JP2859370B2 - Simultaneous multi-beam light modulator - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simultaneous multi-beam optical modulator, and more particularly, to an incident laser beam having an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of an input signal and a frequency corresponding to a frequency. The present invention relates to a simultaneous multi-beam light modulator using a multi-frequency acousto-optic element that emits light divided in different directions.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, an optical modulation device using a multi-frequency acousto-optic device has been known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos.
No. 57-51618, and JP-B No. 53-9856. In this light modulation device, a plurality of high-frequency signals having different frequencies are mixed, then amplified at once by an amplifier circuit, and supplied to an AOM (acousto-optical element). When a large number of high-frequency signals are amplified by one amplifier circuit at a time, if the characteristics of the amplifier circuit are distorted, a frequency obtained by multiplying these frequencies is generated by higher-order distortion equal to or higher than third-order distortion. Into an interfering signal (intermodulation interference). As an example in which a high-frequency signal is mixed and then amplified at a time as in the prior art, eight high-frequency signals are mixed two by two, the mixed signal is further mixed two by two, and these signals are further mixed to finally obtain Regarding an amplification circuit that amplifies the obtained mixed signal of eight high-frequency signals at a time, consider intermodulation interference (third-order distortion intermodulation product) due to the third harmonic signal, which is the largest interference. When two signals having the same amplitude undergo heterodyne interference, the frequency difference Δ
The product Δω · t of ω and time t is nπ (where n = 0,
1, 2,...), The amplitude of the composite wave becomes maximum,
This value is four times the amplitude of one signal. Therefore, in order to prevent the influence of the third-order distortion intermodulation product, it is necessary to compensate four times in one mixing unit. In the above example, the mixing unit is 3
Since there are stages, 4 × 4 × 4 = 64, which is 64 compared to the case where the influence of the third-order distortion intermodulation product of one high-frequency signal is prevented.
Double power is required. 125m power of one high frequency signal
Assuming that it is W, you have to make distortionless amplification of 8W at 125 x 64 = 8W (linear amplification up to 8W). That is, in a conventional optical modulation device that amplifies after mixing a plurality of high-frequency signals with a combiner, a high-power amplifier circuit is required, so that it is difficult to manufacture an amplifier circuit that amplifies the high-frequency signal, which increases costs. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a simultaneous multi-beam optical modulator that can use an amplifier circuit that is easy to design and that is low in cost and that minimizes the number of amplifier circuits. With the goal.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a two-input one-output combiner that mixes and outputs two non-adjacent high-frequency signals when a plurality of high-frequency signals are arranged in order of magnitude of frequency; A plurality of level control circuits connected to each output terminal of the combiner and controlling the amplitude of the high-frequency signal output from each combiner; and a plurality of level control circuits connected to each of the output terminals of the plurality of level control circuits. Amplifying circuits for amplifying the high-frequency signals output from the plurality of amplifiers, a mixing unit for mixing and outputting each of the high-frequency signals amplified by the plurality of amplifier circuits, and a high-frequency signal output from the mixing unit And an optical modulator that splits and emits a beam that has an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of the light beam and a direction corresponding to the frequency.

[Action]

