as shown in the graph of FIG. The time T1 means the time during which a reverse voltage is applied to the laser diode 8 by detecting the separation between the protective housing 1 and the laser module 4.

  The laser beam output is stable until a predetermined time T1 when a voltage higher than the reverse voltage of the laser diode is applied. However, by continuing to apply the reverse voltage for a predetermined time T1 or longer, the laser diode 8 can be intentionally damaged, and the output of the laser light can be reduced (see FIG. 6). As a result, the output from the laser diode 8 cannot be obtained, and the function as the laser module 4 is lost and the laser module 4 cannot be used.

  In the present embodiment, by configuring the laser module 4 as described above, even when the protective housing 1 or the like is broken and the laser module 4 is separated from the laser device 30, the risk of the human body being exposed is avoided. Thus, it is possible to provide the laser module 4 with improved safety as compared with the prior art.

(Embodiment 2)
A laser device (laser device) 130 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 8B. In addition, about the member which has the same structure and function as the member demonstrated in the said Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The laser device 130 of this embodiment includes a protective housing 101, a slit lamp 2, a connection fiber 3 between the protective housing 101 and the slit lamp, a laser module 104, a wavelength conversion unit 5, and a chip-type current detection. Resistance element (connection current monitoring unit) 105.

  The protective housing 101 is a box-shaped enclosure including the laser module 104, the wavelength conversion unit 5, the current detection resistor element 105, and the like, and the output connector 6 is attached to the surface. Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.8 (b), the protection housing | casing 101 differs from the protection housing | casing 1 of the said embodiment by the point which is electrically earth | grounded.

  Similar to the laser module 4 of the first embodiment, the laser module 104 includes a Yb-doped double clad fiber 7, a laser diode 8, a Peltier element 9, a thermistor 10, a battery 11 using lithium ions, and a switch circuit. 12. Further, the laser module 104 has an electrode 125 on the connection side surface with the protective housing 101 as shown in FIG. The internal configuration of the laser module 104 is assumed to be substantially the same as that of the laser module 4 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 5A, and 5B.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the protective casing 101 is electrically grounded, and at least one laser module 104 is attached to the surface on the connection side with the protective casing 101. Two electrodes 125 are provided.

  For this reason, when the protective housing 101 and the laser module 104 shift to the connected state, the protective housing 101 and the laser module 104 are electrically grounded. As a result, a current flows between the protective housing 101 and the laser module 104, and the current can be detected by the chip-type current detection resistance element 105 attached between the laser module 104 and the protective housing 101. .

  From the above, the control unit 50 (see FIG. 2) determines the connection or separation state between the protective housing 101 and the laser module 104 based on the current value acquired in the current detection resistor element 105. Then, as in the first embodiment, the control unit 50 instructs the circuit including the switch element 27 disposed inside the laser module 104 as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). Send.

  Specifically, first, the control unit 50 detects the separation state between the protective housing 101 and the laser module 104 based on the result of obtaining the current value in the current detection resistance element 105. Then, the control unit 50 sends a command to the switch element 27 so as to short-circuit the circuit in which the lithium ion battery 11 in the laser module 104 is installed. At this time, a voltage of 3 V opposite to the driving voltage of the laser diode 8 is applied to the laser diode 8 from the battery 11 using lithium ions for a predetermined time T1 or more. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the laser diode 8 has a reduced output and loses its function as a light source.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, by configuring the laser module 104, even when the protective housing 101 is broken and the laser module 104 is separated from the laser device 130, the risk of being exposed to the human body is avoided. It is possible to provide the laser module 104 with improved safety as compared with the prior art.

[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention.

(A)
In the first and second embodiments, the wavelength conversion laser device that converts the wavelength of 1064 nm to 532 nm has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the wavelength and structure of the laser module are not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to laser modules having any wavelength and structure.

(B)
In the said Embodiment 1, 2, the example which used lithium ion as a battery was given and demonstrated. However, the present invention is not limited to the constituent materials of the battery.
For example, the present invention can be applied to any device capable of supplying a voltage, such as a battery using nickel ions, a battery using silver oxide, or a capacitor.

(C)
Furthermore, in the said Embodiment 2, the example which employ | adopted the mechanical means using the switch element as a detection means of the protection housing | casing and the connection part of a laser module was given and demonstrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, even in the method in which an electrode and a resistance element for current detection are provided at the connection portion between the protective housing and the laser module and the amount of change in the signal transmitted from the resistance element is detected electrically, The effects of the present invention can be achieved.

  The laser module of the present invention is mounted on various light source devices because it has the effect of prohibiting the reuse of the laser module and further improving safety even when the protective housing or the like is destroyed. Widely applicable to laser modules.

The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the laser apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the laser module which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the wavelength conversion unit contained in the laser apparatus of FIG. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the connection part of a laser module. (B) is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the connection part of a protection housing | casing. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the state in which the protective housing and the laser module were connected. (B) is a schematic diagram which shows the state from which the protection housing | casing and the laser module were isolate | separated. The graph which shows the relationship between the output of a laser diode, and a reverse voltage. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the laser apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the connection part of a laser module. (B) is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the connection part of a protection housing | casing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Protective housing 2 Slit lamp 3 Fiber 4 Laser module 5 Wavelength conversion unit 6 Output connector 7 Yb-doped double clad fiber 8 Laser diode (light source)
9 Peltier element 10 Thermistor 11 Battery (Power supply unit)
12 Switch circuit (feeding part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 1st Bragg diffraction grating 14 2nd Bragg diffraction grating 15, 18 Collimating lens 16 Condensing lens 17 Polarization inversion device 19 Reflection mirror 20 Spectroscopic mirror 21 Photodiode 22 Shutter 23 Alignment unit 24, 25 Connection element (detection part) , Switch element)
27 Switch element 29 Laser drive circuit 30 Laser equipment (laser device)
50 Control Unit 101 Protective Case 104 Laser Module 105 Current Detection Resistive Element (Connection Current Monitoring Unit)
125 electrode 130 laser equipment (laser device)

Claims (6)

A laser module installed inside a protective housing,
A light source unit;
A detection unit for detecting separation from the protective housing;
A power feeding unit that applies a reverse voltage to the light source unit;
When the detection unit detects that the protective housing and the light source unit are separated, a control unit that controls the power supply unit to apply a reverse voltage to the light source unit;
Laser module equipped with. The detection unit includes a switch element installed at a connection portion with the protective housing,
The laser module according to claim 1. The protective housing is electrically grounded;
The laser module has an electrode provided on a surface of a connection portion with the protective housing,
The laser module according to claim 1. The detection unit has a connection current monitoring unit connected to the electrode.
The laser module according to claim 3. The connection current monitoring unit includes a resistance element that detects a current between connection portions of the laser module and the protective housing.
The laser module according to claim 4. A laser apparatus comprising the laser module according to claim 1.

Images