JP6695039B2 - Fiber optic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to optical fiber devices.

  A laser oscillator using an optical fiber is widely used. This laser oscillator oscillates a laser beam through an optical fiber by utilizing the excitation light emitted from the light source. The optical fiber used in this laser oscillator is formed of, for example, a fluoride glass such as ZBLAN glass doped with a laser active material such as erbium.

  Here, a relatively long optical fiber is used to obtain desired performance. Then, in order to incorporate such a long optical fiber into a device, a structure as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 is provided.

  In the optical fiber holding structure of Patent Document 1, the barrel of the reel is formed in a stepped shape or a tapered shape, and the optical fiber is wound and held around the barrel. Further, in the optical fiber holding structure of Patent Document 2, a spiral groove is formed in the fiber bobbin, and the optical fiber is accommodated and held in this spiral groove.

JP 2000-12928 A JP 2012-247550 A

  In the holding structure of Patent Document 1, the optical fibers are wound around the drum of the reel and held, so that the optical fibers do not overlap and come into contact with each other, and damage to the contact portion can be prevented. Further, also in Patent Document 2, since the optical fiber is housed in the spiral groove, it is possible to eliminate contact between the optical fibers and prevent damage to the contact portion, as in Patent Document 1. ..

  However, in the holding structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, the drum of the reel becomes long in the axial direction, and it is difficult to downsize the entire structure. Further, in the holding structure of Patent Document 2, it is necessary to form a spiral groove, which is difficult to manufacture.

  An object of the present invention is to be able to hold an optical fiber with a simple and compact structure.

  (1) An optical fiber device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a base plate, and an optical fiber partially mounted on the base plate so as to be wound in an annular shape. The base plate has a groove capable of accommodating one of the intersecting portions of the optical fibers to prevent the intersecting portions of the optical fibers from contacting each other.

  In this device, the optical fiber is partially wound in an annular shape and placed on the base plate. Therefore, the annularly wound portion and the one end extending from the annular portion intersect with each other. Therefore, a groove is formed in the base plate, and one of the intersecting portions of the optical fibers is accommodated in this groove. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the optical fibers from coming into contact with each other at the intersections of the optical fibers.

  Here, only by forming a groove in the base plate, it is possible to avoid contact at the intersection of the optical fibers. Therefore, a simple structure and a compact structure can be achieved.

  (2) Preferably, the optical fiber has a first end portion and a second end portion, an annular portion wound in an annular shape, a first linear portion, and a second linear portion. The first straight portion extends linearly between the first end portion and the annular portion. The second straight portion extends linearly between the second end portion and the annular portion. The groove of the base plate is formed along the first straight line portion or the second straight line portion.

  Here, the groove of the base plate can accommodate the first or second straight portion of the optical fiber. Therefore, even when the optical fiber is wound a plurality of times in the annular portion, it is possible to avoid the contact of the optical fibers at the plurality of intersecting portions only by forming one groove.

  (3) Preferably, the base plate has a main body portion and an attachment / detachment portion that is attachable / detachable to / from the main body portion. The groove is formed in the attachment / detachment portion.

  The groove for accommodating the optical fiber of the base plate needs to be formed corresponding to the diameter of the optical fiber. Therefore, when the diameter of the optical fiber used changes, it is necessary to change the size of the groove formed in the base plate.

  Therefore, here, the base plate is composed of the main body portion and the attachment / detachment portion, and the groove is formed in the attachment / detachment portion. Therefore, even if the diameter of the optical fiber used changes, it is possible to deal with it by changing only the attaching / detaching part.

  (4) Preferably, a lid member is further provided that closes at least a portion where the optical fibers intersect with each other in an upper portion of the groove in which the optical fibers are accommodated.

  Here, since the upper portion of the optical fiber housed in the groove is covered with the lid member, the lid member is arranged between the optical fibers above and below the portion where the optical fibers intersect. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the optical fibers from contacting each other at the intersecting portions.