A simultaneous multi-beam light modulator according to the present invention includes a plurality of two-input one-output combiners that mix and output two non-adjacent high-frequency signals when a plurality of high-frequency signals are arranged in order of magnitude of frequency; A plurality of level control circuits connected to each output terminal of the combiner and controlling the amplitude of the high-frequency signal output from each combiner; and a plurality of level control circuits connected to each of the output terminals of the plurality of level control circuits. Amplifying circuits for amplifying the high-frequency signals output from the plurality of amplifiers, a mixing unit for mixing and outputting each of the high-frequency signals amplified by the plurality of amplifier circuits, and a high-frequency signal output from the mixing unit And an optical modulator that splits and emits a beam that has an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of the light beam and a direction corresponding to the frequency. At this time, the amplifier circuit is connected between the level control circuit and the mixer, and amplifies signals having different frequencies. By connecting the amplifier circuit between the level control circuit connected to the output end of the combiner and the mixing unit, the number of high-frequency signals amplified by the amplifier circuit at one time is
Compared to the case of amplifying after mixing all of the high-frequency signals, it becomes less, so that an easy-to-design and low-cost amplifier circuit can be used to prevent the influence of third-order distortion intermodulation products. At the same time, the number of amplifying circuits can be reduced as compared with a case where the amplifying circuits are connected in front of all the combiners. A first combiner for mixing the eight high-frequency signals two by two; a second combiner for mixing the signals mixed by the first combiner two by two; and a third combiner for further mixing the signals mixed by the second combiner. When a combiner is used, the second combiner and the third combiner are the mixer of the present invention, and the level control circuit and the amplifier circuit are connected between the first combiner and the second combiner.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, an amplifier circuit is connected between a combiner that mixes a high-frequency signal and a mixing unit, so that an amplifier circuit that is easy to design and can be used at low cost can be used, and the amplifier circuit can be used. The number can be reduced, and the simultaneous multi-beam light modulator can be manufactured at low cost.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a laser beam recording apparatus to which the simultaneous multi-beam light modulator of the present embodiment is applied. He-
A power supply 14 is connected to the Ne laser 12. A semiconductor laser or the like may be used instead of the He-Ne laser. On the laser beam emission side of the He-Ne laser 12, a lens 16, an AOM (acoustic optical element) 18, and a lens 24 are sequentially arranged.
The AOM 18 includes an acousto-optic medium 21 that produces an acousto-optic effect. On the opposing surface of the acousto-optic medium 21, a transducer 17 for outputting ultrasonic waves according to the input high-frequency signal is provided.
Absorber 19 that absorbs ultrasonic waves that have propagated through the acousto-optic medium 21
And are stuck. The transducer 17 is connected to an AOM driver 20 that drives the AOM, and the AOM driver 20 is connected to a control circuit 22. A mirror 26, a polygon mirror (rotating polygon mirror) 28,
Scanning lens 29, mirror 32, relay lens 33, mirror 34,
A galvanometer mirror 36 and a mirror 38 are arranged in order. A polygon driver 30 that rotates the polygon mirror 28 at high speed is connected to the polygon mirror 28. In addition, a photoelectric converter 60 is disposed near the galvanometer mirror 36 at a position where the laser beam reflected in a direction different from the recording optical path can be received. The laser beam reflected by the mirror 38 is applied to a stage 42 through a lens 40. On the stage 42, a recording material 44 such as a microfilm is disposed. The recording material 44 is wound in layers on a reel 46 and a reel 48, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the photoelectric converter 60 is arranged at the above-described position on the laser beam emission side of the AOM 18 and outputs a voltage having a magnitude corresponding to the intensity of the received laser beam.
Are connected to a signal generation circuit 58 that outputs a signal for controlling the amplitude of each signal output from the oscillation circuit (FIG. 1). The signal generation circuit 58 is connected to the AOM driver 20.

The control circuit 22 includes a register 50 for temporarily storing image data and a data converter 52 connected to the register 50. This image data is provided as an 8-bit parallel signal. The data converter 52 outputs a 4-bit parallel signal corresponding to the number of on-states of the 8-bit signal input from the register 50. The data converter 52 is connected with a DAC (digital-analog converter) 54. DAC54
Converts the 4-bit parallel signal output from the data converter 52 into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal to the AOM driver 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the level of this analog signal increases as the number of signal ONs increases. After the image data is delayed by a predetermined time by the delay circuit 56, the AO
Input to the M driver 20.

The AOM driver 20 includes an oscillation circuit 62 as shown in FIG.
A, 62B, 62C, 62D, 62E, 62F, 62G, 62H, local level control circuits 64A, 64B, 64C, 64D, 64E, 64F, 64G, 64H,
Switch circuit 66A, 66B, 66C, 66D, 66E, 66F, 66G, 66H
It has. Each of the local level control circuits 64A to 64H is connected to each of the output terminals of the oscillation circuits 62A to 62H, and the output terminals of the local level control circuits 64A to 64H are connected to a switch circuit 66.
A to 66H are connected respectively. As the local level control circuit, a double balanced mixer or a pin diode attenuator can be used. A signal generation circuit 58 is connected to each of the level control terminals of the local level control circuits 64A to 64H. And the switch circuit
Each of the control terminals 66A to 66H is connected so that each of the image data output from the delay circuit 56 is input.

