JP3080060B2 - Optical lens device with focus adjustment function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical lens device with a focus adjusting function, and more particularly to an optical lens device with a focus adjusting function suitable for adjusting the lens focus of a telescope lens used mounted on an artificial satellite. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 shows a conventional example. The conventional example shown in FIG. 7 is a CCD (Charge Coupled) which is a photoelectric conversion element.
(Device: charge-coupled device) A wedge glass 111, 112 having a wedge-shaped cross section is inserted in front of the sensor 6, and an image forming position is adjusted by utilizing the fact that the refractive index changes according to the thickness of the wedge glass 111, 112. Is performed. Reference numeral 101 indicates an optical lens, and reference numeral 2
a indicates the light to be measured. For this reason, durability can be maintained for a long period of time even in a severe space such as outer space. Symbol L ₀ is shown a focal length.

A conventional example of an optical lens having a focus adjusting function is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 59-193429.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 59-193429 discloses a technique in which a focal position is variably controlled by utilizing a change in a refractive index caused by a thermal change of a light propagation medium. Forming a predetermined temperature distribution for
It is intended to form a predetermined refractive index distribution corresponding to this, and thereby variably set the focal position.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is effective when the width of the CCD sensor 102 is short, but when the width of the CCD sensor 102 is long, the wedge glasses 111 and 112 are effective. However, it is difficult to uniformly control (adjust) the position where the optical path is interrupted, which is inappropriate.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-193429, a predetermined temperature distribution is formed for the entire inside of a light propagation medium, and a refractive index distribution corresponding to the predetermined temperature distribution is formed. Therefore, the shape of the heater for forming the refractive index distribution is complicated, and furthermore, the heater must be provided over a wide area on the outer surface of the light propagation medium. Was unsuitable as an optical lens.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the disadvantages of the above-mentioned prior art and to provide an optical lens with a focus adjusting function capable of effectively adjusting the focal position by utilizing the volume expansion of the lens by heating without complicating the structure. Its purpose is to provide a device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention , an optical lens for a telescope mounted on an artificial satellite , and predetermined information captured by the optical lens are converted into electric signals. And a CCD sensor for sending the converted signal to a predetermined signal processing circuit.

The above-mentioned optical lens is formed of a transparent member whose volume is changed by heat, and a lens heating means for heating the optical lens is provided on the optical lens .

Furthermore, the lens heating means mentioned above, a heater that is provided surrounding the optical lens around the optical lens, and a power supply circuit for applying a predetermined heating current to the heater, the output of the power supply circuit And an output control unit for adjusting .

[0011] Then, the optical lens described above with equip two at a predetermined distance on the same axis, as well as equipped with a heater surrounding the optical lens around the respective optical lenses, respectively, the output control section And a first plurality of heater control functions for simultaneously driving and controlling the above-mentioned heaters under the same conditions.

[0012] Thus, if example embodiment, in the case of setting the entire apparatus in the operational state, the focal point O can not get certain information control unit if not received on the CCD sensors from the CCD sensor.

When such a situation occurs, the lens heating means operates immediately to heat the optical lens. As a result, the optical lens is appropriately heated and its volume changes (expands), so that the focal point O reaches the CCD sensor.

[0014] Thus, CCD Sensors reflecting mirror and the optical lens, even if it is fixed to the barrel of the telescope, and sufficiently correspond to this without shielding the light beam path to perform the alignment of the focal point O it can.

[0015] Thus, the heater can be and reliably energization control with high precision, it is possible to obtain a highly practical lens heating means.

[0016] Here, it may be a heater telescopic in the strip for the heater.

In each of the inventions according to claims 2 to 4 ,
4. The optical lens device with a focus adjusting function according to claim 2 or 3, wherein two of the optical lenses are provided on the same axis at predetermined intervals, and the optical lenses surround the optical lenses. Equipped with heating heaters.

The output control unit has a second heater control function for simultaneously controlling the driving of each heater under different conditions.

For this reason, in each of the inventions according to the second to fourth aspects, in addition to functioning equivalently to the above-described each invention of the second or third aspect, the other heater is finely adjusted according to the situation. In such a point, the position of the focus O can be quickly and highly accurately adjusted.

Here, the content of the second plurality of heater control functions is set so that the current supplied to one of the two heaters is larger than the current supplied to the other heater. May be set.

Further, the contents of the second plurality of heater control functions are determined by controlling the energization of one of the two heaters first, and then controlling the other heater at a predetermined timing. It may be set so as to switch to heater energization control.

As described above, in the present invention, the body of the optical lens is
Since a product whose change in product has a linear characteristic with respect to temperature is used, by controlling the temperature of the optical lens, the focal position of the light beam can be easily controlled back and forth. Further, sandwiching two optical lenses between the light beams is effective when the adjustment amount of the focus position is large or when the focus position is quickly controlled.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A comparative example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG.
Denotes an optical lens. The optical lens 1 is a lens for a telescope mounted on an artificial satellite and has a transparent member that expands or contracts by heat and simultaneously changes the refractive index, for example, BK-7 or a property equivalent thereto. It is formed of a material. Further, in this embodiment, the optical lens 1 is formed in a disk shape, and its volume change rate has a linear characteristic with respect to temperature.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a CCD sensor. This C
The CD sensor 2 converts a predetermined information captured by the above-described optical lens into an electric signal and a predetermined signal processing circuit (not shown) externally output by predetermined signal scanning.
To be sent out.