  (5) Preferably, the lid member is arranged so that its upper surface is flush with the surface of the base plate.

  Here, since the upper surface of the lid member is flush with the surface of the base plate, there is no step between the lid member and its peripheral portion. For this reason, the optical fiber does not come into contact with the step portion and the optical fiber is not damaged.

  (5) Preferably, in the groove of the base plate, there is further provided a heat conductive resin which is provided above the optical fiber housed in the groove and which makes the optical fiber adhere to the bottom surface of the groove.

  Here, the optical fiber housed in the groove is pressed against the bottom surface of the groove by the heat conductive resin. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber from floating above the bottom surface of the groove, and it is possible to reliably cool the optical fiber.

(6) Preferably, in the groove of the base plate, a heat conductive adhesive filled between the optical fiber accommodated in the groove and the bottom surface of the groove is further provided.

  Here, heat conduction between the optical fiber housed in the groove and the bottom surface of the groove is ensured via the heat conductive adhesive. Therefore, the optical fiber in the groove can be surely cooled.

  According to the present invention as described above, the optical fiber can be held with a simple and compact structure.

The schematic block diagram of the laser oscillator by which the position embodiment of the present invention was adopted. Sectional drawing which followed the 2nd linear part of FIG. Sectional drawing of the direction which intersects with the 2nd linear part of FIG. Another example of optical fiber The figure corresponding to FIG. 3 of other embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laser oscillator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The laser oscillator 1 includes an excitation light source 2, first to third lenses 3a, 3b, 3c, first and second dichroic mirrors 4a, 4b, a damper 5, an optical fiber 6, a housing 7, and a chiller device 8. There is.

  The excitation light source 2 oscillates the excitation light, and can be configured by, for example, a lamp or a semiconductor laser. The pumping light oscillated by the pumping light source 2 is output via the pumping light transmission fiber 2a.

  The first lens 3a is a lens that functions as a collimator lens, and is arranged between the pumping light transmission fiber 2a and a first window portion 7a of the housing 7 described later. The first lens 3a converts the excitation light from the excitation light source 2 from a divergent light state to a parallel light state.

  The second lens 3b is a lens that functions as a condenser lens and a collimator lens, and is arranged between the first dichroic mirror 4a and the first end 11 of the optical fiber 6. The second lens 3b collects the excitation light converted into the parallel light state by the first lens 3a and radiates the excitation light to the optical fiber 6, and converts the laser light emitted from the optical fiber 6 into the parallel light state. ..

  The third lens 3c is a lens that functions as a condenser lens and a collimator lens, and is arranged between the second dichroic mirror 4b and the second end 12 of the optical fiber 6. The third lens 3c converts the excitation light and the laser light from the optical fiber 6 into a parallel light state, collects the laser light from the second dichroic mirror 4b, and radiates the laser light to the optical fiber 6.

  The first dichroic mirror 4a is arranged between the first lens 3a and the second lens 3b. The first dichroic mirror 4a transmits the excitation light from the excitation light source 2 and reflects it so as to change the traveling direction of the laser light from the optical fiber 6.

  The second dichroic mirror 4b is arranged between the third lens 3c and the damper 5. The second dichroic mirror 4b is configured to transmit the excitation light from the optical fiber 6 and reflect the laser light from the optical fiber 6.

The damper 5 is arranged downstream of the second dichroic mirror 4b and is a member that absorbs the excitation light transmitted through the second dichroic mirror 4b.

  Although not described in detail, the optical fiber 6 has a core and a clad formed so as to cover the core. The optical fiber 6 has the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 at both ends, as described above. Further, the optical fiber 6 has an annular portion 60 wound in an annular shape, a first linear portion 61, and a second linear portion 62. The first straight portion 61 is a portion between the first end portion 11 and the annular portion 60, and extends linearly. The second linear portion 62 is a portion between the second end portion 12 and the annular portion 60, and extends linearly.