Each output terminal of the switch circuits 66A and 66B outputs two signals to 1:
Each is connected to the input end of a combiner 68AB that mixes at a ratio of one. Similarly, each output terminal of the switch circuits 66C and 66D is connected to the input terminal of the combiner 68CD, and
Each output terminal of E and 66F is connected to the input terminal of the combiner 68EF, and each output terminal of the switch circuits 66G and 66H is connected to the combiner 68GH.
Is connected to the input terminal of

The output terminal of the combiner 68AB is the total level control circuit 70
It is connected to the amplifier circuit 72AB via AB. Similarly, the output terminal of the combiner 68CD is connected to the amplifier circuit 72CD via the total level control circuit 70CD, and the output terminal of the combiner 68EF is connected to the amplifier circuit 72EF via the total level control circuit 70EF.
The output terminal of the combiner 68GH is connected to the amplifier circuit 72GH via the total level control circuit 70GH.
Each output terminal of the amplifier circuits 72AB and 72CD is connected to an input terminal of the combiner 74, and each output terminal of the amplifier circuits 72EF and 72GH is connected to an input terminal of the combiner 76. The output terminals of the combiners 74 and 76 are connected to the combiner 78, and the output terminals of the combiner 78 are connected to the transducer 17. The total level control circuit is composed of a double balanced mixer and a pin diode attenuator like the local level control circuit, and the output terminal of the DAC 54 of the control circuit 22 is connected to each level control terminal.

Here, the frequency intervals of the high-frequency signals output from the respective oscillation circuits are equal, and the respective oscillation frequencies are f ₁ , f ₂ ,..., F ₈
(For example, 110, 120,..., 180 MHz), when signals of frequencies f ₁ and f ₂ are amplified, as shown in FIG. 7 (1), frequencies 2f ₁ −f ₂ and 2f ₂ − the position of f _1, 3-order harmonic signal is generated as the largest intermodulation interference. Similarly,
When amplifying a signal of a frequency f _3, f _4, as shown in FIG. 7 (2), the third harmonic signal is generated at the position of the frequency _{2f 3 -f 4, 2f 4 -f} 3. Therefore, if signals having frequencies f ₁ , f ₂ ,..., F ₈ are all mixed after amplifying signals having adjacent frequencies as described above, as shown in FIG. 7 (3). , the frequency _{2f 1 -f 2, f 1,} f 2, ···, f 8, 2f 8 -
will be the third harmonic signal at the position of f ₇ is generated, with the signal is distorted output from the oscillation circuit, frequency 2f ₁
A high-level third harmonic signal is generated at the positions of −f ₂ and 2f ₈ −f ₇ . Thus, for example, be turned off a signal of a frequency f _4, as shown in FIG. 7 (4), the frequency f ₄
, A third harmonic signal is generated at the position, and the level of the signal at the positions of the frequencies f ₃ and f ₆ is reduced by the third harmonic signal. Therefore, the laser beam cannot be split by the AOM according to the ON / OFF of the image data.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, signals having non-adjacent frequencies are combined so that frequency intervals are equal and maximum,
After mixing and amplifying these two signals, they are mixed so as to finally become one signal. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a combination of an oscillation circuit 62B for oscillating a signal of the oscillation circuit 62A and the frequency f ₅ for outputting a signal of a frequency f _1, the oscillation circuit 62A, a signal output from the 62B After being mixed by the combiner 68AB, it is amplified by the amplifier 72AB. Similarly, the amplifier circuit 72CD amplifies the signal of frequency f _2, f ₆ mixed by a combiner 68CD, amplifier circuit 72EF amplifies the signal of frequency f _3, f _7, which is mixed by a combiner 68EF, amplification circuit 72GH is to amplify the signal of a frequency f _4, f ₈ that is mixed by a combiner 68GH.

