JP2796224B2 - Optical device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

This invention relates to optical computing,
The present invention relates to an optical device used for optical image processing and the like, particularly to a light supply optical device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A light supply optical device is required for optical computing and optical image processing using a spatial light modulator, particularly an optical writing type spatial light modulator, and is mechanically stable, small and lightweight. Is required.

The spatial light modulator modulates the amplitude, polarization, phase or wavelength of the supplied light by a predetermined signal when the light supplied to the modulator is transmitted or reflected. For this purpose, a liquid crystal or an optical crystal having a Pockels effect is known.

Hereinafter, a conventional light supply optical device including a light supply system for a spatial light modulator and a spatial light modulator will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional light supply optical device. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 71 denotes a first lens, and reference numeral 72 denotes a first lens.
Is a polarization beam splitter, 73 is a second lens, and 4 is a spatial light modulator.

The operation of the light supply optical device configured as described above will be described in detail below.

First, light emitted from a light source (not shown)
Through the first lens 71, incident on the polarization beam splitter 7 2. For example S-polarized light waves of light incident on the polarization beam splitter 7 2 is selectively reflected by the polarization beam splitter, through the second lens 7 3, incident on the spatial light modulator 4.

At this time, the first and second lenses 71 , 7
3 focuses incident light on a spatial light modulator.

[0009] Next, after the light reaching the spatial light modulator which receives the predetermined modulation, passes through the second lens 7 3 again enters the polarization beam splitter 7 2. Polarizing beam splitter 7
For example, a P-polarized wave of the light re-entered into 2 passes through the polarizing beam splitter and is output to the next predetermined processing unit.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, since the lens system is used as the light supply system, it lacks mechanical stability, and it is necessary to secure the focal length of the lens to a certain value or more. For this reason, it is difficult to form a small integrated optical device.

Further, when light is to be modulated on a wide two-dimensional surface, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the light beam incident on the lens, and it is necessary to increase the emission area of the light source itself.
Alternatively, it is necessary to additionally provide a mechanism for expanding the diameter of the light from the light source, which is an obstacle to a small integrated structure.

Then, the focal length of the lens is set short,
If an attempt is made to increase the lens diameter in accordance with the light beam diameter, image distortion due to aberration or the like will occur, and adverse effects will occur such as non-uniform light intensity distribution.

[0013] Accordingly, from the above-mentioned problems, an example in which the optical device is mechanically stable and integrated into a small and integrated structure has not been substantially seen.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to provide a mechanically stable, small and integrated optical device which eliminates a lens from a light supply system.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to an optical fiber having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel with each other and having one end corresponding to a pair of end faces of the optical fibers.
A fiber plate having a pair of end faces;
The light incident on the plate should exit the fiber plate.
At least one of a pair of end faces of the optical fiber plate.
An emission mechanism provided on one side, and the fiber
The plate has an angle greater than the aperture angle of the optical fiber
Light is incident on the optical fiber.
The light propagates while being diffused in the plate, and
Mainly comprising an optical device that emits light from
You.

Further, in addition to the above configuration, a spatial light modulator for modulating light emitted from the fiber plate is provided.

[0017]

According to the present invention, light is incident on the fiber plate at an angle larger than the aperture angle, and the light is uniformly diffused into the fiber plate by the uniform diffusion action and total reflection in the fiber plate which have not been conventionally used. The confined light is confined, and a part of the confined light is emitted to the outside of the fiber plate so that the emission mechanism does not satisfy the condition of total reflection.

The light emitted to the outside is modulated by the spatial light modulator, enters the fiber plate at an angle smaller than the aperture angle, and propagates to the other surface.

Here, the diffusion action of the fiber plate is
When light is incident at an angle larger than the aperture angle of the fiber plate, the light is caused to be repeatedly reflected at the boundary between the core and the clad of the fiber constituting the fiber plate due to the difference in the refractive index. For example, light is in the core
At the boundary between the first core and the cladding
Surface, refracted into cladding deviating from normal total reflection conditions
Components that are propagated
Reflected and refracted at the interface between the clad and core
And by repeating such reflections one after another,
The emitted light will be diffused.