Further, a reflection mirror 3 is provided on the light input side of the optical lens 1 so that the light to be measured 2a arriving from the outside is sent in parallel to the axis of the optical lens 1. Here, the optical lens 1, the CCD sensor 2, and the reflecting mirror 3 are all held at the periphery or the back side thereof through a telescopic holding member (not shown) via a telescopic holding member. ing.

A lens heating means 10 for heating the optical lens 1 is provided in addition to the optical lens 1 described above. As shown in FIG. 1, the lens heating means 10 is a heating heater 11 which is provided around the optical lens 1 described above in a band-like and expandable manner around the optical lens 1.
A power supply circuit 12 for applying a predetermined heating current to the heater 11; and an output control unit 13 for adjusting the output of the power supply circuit 12. The reference numeral 10A indicates the measured light 2a
Is shown. Here, the heater 11 may have a width smaller than the thickness dimension around the optical lens 1 as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the comparative example will be described with reference to FIG.
Description will be made based on (B). Here, FIG. 2A shows a state in which the focal length L ₁ of the optical lens 1 at the ambient temperature is short and the focal point O of the optical lens 1 cannot reach the CCD sensor 2.

Now, when the entire apparatus is set to the operating state,
When the entire device is under the state shown in FIG.
Even if the CCD sensor 2 is scanned, predetermined information cannot be obtained from the CCD sensor 2.

When such a situation occurs, the output control unit 13 in FIG. 1 starts operating immediately because the signal from the CCD sensor 2 is weak, and the power supply unit 13 applies the output of the power supply circuit 12 to the heater 11. The driving of the circuit 12 is controlled. Thereby, the optical lens 1 is appropriately heated by the heater 11 and its volume changes (expands). In this case, since the heater 11 is provided around the optical lens 1, the volume of the optical lens 1 expands more in the peripheral portion than in the central portion. For this reason, for example, FIG.
The focus O reaches the CCD sensor 2 as shown in FIG.

In the state shown in FIG. 2B, the output control section 13 can obtain predetermined information from the CCD sensor 2. After that, the output control unit 13 calculates the supplied current necessary to maintain the state of FIG. 2B, and continuously drives and controls the output of the power supply circuit 12 based on the calculation result.

Thus, even if the optical lens 1, the CCD sensor 2, and the reflection mirror 3 are fixed to the barrel of the telescope as described above, the focus O can be sufficiently adjusted without blocking the light beam path. Alignment can be performed.

On the other hand, in the case of a reflection type telescope mounted on an artificial satellite, a metal or a composite material having a low linear expansion coefficient is used as a material of the lens barrel. Since it is impossible to reduce the temperature gradient in the telescope to zero, distortion always occurs in the telescope. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2A, the position of the focal point O is shifted. Such a state occurs remarkably when the CCD sensor 2, the reflection mirror 7, and the lens 9 are fixed to the barrel of the telescope as described above.

On the other hand, as described above, the optical lens 1
When the optical lens 1 is heated by energizing a heater 11 for heating the lens attached to the optical lens 1, the optical lens 1 expands in volume as shown in FIG.
The optical path of the light beam to the CD sensor 2 changes (the thickness of the light increases in the optical lens 1 and the light transmission distance increases), and as a result, the focal point O as shown in FIG.
Can be adjusted on the CCD sensor 2.

Next, another comparative example will be described with reference to FIG. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, two optical lenses described above are provided on the same axis at predetermined intervals. or,
Heaters 23 and 24 are provided around the optical lenses 21 and 22 around the optical lenses 21 and 22, respectively.

Further, the output control unit 13 controls the first and second heaters 23 and 24 simultaneously under the same condition.
The multiple heater control function is provided. Other configurations are
This is the same as the comparative example of FIG. 1 described above. Here, FIG. 3 shows a state after the focus position O is adjusted.

In this way, the two optical lenses 2
Even with a slight heating control on the optical lenses 1 and 22, the position of the focal point O is adjusted over a wide range as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B without moving the positions of the two optical lenses 21 and 22. Two optical lenses 2
Since the optical lenses 1 and 22 are driven at the same time, the position of the focal point O can be adjusted at almost twice the speed as compared with the case where only one optical lens is used. There is the advantage that adjustments can be made. That is,
It is effective in case of increasing adjusting the focal length L _1.

FIG. 4A shows the lens heating means 10.
FIG. 4B shows a state before the lens is operated.
0 indicates the state after operation. Symbols L _{1 and} L ₀ each indicate a focal length. The two optical lenses 21 and 22
5, the heater 23 may be attached to only one of the optical lenses 21. Even in this case, the position of the focal position O can be adjusted in a relatively short time. FIG. 5 shows a state after the focal position O is adjusted.

Further, in FIG. 3 described above, the output control section 13 may be provided with a second plurality of heater control functions for simultaneously controlling the driving of the heaters 23 and 24 under different conditions.