As a result, regarding the signals of the frequencies f ₁ and f ₅ , the eighth
Figure (1) as shown in, the third harmonic signal frequency sufficiently distant frequency 2f ₅ -f ₁ from the position of f _5, the frequency 2f ₁ -f ₅ sufficiently separated away from the location of the frequency f ₁ Occurs at the position Similarly, the frequency f _2, 3-order harmonic signal is also the signal of f ₆ is a frequency f _2, sufficiently distant frequency 2f ₂ -f from the position of f _6
6, generated 2f of ₆ -f ₂ position. As a result, the frequency f ₁ ,
When all the signals of f ₂ ,..., f ₈ are mixed, the third harmonic signal is dispersed over a wide frequency band and the level of the third harmonic signal is increased as shown in FIG. Becomes smaller. Third harmonic signals outside the range of frequencies f _{1 to} f ₈ can be removed by a filter. Third harmonic signals existing within the range of frequencies f _{1 to} f ₈ have low levels. ,
The influence on the signals of the frequencies f ₁ , f ₂ ,..., F ₈ is small, so that even when one of the image data is off, the influence of the harmonic signal on the off signal can be extremely reduced.

In the above description, signals having non-adjacent frequencies are combined so that frequency intervals are equal and maximum, but frequency intervals may not be equal or may not be maximum.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The 8-bit image data supplied from the host computer etc.
Is supplied to the delay circuit 56. The data converter 52 outputs a digital signal corresponding to the number of ON signals input from the register 50, and the DAC 54 outputs a fifth signal corresponding to the digital signal.
The analog signal shown in the figure is output. This analog signal is input to each of the control terminals of the total level control circuits 70AB to 70GH. The image data delayed by the predetermined time by the delay circuit 56 is supplied to the switch circuit 66A of the AOM driver 20.
6666H is input to each of the control terminals. Oscillator circuits 62A to 62
The signal output from H is the local level control circuit 64A ~
Switch circuits 66A-66 after amplitude is adjusted by 64H
H, combiner 68AB to 68GH, total level control circuit 70A
The signals are supplied to the transducer 17 of the AOM 18 via B to 70 GH, the amplifier circuits 72AB to 72GH, the combiners 74 and 76, and the combiner 78. The transducer 17 converts an input signal into an ultrasonic signal according to the frequency and amplitude of the input signal. This ultrasonic signal propagates through the acousto-optic medium 21 and is absorbed by the sound absorber 19. At this time, if a laser beam is oscillated from the He-Ne laser 12, this laser beam
The acousto-optic medium 21 divides the ultrasonic signal in the direction according to the frequency and the intensity according to the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal. The multi-laser beam split by the AOM 18 is scanned in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 28 and scanned in the sub-scanning direction by the galvanometer mirror 36.

FIG. 9 shows the angle of the mirror of the galvanometer mirror 36 according to the elapsed time. In the non-recording period before the recording of the n-th exposure is started, the image data of the n-th exposure is prepared, and the recording material is conveyed by one exposure to position the recording material. When the recording is started, the data of the n-th exposure is transferred and the image recording of the n-th exposure is performed until the mirror angle of the galvanometer mirror 36 reaches the recording end angle. During the check period of the non-recording period,
The amplitude adjustment of the signals output from the oscillation circuits 62A to 62H, that is, the level adjustment is performed. At this time, the laser beam emitted from the AOM is reflected by the carbanometer mirror 36 toward the photoelectric converter 60 not located on the recording optical path. In this level adjustment, a constant voltage is applied to the level control terminals of the total level control circuits 70AB to 70GH, and the level is adjusted for each of the oscillation circuits 62A to 62H. That is, only the switch circuit 66A is turned on while the signals are output from the oscillation circuits 62A to 62H. The signal output from the oscillation circuit 62A is a local level control circuit 64A, a switch circuit 66A, a combiner 68AB, and a total level control circuit 70A.
B, and supplied to the transducer 17 via the amplifier circuit 72AB and the like. As a result, a laser beam having an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of the signal output from the oscillation circuit 62A is emitted from the AOM 18. The laser beam emitted from the AOM 18 is received by the photoelectric converter 60, and an electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the received laser beam is output from the photoelectric converter 60. Signal generation circuit
Reference numeral 58 compares a preset reference value with the level of the signal input from the photoelectric converter 60. When the level of the input signal is higher than the reference value, the signal generation circuit 58 controls the voltage applied to the control terminal of the local level control circuit 64A to decrease so that the amplitude of the signal decreases, and Is smaller than the reference value, the voltage applied to the control terminal of the local level control circuit 64A is increased to control the signal amplitude to increase. As a result, the intensity of one laser beam emitted from the AOM is adjusted to a target value. Then, the switch circuits 66B to 66H are sequentially turned on, and the level is adjusted for the oscillation circuits 62B,... 62H in the same manner as described above. During this check period, the oscillation circuits 62A to
Level adjustment is performed for all of 2H. During image recording, the signal generation circuit 58 holds the voltage value adjusted as described above.