Further, the total reflection occurs because the refractive index inside the fiber plate is larger than the external refractive index, and the light incident on the fiber plate surface at an angle larger than a certain critical angle is totally reflected. The totally reflected light cannot escape out of the fiber plate and is confined inside the fiber plate.

Further, if the light is set at 45 degrees with respect to the fiber surface inside the fiber plate, the light is repeatedly totally reflected while maintaining an angle of 45 degrees with respect to all the surfaces constituting the fiber plate. Light is trapped with efficiency.

However, when the light is incident from the side surface of the fiber plate and the light is set at 45 degrees with respect to the fiber plate surface inside the fiber plate, the refractive index of the fiber plate is large, and the refraction angle of the refracted light inside the fiber plate becomes the incident angle. This is not possible because it is much smaller.

Therefore, the incident surface of the fiber plate is processed at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the fiber plate surface, and the light is incident on the fiber plate without being refracted.

In this case, since the direction of incidence of the light is perpendicular to the plane of the incident part, the reflection at the plane of the incident part can be minimized and the light can be efficiently incident.

Further, when a reflection film is formed on the side surface of the fiber plate, light inside the fiber plate incident on the side surface is reflected regardless of the angle of incidence on the side surface. It can be confined with efficiency.

Further, in order to make the light mechanically stably enter the fiber plate, an optical fiber is used and fixed to the fiber plate incidence part. According to this, since the light source can be installed at an arbitrary place, it is easy to form a small integrated optical device.

Light is incident from four entrances symmetrical to the fiber axis of the fiber plate, offset by the incident position of the confined light inside the fiber plate is canceled out, and the light intensity distribution is made constant. Disperses heat and reduces mechanical distortion of equipment due to temperature rise.

The emission mechanism is formed using a fine structure, a transmission film, or a reflection film, and changes the angle of the surface of the emission mechanism or the refractive index to emit light out of the condition of total reflection.

In the microstructure, a groove is formed in the fiber plate surface, and the surface of the fiber plate is minutely changed so that the incident angle of light at the groove portion is smaller than the critical angle at which total reflection occurs, or the groove is formed. The reflected light is made smaller than the critical angle on the surface facing the emission mechanism.

Further, even if the fine structure is not a mechanical groove, the fine structure having a different refractive index can be formed to perform the above operation.

The transmission film reduces the difference in refractive index between the inside and outside of the fiber plate, increases the critical angle of total reflection,
The incident angle of light is set to be smaller than the critical angle.

The reflection film changes the reflection angle of light by a spatial change in the refractive index so that the incident angle of the light is smaller than the critical angle on the surface facing the emission mechanism, and the condition of the total reflection is removed. Are emitted out of the fiber plate.

The light emitted to the outside of the fiber plate is
Amplitude, polarization or wavelength modulation is performed by the spatial light modulator, and the modulated light is extracted from the modulator.

Light from the modulator is incident on the fiber plate at an angle smaller than the aperture angle, and propagates to the other surface without spreading inside the fiber plate due to the propagation characteristics of the optical fibers constituting the fiber plate.

[0035]

【Example】

Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an optical device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes He-Ne
Reference numeral 2 denotes a light source made of a laser, which is a fiber plate that diffuses light confined from the light source 1 and confine the light inside, and further propagates light modulated by the spatial light modulator 4 from one end face to the other end face. is there.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an emission mechanism for emitting light trapped inside the fiber plate 2 to the outside.
The other members denoted by reference numerals are basically the same as those in the conventional example.

Here, the fiber plate 2 is a plate-like member in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction in FIG.

The refractive indices of the core and the cladding of the fiber plate 2 are 1.60 and 1.57, respectively. The aperture angle of each optical fiber constituting the fiber plate 2 is 33 degrees, and the critical angle of total reflection is 40 degrees for the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the fiber plate 2 in FIG.