In this case, the energizing current value is set large for one optical lens 21 and the energizing current value is set small for the other optical lens 21 (fine adjustment control). 2, the control of the second multiple heater control function is performed so as to temporarily stop the energization control for one optical lens 21 and switch to the energization current control (fine adjustment control) for the other optical lens 21. The content may be specified.

As the second multiple heater control function, the energizing current value is set large for one optical lens 21 and the energizing current value is set small for the other optical lens 21 ( (Fine adjustment control), and at the same time, switching control may be performed such that the heating of the heater 23 of the one optical lens 21 is controlled first, and then the heating of the heater 24 of the other optical lens 21 is controlled. . In this case, the position of the focal point O can be adjusted more accurately and quickly.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention . Real truth
In facilities embodiment, the same comparative example shown in FIGS. 1 to 5
The components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
Shall be. Implementation embodiment are shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 3 described above
In the comparative example shown in FIG. 2, switches 12A, 1 for individually controlling on / off (ON / OFF) of one and the other heaters 23, 24 provided in the optical lenses 21, 22 described above.
2B is provided between the heaters 23 and 24 and the power supply circuit. Here, FIG.
4 shows an operation example in a case where the switches 12A and 12B are simultaneously turned on to set the same state as that of FIG. 4B described above.

For this reason, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, when either one of the heaters 23 and 24 is driven, when both are driven at the same time, or after one of the heaters is driven, the driving state is maintained. When the other is driven, various energization control states can be set according to the situation, and a highly versatile lens heating unit can be obtained. In the above embodiments, a circular optical lens is exemplified, but the optical lens may have a square shape or another shape.

[0043]

The present invention is constructed and functions as described above. According to this, for example, in the case of a reflective telescope mounted on an artificial satellite or the like, it can be used in outer space where ambient temperature conditions are severe. Because of this, the lens barrel is distorted and the focal position O of the optical lens shifts. In such a case, the optical lens is heated by energizing the lens heating heater attached to the optical lens as described above. As described above, the optical lens expands and the optical lens and the CCD
The optical path of the light flux between the sensor and the optical path is changed (in the optical lens, the thickness of the light increases and the light transmission distance increases), so that the focal point can be efficiently placed on the CCD sensor without complicating the configuration. It is possible to provide an unprecedented excellent optical lens device with a focus adjusting function that is suitable for a telescope that can be adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a comparative example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 (A) is an explanatory diagram showing a state of an optical lens before energizing a heater;
(B) is an explanatory view showing the state of the optical lens after the heater is energized to heat the optical lens.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another comparative example of the present invention.

4A and 4B are diagrams showing the operation of the comparative example of FIG. 3; FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing a state of an optical lens before energizing a heater; FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the optical lens after heating the lens.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing still another comparative example .

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention .

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,21,22 Optical lens 2 CCD sensor 10 Lens heating means 11,23,24 Heater 12 Power supply circuit 13 Output control unit

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 26/08 G02B 3/00 G02B 27/40

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An optical lens for a telescope mounted on an artificial satellite and a CCD sensor for converting predetermined information captured by the optical lens into an electric signal and sending it to a predetermined signal processing circuit. provided, the optical lens, thereby forming a transparent member which changes in volume by heat, in the optical lens, features a lens heating means for heating the optical lens, the lens heating means around the optical lens The light
Heaters surrounding the lens,
A power supply circuit for applying a predetermined heating current to the heat heater;
A configuration including an output control unit that adjusts the output of the power supply circuit;
And two optical lenses are provided on the same axis at predetermined intervals.
And the optical lens around each optical lens.
, Each of which is equipped with a heater, and the output control unit simultaneously controls the heaters under the same condition.
An optical lens device with a focus adjustment function, comprising: a first plurality of heater control functions for driving and controlling the plurality of heaters . 2. For telescopes to be mounted on artificial satellites
Optical lens and a predetermined optical lens captured by the optical lens.
Converts information into electrical signals and sends them out to predetermined signal processing circuits
With a CCD sensor The optical lens is a transparent member whose volume is changed by heat.
And the optical lens is
Lens heating means for heating the The lens heating means is provided around the optical lens with the light
Heaters surrounding the lens,
A power supply circuit for applying a predetermined heating current to the heat heater;
A configuration including an output control unit that adjusts the output of the power supply circuit;
And  Equipped with two optical lenses on the same axis at predetermined intervals
And the optical lens around each optical lens.
, And each of the heaters is equipped with a heater.
Equipped with a second multiple heater control function that controls the drive according to conditions
Is characterized byTo burnOptical lens device with point adjustment function. 3. The content of the second plurality of heater control functions is set such that a current supplied to one of the two heaters is larger than a current supplied to the other heater. The optical lens device with a focus adjusting function according to claim 2 . The wherein the content of said second plurality heater control function, while the energization control one of heater of said two heater first, and then to the other energization control of the heater at a predetermined timing 4. The optical lens device with a focus adjusting function according to claim 3 , wherein the switching is performed. 5. The focus adjustment function with optical lens system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 further characterized in that the heater has a strip of the heater.