When the data of the n-th exposure is recorded, the register 50, the data converter 52, and the DAC 54 cause the total level control circuits 70AB, 70CD, 70EF, and 70GH to store the fifth data.
An analog signal proportional to the number of ON of the image data shown in the figure is supplied, and the total level control circuit controls the amplitude of the signal output from the combiners 68AB to 68GH according to the analog signal. As a result, the light intensity of each of the laser beams output from the AOM 18 becomes constant irrespective of the number of ON signals, as shown in FIG. 6, thereby preventing image density unevenness due to the number of ON image data. When the amplitude is not controlled by the number of ON signals, the intensity of one laser beam emitted from the AOM depends on the number of simultaneously emitted laser beams, that is, the number of ON image data in FIG. Changes as shown in FIG.

In the above, combiner 68AB that mixes two signals
Although the example in which the total level control circuit is connected to the stage subsequent to the -68 GH is described, the total level control circuit may be connected to the stage subsequent to the combiners 74 and 76 or the stage subsequent to the combiner 78. In the above description, an example using an acousto-optic element as the optical modulator has been described, but an optical waveguide modulator may be used.

In the above embodiment, two combiners 74 and 78 are connected to the subsequent stage of the amplifier circuit 72AB. When the signal passes through the combiner, the amplitude is theoretically reduced by 3 dB, so that the two combiners are reduced by 6 dB (1/4). In addition, since there is one combiner in the preceding stage of the amplifier circuit, it is necessary to amplify the signal four times in order to prevent the influence of the third-order intermodulation product. Assuming that the target power of the high-frequency signal corresponding to one laser beam is 125 mW, 125 mW × 4 × 4 in consideration of the power down by two combiners and the prevention of the third-order intermodulation product.
= 2W power is required. Therefore, an amplifier circuit of 2 W may be used. This is 1/4 of the power required to amplify at once after mixing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, an amplifier circuit is connected to a position where two high-frequency signals are amplified at one time.
The number of amplifying circuits can be reduced, and the intermodulation interference, particularly, 3
The influence of the second-order distortion intermodulation product can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an AOM driver according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a laser beam recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 shows details of a control circuit of the above embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the number of ON image data and the intensity of the laser beam. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of ON image data and the level of the analog signal output from the DAC. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of ON of the image data and the intensity of the laser beam, and FIGS. 7 (1) to (4) are third harmonics with respect to the signal output from the oscillation circuit. FIGS. 8 (1) to 8 (3) are diagrams illustrating the effect of the signal, FIGS. 8 (1) to 8 (3) are diagrams illustrating the effect of the third harmonic signal on the signal output from the oscillation circuit of the present embodiment, and FIG. Check period, non-recording period and recording period for the angle of the galvanometer mirror It is a diagram showing a. 12: He-Ne laser, 18: AOM, 54: DAC, 64A to 64H: Local level control circuit, 66A to 66H: Switch circuit, 68AB to 68GH, 74, 76, 78 ... Combiner, 70AB ~ 70GH ... Total level control circuit, 72AB ~ 72GH ... Amplifier circuit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of two-input one-output combiners for mixing and outputting two non-adjacent high-frequency signals when a plurality of high-frequency signals are arranged in order of frequency magnitude, and an output terminal of the plurality of combiners. A plurality of level control circuits connected to each other and controlling the amplitude of the high frequency signal output from each combiner; a high frequency signal connected to each of the output terminals of the plurality of level control circuits and output from each level control circuit A plurality of amplifier circuits for amplifying the signals; a mixing unit for mixing and outputting each of the high-frequency signals amplified by the plurality of amplifier circuits into one; and a strong unit corresponding to the amplitude of the high-frequency signal output from the mixing unit. And a light modulator that splits and emits a beam incident in a direction corresponding to the frequency.