The emitting mechanism 3 is for emitting the light confined inside the fiber plate 2 to the outside. The emitting mechanism 3 has a groove formed on a flat glass having a thickness of 200 μm and a width of 1-5 μm. The microstructure formed at an interval of 10-100 μm is bonded to the fiber plate 2 using an appropriate adhesive.

The spatial light modulator 4 is for modulating the amplitude of light emitted to the outside of the fiber plate 2 and the like, and a liquid crystal light-writing type spatial modulator is used as the modulator.

The operation of the optical device configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

First, the light emitted from the light source 1 is incident on the fiber plate 2 as a light beam at an angle larger than the opening angle of the optical fiber of 33 degrees.

The light incident on the fiber plate 2 is diffused and confined inside the fiber plate 2 by the diffusion action of the fiber plate 2 and at least total reflection on the upper and lower surfaces.

A part of the light thus diffused and confined deviates from the total reflection condition at the emission mechanism 3 and is deflected toward the spatial light modulator 4 so that the emission mechanism of the fiber plate 2 is removed. The light is guided from the surface on the third side to the outside of the fiber plate 2 and emitted.

The light thus emitted is amplitude-modulated by the spatial light modulator 4. Then, the light thus modulated is transmitted to the fiber plate 2 at an angle smaller than the aperture angle.
Is transmitted again to the other surface of the fiber plate 2 and becomes output light.

In this embodiment, light can be diffused and confined by causing light diffusion and total reflection inside the fiber plate 2.
When light of 0 μm-2 mm is incident on the fiber plate 2, the spatial light modulator 4 has a size of 10 ×
An image of 10 mm or more can be obtained from the other surface of the fiber plate 2.

Here, in particular, inside the fiber plate 2,
When light is incident on the fiber plate surface, which is the upper and lower end surfaces of the fiber plate 2, so that the angle becomes 45 degrees, the light is repeatedly reflected on all the end faces constituting the fiber plate while maintaining the angle of 45 degrees. Therefore, light is confined in the fiber plate 2 with high efficiency, and emitted light with high intensity can be obtained.

However, when light is simply incident from the side surface of the fiber plate 2 at a predetermined angle, the refractive index of the fiber plate 2 is relatively large, and the refraction angle of the refracted light inside the fiber plate is significantly larger than the incident angle. To be smaller,
It is not possible for light to have an angle of incidence of 45 degrees inside the fiber plate relative to the plane of the fiber plate.

Therefore, the light incident surface of the fiber plate 2 is processed as a surface having an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the fiber plate surface, and is perpendicular to this surface without refracting the light. Incident on.

Furthermore, since the direction of incidence of light is perpendicular to the plane of the incident part, reflection at the plane of the incident part can be suppressed to a minimum and light can be incident efficiently.

Further, since the fiber plate 2 and the spatial light modulator 4 are fixed, it is possible to realize a compact and integrated structure while ensuring mechanical stability.

In this case, it is possible to form the incident surface so as to have an angle other than 45 degrees with respect to the fiber plate surface in accordance with the propagation conditions inside the fiber plate 2 or the like. Is 9
It can be set appropriately within a range other than 0 degrees.

In the above embodiment, an element having a fine structure as an emission mechanism is bonded to the fiber plate. However, a fine structure may be formed on the fiber plate 2 itself. The applied permeable membrane element can be adhered to the fiber plate or applied to the fiber plate itself.

Further, a permeable film may be applied to the fine structure. (Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an optical device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment, but differs from the first embodiment in that light from a light source (not shown) is first incident on the fiber plate 2 via a space. Instead, light from a light source (not shown) is transmitted using the optical fiber 21, and the transmitted light is incident on the fiber plate 2.

In this embodiment, the optical fiber 21 has a core diameter of 1-100 μm.

Further, in the second embodiment, while the light that has entered the fiber plate 2 in the first embodiment is emitted from the surface on the side of the emission mechanism by the emission mechanism 3, the emission mechanism 3 allows the light inside the fiber plate 2 to be emitted. The light is deflected toward the surface facing the light emitting mechanism 3 and propagates in the optical fiber plate 2,
The light is emitted from the surface facing the emission mechanism 3.