  The housing 7 is formed in a box shape, and the base plate 70 is arranged on the bottom surface. The base plate 70 has a flat surface on which the optical fiber 6 is placed. A heat sink (not shown) for cooling the optical fiber 6 via the base plate 70 is arranged on the lower surface of the base plate 70. A flow path through which the refrigerant flows is formed inside the heat sink.

  The base plate 70 has a main body 71 and a mounting / demounting portion 72. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 71 is provided with a rectangular recess 71a. 2 is a sectional view taken along the second straight line portion 62 of FIG. The attachment / detachment portion 72 is housed in the recess 71 a of the main body portion 71 and can be removed. The attachment / detachment portion 72 is arranged at a position where a part of the second linear portion 62 of the optical fiber 6 is placed, and extends along the second linear portion 62.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the attachment / detachment portion 72 is provided with a groove 72 a extending along the second straight portion 62 of the optical fiber 6. The groove 72a has a width corresponding to the diameter of the optical fiber 6 and has a depth enough to accommodate the optical fiber 6. Note that FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the attaching / detaching portion 72 in a direction orthogonal to the second linear portion 62.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the attaching / detaching portion 72 is provided with a lid member 73. Specifically, in the attachment / detachment portion 72, a recess 72b having a shallower depth than the groove 72a is formed in a portion including the groove 72a. The lid member 73 is attached to the recess 72b and is fixed to the attachment / detachment portion 72 by screws or the like not shown. The thickness of the lid member 73 is set so that the upper surface of the lid member 73 is flush with the surface of the peripheral attaching / detaching portion 72 in a state where it is mounted in the recess 72b.

  A heat conductive resin 74 is provided between the optical fiber 6 housed in the groove 72a and the lid member 73 to press the second straight portion 62 of the optical fiber 6 against the inner surface of the groove 72a. As a result, the second straight portion 62 of the optical fiber 6 directly contacts the inner surface of the groove 72a, heat conduction between the inner surface of the groove 72a and the optical fiber 6 is ensured, and the optical fiber 6 in the groove 72a is stabilized. Can be cooled.

  Further, instead of providing the heat conductive resin 74 between the optical fiber 6 and the lid member 73, the heat conductive resin 74 is provided between the second straight portion 62 of the optical fiber 6 housed in the groove 72a and the inner surface of the groove 72a. The adhesive 75 may be filled. As a result, heat conduction between the inner surface of the groove 72a and the optical fiber 6 is ensured via the filled adhesive 75, and the optical fiber 6 in the groove 72a can be cooled stably.

  The chiller device 8 is connected to the housing 7 via a pipe 8a. The chiller device 8 adjusts the temperature of the refrigerant flowing in the heat sink of the housing 7. Specifically, the chiller device 8 cools the refrigerant sent from the heat sink of the housing 7 through the pipe 8a. The coolant cooled in the chiller device 8 is returned to the heat sink of the housing 7 through the pipe 8a.

  [Operation] The pumping light oscillated in the pumping light source 2 is output from the pumping light transmission fiber 2a, becomes parallel light in the first lens 3a, and enters the housing 7 through the first window 7a. The excitation light that has entered the housing 7 passes through the first dichroic mirror 4a, is condensed by the second lens 3b, and enters the optical fiber 6 from the first end 11 of the optical fiber 6.

  The excitation light that has entered the optical fiber 6 propagates in the core, and the laser-active substance doped in the core is excited and laser light is output. Then, the excitation light emitted from the second end 12 of the optical fiber 6 passes through the third lens 3c and the second dichroic mirror 4b and is absorbed by the damper 5.

  On the other hand, the laser light generated in the core of the optical fiber 6 is emitted from the second end 12 of the optical fiber 6 and converted into a parallel light state by the third lens 3c. Then, the laser light is reflected by the second dichroic mirror 4b, collected by the third lens 3c, and enters the optical fiber 6 from the second end 12 side. The laser light that has entered the optical fiber 6 propagates in the core and is emitted from the first end 11 of the optical fiber 6. Then, the laser light is converted into a parallel light state by the second lens 3b, is reflected by the first dichroic mirror 4a, and the traveling direction is changed toward the second window portion 7b, and passes through the second window portion 7b. Is radiated to the outside of the housing 7.

