JPH0214687B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a voltage application mechanism for an electro-optic crystal used in an optical path switching mechanism, an optical shutter mechanism, or the like.

When parallel electrodes are placed facing a crystal that has an electro-optic effect, held at a 45-degree angle, and a predetermined half-wave voltage is applied, the polarization direction of a linearly polarized beam incident on the crystal is converted by 90 degrees. It can be emitted.

Furthermore, when no voltage is applied to the crystal, the incident linearly polarized beam is emitted without its polarization direction being changed.

By utilizing the characteristics of the electro-optic crystal, for example, an analyzer that passes only the linearly polarized beam whose polarization direction has been switched may be placed on the light output side of the electro-optic crystal, and a light ON/OFF switch or A light shutter or the like can be configured.

As a voltage application mechanism, a mechanism in which voltage application lead wires are soldered to electrode layers provided on a pair of opposing sides of an electro-optic crystal lacks reliability, does not allow for homogeneity of the product, and lacks ease of assembly.

Therefore, it is desired to provide a voltage application mechanism for an electro-optic crystal that can ensure the 45-degree tilt required for driving the electro-optic crystal and that can apply voltage appropriately and with a simple structure while maintaining the 45-degree tilt. ing.

In the present invention, corners of a pair of rectangular parallelepiped voltage application metal blocks are cut to form 45-degree inclined surfaces, and both voltage application metal blocks are arranged so that the 45-degree inclined surfaces are parallel to each other. An electro-optic crystal exhibiting a rectangular parallelepiped shape is sandwiched between the two 45-degree inclined surfaces, and an elastic conductor is sandwiched between the at least one electrode-formed surface and the 45-degree inclined surface. By interposing and positioning each of the corner portions forming a right angle opposite to the respective 45-degree inclined surfaces of the metal blocks for voltage application to a pair of corner portions forming a right angle on a diagonal line of the casing, the electro-optic Accurately maintains the crystal at a 45-degree inclination, enables easy assembly of the voltage application mechanism for the electro-optic crystal within the casing, and improves the adhesion between the metal block and the electro-optic crystal on the 45-degree inclined surface. This makes it possible to perform highly reliable voltage application and driving.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention.

In the figure, 1 is an electro-optic crystal, 2 and 3 are metal blocks for voltage application, and 4 and 5 are elastic conductors such as conductive rubber (hereinafter referred to as conductive rubber).

As shown in the figure, the corners of a pair of rectangular parallelepiped metal blocks 2 and 3 for voltage application are cut to form 45-degree inclined surfaces 2b and 3b, and both metal blocks 2 and 3 for voltage application are formed on both inclined surfaces 2b. , 3b are arranged parallel to each other, and the electro-optic crystal 1 is sandwiched between both inclined surfaces 2b and 3b.

The electro-optic crystal 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and electrodes 1a and 1b are provided on a pair of opposing surfaces. The electro-optic crystal 1 is held between inclined surfaces 2b and 3b of metal blocks 2 and 3 with the surfaces on which the electrodes 1a and 1b are formed inclined at 45 degrees.

The contact interface between each of the metal blocks 2 and 3 arranged as described above and the electro-optic crystal 1, that is, the inclined surface 2b,
The conductive rubbers 4, 5 are interposed at the contact interface between the electrodes 1a, 1b and the conductive rubbers 4, 5, and a voltage is applied through the conductive rubbers 4, 5. Tighten to make one piece.

The present invention also includes a case where a conductive rubber is interposed at the contact interface between the metal blocks 2, 3 and the electro-optic crystal 1. The same applies below.

The holder 6 is formed by a rectangular casing, and has corner portions 2c at right angles opposite to the inclined surfaces 2b and 3b of the metal blocks 2 and 3 at a pair of diagonally opposite corner portions thereof. 3c
are fitted, and both metal blocks 2 and 3 are positioned diagonally to hold the electro-optic crystal 1 at a relative angle of 45 degrees.

One opposing wall material 6c is arranged so as to be in contact with one surface forming the corners 2c, 3c of the metal blocks 2, 3, and the other wall material 6c is arranged so as to be in contact with the other surface forming the corners 2c, 3c. The opposing wall materials 6b are arranged, and the wall materials 6c and 6b are screwed together to assemble the casing serving as the holder 6. As a result of this assembly, the conductive rubbers 4 and 5 are compressed, and the metal blocks 2 and 3 and the electro-optic crystal 1 are brought into close contact and integrated.

A pin terminal 8 is implanted in the wall 6c forming the casing, and its legs protrude outside the casing to enable connection to a power source, and its head portions are brought into contact with the angular surfaces of the metal blocks 2 and 3.

In this way, a voltage is applied between the metal blocks 2 and 3, and a voltage is applied to the electro-optic crystal 1 via the conductive rubbers 4 and 5.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

This embodiment shows a case where voltage can be applied alternately to two electro-optic crystal bodies 1, 1.