Therefore, the spatial light modulator 4 is arranged on the opposite side of the emission mechanism. Further, the emission mechanism 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment.
It has a fine structure similar to that described above.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described in detail below.
Light from a light source (not shown) is transmitted through the optical fiber 21, and the transmitted light is incident on the fiber plate 2 from the incident surface.

The step of confining incident light while diffusing it inside the fiber plate 2 is the same as in the first embodiment.

Here, in the emission mechanism 3, the light that is confined while being diffused and propagates in the fiber plate 2 is reflected so that the reflection angle becomes smaller, and the emission mechanism 3
When the light is deflected toward the opposite side, and then reaches the face with the emission mechanism 3, the light is emitted from the face to the outside of the fiber plate 2 because the condition for total reflection is not satisfied.

Next, the light thus emitted enters the spatial light modulator 4, undergoes a predetermined modulation by the spatial light modulator 4, and enters the fiber plate 2 at an angle smaller than the aperture angle of the optical fiber. Then, the light is reflected in the optical fiber, propagates through the optical fiber, and is emitted from the fiber plate 2 from the surface opposite to the spatial light modulator 4.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment,
By causing diffusion and total reflection of light inside the fiber plate 2, light can be effectively diffused and confined. For example, when light enters the fiber plate 2 from an optical fiber having a core diameter of 1 to 100 μm. In the modulator 4, an image having a size of 10 × 10 mm or more can be obtained from the fiber plate 2.

In particular, in this embodiment, since light is incident on the fiber plate 2 using an optical fiber, the optical fiber 21 and the fiber plate 2 are fixed to secure the mechanical stability of the incident portion. In addition, the mechanical stability of the entire device is further improved.

In the above embodiment, the light emitting mechanism 3 is formed by bonding the element having the fine structure to the fiber plate 2. However, the fine structure may be formed on the fiber plate itself. The reflecting film element which is applied so as to be changed may be adhered to the fiber plate, or may be applied directly to the fiber plate itself. Further, a microstructure provided with a reflective film or a transmissive film may be used.

On the other hand, the optical fiber 21 from the light source to the fiber plate 2 is discharged while the relationship between the emission mechanism 3 and the spatial light modulator 4 is kept as it is, and light is simply transmitted in space as in the first embodiment. It may be propagated.

Also, of course, the light emitting mechanism 3 and the spatial light modulator 4 are connected to the same side with respect to the fiber plate 2 as in the first embodiment while the light source and the fiber plate 2 are still coupled by the optical fiber 21. It is also possible to arrange.

(Embodiment 3) Next, an optical device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view using a semiconductor laser 31 as a light source. The configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment except that the light from the semiconductor laser 31 is directly incident on the fiber plate 2.

That is, the light once entering the fiber plate 2 is confined while being diffused in the same manner as in the second embodiment, and the reflection angle of the light propagating through the fiber plate 2 is reduced in the emission mechanism 3. When the light is deflected toward the side opposite to the emission mechanism 3 and propagates through the core of the fiber plate 2, and then reaches the face facing the emission mechanism 3, the total reflection condition is not satisfied. It is emitted from the opposite side to the outside of the fiber plate 2.

The light thus emitted enters the spatial light modulator 4, undergoes a predetermined modulation by the spatial light modulator 4, and enters the fiber plate 2 at an angle smaller than the opening angle of the optical fiber. Reflected in the optical fiber, propagates through the optical fiber, and from the surface opposite to the spatial light modulator 4,
The light is emitted from the fiber plate 2.

Also in this embodiment, since the semiconductor laser 31 is directly fixed to the fiber plate 2, the mechanical stability of the optical device is improved and the optical device is compactly integrated.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the light can be effectively diffused and confined by causing light diffusion and total reflection inside the fiber plate 2. For example, the light emission diameter of the semiconductor laser 31 is 100 μm. -2 mm, the size of the modulator 4 is 10 × 10 mm
The above image can be obtained from the fiber plate 2.