  In the above laser oscillation operation, if the optical fibers contact each other at the intersecting portions of the optical fibers 6, the contacted portions may be damaged. However, in the present embodiment, since the lower optical fiber 6 (more specifically, the second linear portion 62) is accommodated in the groove 72a of the attachment / detachment portion 72 at the intersection of the optical fibers 6, the upper optical fiber 6 Contact with the fiber 6 (more particularly the annulus 60) can be avoided. Moreover, since the lid member 73 is arranged above the optical fiber 6 housed in the groove 72a, the optical fibers 6 at the intersecting portions do not come into contact with each other.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the groove 72a formed in the attachment / detachment portion 72 is formed along the second linear portion 62. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, even when the annular portion 60 ′ of the optical fiber 6 ′ is wound around two rounds, it is only necessary to form one groove in the attaching / detaching portion 72. It is possible to avoid contact at the intersection of '.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the groove 72a is formed in the attachment / detachment portion 72, even if the diameter of the optical fiber to be used changes, only the attachment / detachment portion 72 need be replaced, and it is not necessary to replace the entire base plate. ..

  Further, in the present embodiment, the thickness of the lid member 73 and the depth of the recess 72b of the attaching / detaching portion 72 are set so that the upper surface of the lid member 73 is flush with the surface of the attaching / detaching portion 72. Therefore, no step is formed in the portion where the lid member 73 is attached. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber 6 from being damaged by the step.

[Other Embodiments]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  (1) The length of the optical fiber and the like (for example, the number of turns of the annular portion) are not limited to those in the above embodiment.

  (2) Although the base plate is composed of the main body part and the attachment / detachment part, it may be composed of a single plate having a groove formed in a part thereof. That is, the attachment / detachment portion is not an essential component. When the attaching / detaching part is not provided, the lid member may be attached so as to cover the groove formed in the base plate.

  (3) The lid member is not a particularly essential component. It is possible to eliminate the need for the lid member by forming the depth of the groove sufficiently deeper than the diameter of the optical fiber.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the laser oscillator, but it can be applied to other devices as well.

6 Optical Fiber 7 Housing 60 Annular Section 61 First Straight Section 62 Second Straight Section 70 Base Plate 71 Main Body Section 72 Attachment / Detachment Section 73 Lid Member 74 Thermal Conductive Resin 75 Thermal Conductive Adhesive

Claims (5)

Base plate,
On the base plate, an optical fiber part of which is wound in an annular shape and placed,
Equipped with
The base plate has a main body portion, and an attachment / detachment portion detachable from the main body portion,
A groove capable of accommodating one of the intersecting portions of the optical fibers is formed in the attaching / detaching portion in order to prevent the intersecting portions of the optical fibers from coming into contact with each other.
Fiber optic equipment. The optical fiber includes a first end portion and a second end portion, an annular portion wound in an annular shape, a first linear portion linearly extending between the first end portion and the annular portion, and the first and second end portions. A second linear portion extending linearly between the two end portions and the annular portion,
The groove of the base plate is formed along the first straight line portion or the second straight line portion,
The optical fiber device according to claim 1.   The optical fiber device according to claim 1, further comprising a lid member that closes at least a portion where the optical fibers intersect with each other in an upper portion of the groove in which the optical fibers are accommodated.   The heat conductive resin provided in the groove | channel of the said base plate in the upper part of the optical fiber accommodated in the said groove | channel, and making the said optical fiber adhere to the bottom face of the said groove | channel is further equipped with any one of Claim 1 to 3. The optical fiber device according to.   The optical fiber device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a heat conductive adhesive filled in the groove of the base plate between the optical fiber housed in the groove and the bottom surface of the groove. ..

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