As shown in the figure, the 45-degree inclined surfaces 2b' and 2b'' are formed symmetrically and inversely tapered at the adjacent corners of the metal block 2', and on the other hand, the 45-degree inclined surfaces 2b' and 2b'' are formed at the corners as in the first embodiment. Two rectangular parallelepiped metal blocks 3' having projecting surfaces are prepared. One of the metal blocks 3' is arranged so that its inclined surface 3b' faces parallel to one inclined surface 2b' of the metal block 2'. Similarly, the other metal block 3' is arranged so that its inclined surface 3b' faces parallel to the inclined surface 2b'' of the metal block 2'. Therefore, the inclined surface 3 of each metal block 3'
The electro-optic crystal 1 is sandwiched between the inclined surfaces 2b' and 2b'' of the metal block 2' and the electro-optic crystal 1, respectively, and the contact interfaces (at four locations) between the electro-optic crystal 1 and the metal blocks 2' and 3' are respectively sandwiched. ) with the conductive rubber 4, 5 interposed therebetween, and the inclined surfaces 2b', 2 of the metal blocks 2', 3'
b'', 3b' and the electrodes 1a, 1b of the electro-optic crystal 1 are in contact with each other via conductive rubbers 4, 5.

The thus formed overlapping assembly of the metal blocks 2', 3', the electro-optic crystal 1, and the conductive rubbers 4, 5 is tightly held in a casing serving as a holder 6.

The holder 6 has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment, in which the two metal blocks 3' are disposed at adjacent right-angled corners of the rectangular housing space, and the inclined surface 3b' is disposed at the corner. The right angle portions facing each other are fitted and positioned.

The flat surface opposite to the inclined surface of the metal block 2' is supported at the center of the inner surface of the parallel wall material 6c facing the wall material 6c on the corner forming surface side of the other metal block 3', and the wall material 6c By tightening the metal block 2' to the wall material 6b with the screw 7, the metal block 2' is pressed, and the pressing force (component force) is applied to the conductive rubbers 4, 5 and the electro-optic crystal 1 on the inclined surfaces 2b', 2b''. Giving metal slope 3
Accept this with b′.

As a result, equal pressure is applied from the metal block 2' to the two electro-optic crystals 1, and the conductive rubber 4, 5
The material is moderately compressed to achieve good adhesion, and strong rigid packaging is achieved, allowing stable and reliable voltage application and driving of the crystal. Additionally, an assembly with such performance is easily obtained.

Fig. 2 shows a metal block 9 placed between two metal blocks 3', one side of which is supported by the center of one metal block 2', and the other side supported by a wall supporting the other metal block 3'. It is supported on the inner surface of the material 6c.

Furthermore, three pin terminals 10a, 10 are attached to the wall material 6c.
b, 10c are planted at equal intervals and the legs are wall material 6c.
It protrudes outward, its head is exposed on the inner surface of the wall material 6c, and is brought into surface contact with the metal blocks 3', 3' at both ends and the metal block 9 in the center, respectively.

Pin terminals 10a and 10 are connected to form a current-carrying circuit.
Connect one end of the power supply E in parallel to b, switch it with the switch SW, and connect the other end of the power supply E to pin terminal 1.
Connect to 0c.

In this way, a voltage application circuit extending from the metal blocks 9 and 2' to the electro-optic crystal 1 and the metal block 3',
A voltage application circuit is formed from the metal block 2' to the other electro-optic crystal 1 and the other metal block 3', and a mechanism is formed in which each circuit can be switched by a switch SW.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the electro-optic crystal 1 is inserted between the 45-degree inclined surfaces of the pair of metal blocks while fitting the right-angled corner portions of the pair of metal blocks into the right-angled corner portions of the casing and positioning them reliably. The 45-degree tilt required for driving is reliably maintained.
A voltage application mechanism that alternately controls ON and OFF can be assembled extremely easily and rationally by implementing the present invention. In addition, as described above, the corners of the rectangular parallelepiped metal block for voltage application are cut to achieve the above-mentioned 45-degree tilting of the electro-optic crystal, and the inclined surface is sufficiently connected to the rectangular electrode surface of the crystal. By ensuring a large contact area, stable holding and contact can be expected. In addition, conductive rubber 4 is placed on the 45-degree inclined surface of the electro-optic crystal.
Alternatively, by interposing an elastic conductor such as 5, more stable close connection and holding can be achieved, and a highly reliable voltage application mechanism can be provided. Also, unlike the case where the metal block and the electro-optic crystal are brought into direct contact, the 45-degree inclined surface (contact surface) does not require a very strict planar finish and is easy to process.

In addition, assembly is easy, and by interposing an elastic conductor at the contact interface, elastic tightening is possible in the 45-degree inclined state, and the stacked bodies can be properly integrated. As described above, the present invention can be suitably put to practical use as a voltage application mechanism (drive mechanism) for an electro-optic crystal when an optical path changeover switch or optical shutter mechanism is integrated into a unit.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a voltage application mechanism of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the same. 1... Electro-optic crystal, 2, 3, 2', 3', 9...
Metal block for voltage application, 4, 5... Conductive rubber, 6
...Holder, 2b', 2b'', 3b, 3b'...45 degree inclined surface.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Cut the corners of a pair of rectangular parallelepiped voltage application metal blocks to form 45-degree inclined surfaces, and arrange both voltage application metal blocks so that the 45-degree inclined surfaces are parallel to each other, An electro-optic crystal exhibiting a rectangular parallelepiped shape is sandwiched between the two 45-degree inclined surfaces by a pair of opposing electrode-forming surfaces, and an elastic conductor is interposed between the at least one electrode-forming surface and the 45-degree inclined surface. , the corner portions of the two voltage application metal blocks forming a right angle facing each 45-degree inclined surface are respectively fitted and positioned in a pair of corner portions forming a right angle on the diagonal of the casing, and 1. A voltage application mechanism for an electro-optic crystal, characterized in that it is configured to maintain a degree of inclination.