In this embodiment, the emission mechanism 3 and the spatial light modulator 4 are connected to the fiber plate 2 in the same manner as in the first embodiment while the semiconductor laser 31 as the light source is directly coupled to the fiber plate 2. It is also possible to arrange them on the same side. (Embodiment 4) Next, an optical device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an optical device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, light from a light source (not shown) is transmitted to the fiber axis of the fiber plate 2 on the side surface of the fiber plate 2 (corresponding to the central axis of the fiber plate 2 in the vertical direction in FIG. ) From four symmetrical entrances,
In the fiber plate 2, a side reflection film 42 is provided on the side surface of the fiber plate, and a fiber plate surface reflection film is formed on the fiber plate surface except for a portion connected to the emission mechanism 3 and a portion connected to the spatial light modulator 4. 4
The third embodiment is the same as the second embodiment except that the third embodiment is applied.

The operation of the fourth embodiment will be described in detail below.
First, light transmitted through four optical fibers 41 from a light source (not shown) and entered into the fiber plate 2 from four incident portions is confined while being diffused into the fiber plate 2.

The light is confined by the reflection at the portion of the fiber plate 2 on which the side reflection film 42 or the fiber plate surface reflection film 43 is provided, and at the portion without the reflection film by the second embodiment. Similarly, it is performed by total reflection.

Next, at the emission mechanism 3, the light propagating through the fiber plate 2 is reflected so as to have a small reflection angle, and is deflected toward the side opposite to the emission mechanism 3.
When the light propagates through the core of the fiber plate 2 and then reaches the face of the emission mechanism 3, the light is emitted from the face to the outside of the fiber plate 2 because the condition for total reflection is not satisfied.

The emitted light enters the spatial light modulator 4, undergoes a predetermined modulation by the spatial light modulator 4, and enters the fiber plate 2 at an angle smaller than the opening angle of the optical fiber. The light is reflected, propagates through the optical fiber, and is emitted from the fiber plate 2 from the surface opposite to the spatial light modulator 4.

Also in this embodiment, the light can be effectively diffused and confined by diffusing the light inside the fiber plate 2 and causing total reflection or reflection by the reflection film.

In particular, since the light from the light source is incident on the four incident portions of the fiber plate 2 using the optical fibers 41, the light can be confined uniformly and uniform emitted light can be obtained.

In order to obtain the same intensity of the emitted light, the intensity of the light incident on each of the incident portions is 1/1 that of the case where the number of the incident portions is one.
4, the heat due to the incident light is dispersed, so that the mechanical distortion of the optical device due to the temperature rise is reduced.

Further, since all the internal light incident on the side surface is reflected by the side reflection film 42, the light can be efficiently confined even if the incident surface is not at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the fiber plate surface. By the fiber plate surface reflection film 43 applied to the fiber plate surface except for the portion coupled to the emission mechanism unit 3 and the spatial light modulator 4,
Emission of irregular scattered light generated inside the fiber plate from the fiber plate surface can be suppressed as much as possible.

In this embodiment, for example, when the core diameter of the optical fiber is 1 to 100 μm, an image having a size of 10 × 10 mm or more can be obtained from the fiber plate 2 in the modulator 4.

The uniformity of the image was twice as high as that of the apparatus having one incident portion, and the temperature rise at each incident portion was 1/4.

The side surface reflection film 4 is provided on the fiber plate 2.
2 and the fiber plate surface 43, the conversion efficiency of the outgoing light with respect to the incident light of the fiber plate is 30.
% Improved.

In this embodiment, the optical fiber 41
Is connected to each of the four sides of the fiber plate 2, but it is also possible to use two or more optical fibers on one side, or to connect optical fibers bundled in an array to each side. Good.

Further, while maintaining the relationship between the light emitting mechanism 3 and the spatial light modulator 4 as it is, the optical fiber 41 from the light source to the fiber plate 2 is ejected, and the light is simply propagated in the space. It may be incident from more than one point.

Further, two or more light emitting elements such as semiconductor lasers may be directly coupled to the fiber plate 2.

Further, the emission mechanism 3 and the spatial light modulator 4 can be arranged on the same side of the fiber plate 2 as in the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 5) Next, an optical apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an optical device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front view of the light emitting mechanism 3 in FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 61 denotes a microstructured groove provided on the emission mechanism 3.

Light from a light source (not shown) is made incident from four incident portions provided at the apex angle of the fiber plate 2 using four optical fibers 41, and the fine structure of the emission mechanism 3 is partially changed. The configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment except that the light emission efficiency has a distribution by changing to.

That is, similarly to the second embodiment, the light incident from the four incident portions into the fiber plate 2 is confined while being diffused, and the reflection angle of the light propagating through the fiber plate 2 at the emission mechanism portion 3. Is reflected so as to be smaller, is deflected toward the side opposite to the emission mechanism 3, propagates through the core in the fiber plate 2, and then reaches the face with the emission mechanism 3, since the total reflection condition is not satisfied. The light is emitted to the outside of the fiber plate 2 from this facing surface.

The light thus emitted enters the spatial light modulator 4, undergoes a predetermined modulation by the spatial light modulator 4, and enters the fiber plate 2 at an angle smaller than the opening angle of the optical fiber. Reflected in the optical fiber, propagates through the optical fiber, and from the surface opposite to the spatial light modulator 4,
The light is emitted from the fiber plate 2.

In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, light is diffused and totally reflected inside the fiber plate 2 so that light can be effectively diffused and confined.

In particular, since the incident portion is formed at the apex angle of the fiber plate which is easy to process, the incident angle accuracy is high, and the incident portion with no variation can be obtained, and highly uniform light is confined inside the fiber plate. be able to.

On the other hand, to discuss more strictly, the light incident on the fiber plate 2 is attenuated as the distance from the incident portion to the output mechanism becomes longer, so that the light intensity reaching the peripheral portion of the output mechanism becomes the central intensity. Greater than the light intensity reaching the part. Since the intensity of the emitted light is proportional to the product of the intensity of the light reaching the emission mechanism and the emission efficiency of the emission mechanism, if the emission efficiency of the emission mechanism is uniform, the intensity of the emitted light must not be uniform. Can be considered.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the distribution density of the grooves 61, which are the fine structure of the emission mechanism 3, is low in the periphery of the emission mechanism 3 near the light incidence part of the fiber plate 2, and the distribution mechanism is low. By increasing the height in the center of
The emission efficiency at the periphery is set lower than at the center.

With such a configuration of the injection mechanism 3,
The distribution of the output efficiency and the intensity distribution of the light confined in the fiber plate in the output mechanism can be canceled out, and uniform output light can be obtained.

In this embodiment, when the core diameter of the optical fiber is 1-100 μm, an image having a size of 10 × 10 mm or more can be obtained from the fiber plate 2 in the modulator 4.

The uniformity of the image was improved four times as compared with the image of the apparatus of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, light is incident from the incident portion formed at the apex angle of the fiber plate 2 using the optical fiber 41. However, the emission mechanism 3 and the spatial light modulator 4
The relationship between the light source and the fiber plate 2
The optical fiber 41 may be discharged, and the light may simply be propagated in the space, and may be incident from the incident portion of the fiber plate 2.

Further, a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser may be directly coupled to the incident part of the fiber plate 2.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the emission mechanism 3 and the spatial light modulator 4 can be arranged on the same side as the fiber plate 2.

In order to make the emission efficiency of the emission mechanism 3 have a distribution, the inclination of the groove of the fine structure may be partially changed, and in the emission mechanism provided with the transmission film or the reflection film, It is possible to partially apply materials having different film thicknesses or transmittances or reflectances so as to have a distribution in emission efficiency.

Lastly, in the above embodiments, a liquid crystal light-writing type spatial light modulator is used as the spatial light modulator, but a spatial light modulator using an optical crystal or the like may be used.
The light may be modulated by polarization modulation, phase modulation, wavelength modulation, or the like other than the amplitude modulation.

[0108]

In the present invention as described above, according to the present invention, by incident light to the fiber plate at an angle greater than the aperture angle and take advantage of diffusion action and the total reflection of the conventionally utilized it is not fiber plate, fiber plate Inside
The light is uniformly diffused and propagated while being confined, and then
The light is set, for example, so as not to satisfy the condition of total reflection.
Output that is larger than the area of the entrance
Radiation from the injection mechanism to the outside.
Uniform irradiation area suitable for optical elements such as spatial light modulators
Optical device capable of supplying light having a uniform intensity
The device has excellent mechanical stability and is suitable for compact integration.
That can be realized with the basic configuration
Suitable for computing and optical image processing
Is obtained shall be used as the light supply optical system and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an optical device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an optical device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an optical device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an optical device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an optical device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an emission mechanism according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a conventional optical device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light source 2 Fiber plate 3 Emission mechanism part 4 Spatial light modulator 21 Optical fiber 31 Semiconductor laser 41 Optical fiber 42 Side reflection film 43 Fiber plate surface reflection film 61 Groove 71 First lens 72 Polarized beam splitter 73 Second lens

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-159604 (JP, A) JP-A-61-241714 (JP, A) JP-A-3-48214 (JP, A) , U)

Claims (15)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of optical fibers are arranged in parallel with each other, and correspond to a pair of end faces of the optical fibers.
A fiber plate having a pair of end faces, and light incident on the fiber plate is emitted out of the fiber plate .
At least a pair of end faces of the optical fiber plate
And a emission mechanism portion provided on one side, the fiber plate is incident light at an angle greater than the aperture angle before Symbol optical fiber, the incident light is the light phi
The light propagates while being diffused in the baffle plate, and
Optical device emitted from 2. A plurality of optical fibers are arranged in parallel with each other, and correspond to a pair of end faces of the optical fibers.
A fiber plate having a pair of end faces, and light incident on the fiber plate is emitted out of the fiber plate .
An emission mechanism provided on one side of the pair of end faces of the optical fiber, and a spatial light modulator for modulating light emitted from the fiber plate. Light is incident at an angle greater than the aperture angle of the optical fiber, and the incident light is
The light propagates while being diffused in the
An optical device emitted toward the spatial light modulator . 3. The incident light exits the fiber plate.
The pair of end faces other than the part corresponding to the
The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is provided. 4. The incident light passes through the fiber plate.
Propagating while diffusing, a pair of ends of the fiber plate
4. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the light is incident on the surface at an angle of 45 degrees . 5. An incidence where light is incident on a fiber plate.
90 degrees to the pair of end faces of the fiber plate
The optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shape of the fiber plate is processed so as to have a different angle . 6. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the light is supplied to the fiber plate using an optical fiber. 7. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein light is supplied to the fiber plate using a semiconductor light emitting device. 8. emitting mechanism is an optical device according to any one or subjected to microstructure fiber plate, or elements subjected to microstructure claim 1 bonded to Ru is formed on the fiber plate 7 of . 9. emitting mechanism is an optical device according to any one or subjected to permeable membrane fiber plate, or a device which has been subjected to permeation membrane claims 1 that will be formed by bonding the fiber plate 7 of . 10. emitting mechanism is an optical device according to any one or subjected to reflection film to the fiber plate, or elements subjected to reflection film claims 1 that will be formed by bonding the fiber plate 7 of . 11. Light is applied to at least two of the fiber plates.
The optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which is supplied to a location. 12. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein a reflection film is provided on a side surface of the fiber plate. 13. The fiber plate according to claim 1, wherein an incident portion on which the light enters the fiber plate is formed at a vertex of the fiber plate.
13. The optical device according to any one of items 1 to 12. 14. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the emission efficiency of the emission mechanism has a distribution. 15. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein a reflection film is provided on a part of the pair of end faces of the fiber plate.