JPH07190759A - Laser collimator, its imaging method and laser communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate a dot type real image at an object point by including a paralleling optical system in the optical system of an illuminant, and converging a laser beam on the collimiation point of a telescope. CONSTITUTION:A laser illuminant body 30 is adjusted to a laser incident position in such state as integrated with a connector body 20, and a semiconductor laser oscillation section 33 is actuated. As a result, a laser beam 38b as part of a laser beam 38a reflected at a position 40 is incident through an eyepiece 7. After the center lines of the beam 38b (38a) are adjusted so as to agree to the optical axis of the eyepiece 7 alternately, the beams 38b (38a) arrive at a position near an object point, due to the inching of a ceiling wall 31, and become a circular image. Also, a dial 37 is turned and a paralleling lens system 34 is inched to converge the beams 38b (39b) like a dot type, and the illuminant body 30 is rotated and stopped at a position giving a converging point nearest the object point. Then, a screw 61 is turned and a reflecting mirror 40 moves back and forth, due to the back and forth motion of a uniaxial translation and travel seat 60, thereby making a vertically oscillating converging point approach the object point. Then, the converging point is biaxially rotated at a position 71. Furthermore, the adjustment of each of rotation and translation processes is repeated until the converging point agrees to the object point, thereby converging the beams 39b (39a) to the collimiation point of a collimating means 9 as a real image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser collimator such as a laser leveler and a laser vertical device. More specifically, it relates to a laser collimator in which a point real image of a laser beam is formed at a collimation target point of a telescope. Furthermore, it relates to a laser communication method using a laser collimator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Vertical and horizontal reference lines are necessary for constructing structures on the earth's surface such as civil engineering work, building construction, interior construction work and machine installation. The setting of such a reference line is necessary because, firstly, the construct is constructed against gravity. Second, the setting of the reference line is necessary for aesthetic reasons. Whether the lines of the wallboard are horizontal is not a mechanical issue, but an aesthetic issue. The water surface of the U-shaped tube can be used as a reference line with the water surface being horizontal because water molecules subjected to vertical gravity generate surface tension in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

There is no means other than setting the reference line by utilizing gravity at the place where the structure is constructed.
All levelers and verticals use gravity. The horizontal level and the vertical level are theoretically equivalent and can be technically converted. If one pentaprism is added to the leveler, it becomes a vertical unit, and if one pentaprism is added to the vertical unit, it becomes a leveler. In particular, a telescope is used for a current leveling device or vertical device which requires a long distance between one point and a target point which is another point on a horizontal line / vertical line passing through this one point. The optical axis of the optical system of the telescope is set with respect to the reference line that appears due to the action of gravity.

The telescope is an optical system that matches an image forming point where light scattered and emitted from a distant object point forms a real image with a collimation point. A collimator using such a telescope is a special telescope configured as an optical instrument in which the optical axis of the optical system of the telescope is set with a vertical line as a reference.

To set the collimation point by such a conventional special telescope, one worker is on the side receiving the light, that is, the collimation point side of the telescope, and the target point is on the side emitting the light, that is, the target point side. There is a need for a total of two workers, one for moving the target point in order to make the point coincide with the collimation point, and for such a sensitive exchange between two workers. For example, a person standing on the target point side moves up and down a paper on which a line is drawn with a ballpoint pen having a line width of 0.2 mm in accordance with a hand signal of a person who looks into the crosshair of the collimator from the eyepiece with the middle waist. A rule to move one little finger up and down one line is decided by the way of moving the little finger.

In order to avoid such a defect of the special telescope, a laser irradiation type collimator is desired. A laser irradiator is a telescope that emits light, not a telescope that receives light. A laser irradiator is a device that projects a laser beam in a certain direction, for example, in the horizontal direction or in the vertical direction. Also,
The laser beam diffuses due to the nature of the light flux, but at least a lens system that geometrically optics narrows down to one point is required. In order to narrow the laser beam into spots as a real image, it is necessary to know the arrival position of the laser beam, but it is impossible to find the arrival position of the laser beam that is not spotted on the irradiator side. At the light spot side, there is no idea where the laser beam reaches. It is also very difficult to find the arrival position of the laser beam on the side of the irradiator using a telescope that has been facilitated. For this reason, the work efficiency is very poor (development may be delayed due to such defects, and the accuracy is not very good even though it is actually on the market).

As a laser irradiator for the purpose of eliminating such a defect of the conventional collimator, the laser is focused on the focal point of the objective lens to focus the laser on a distant target point.
It is known that the laser scattered and returned from the target point can be seen through the eyepiece. Although this one does not have the above-mentioned defects, it is extremely problematic in terms of physiology, because the laser of parallel light flux returning from the plane part near the optical axis of the lens that constitutes the optical system, the mirror, etc. forms an image on the retina of the eye. is there.

As a solution to such a physiological problem, the laser auto level disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-264270 is known. According to such a laser auto level, it is possible to accurately irradiate a laser as a light spot on a target point which is seen to coincide with the collimation point of the telescope. Therefore, if you go near the target point, you can easily find the light spot at the position you can see and remember. Further, if the light spot is focused and imaged on the target point corresponding to the collimation point, it is guaranteed that the optical axis of the laser beam is set with the same accuracy as the reference optical axis of the telescope.

[0009]

The laser beam is not a parallel light flux in terms of geometrical optics. In particular, since the semiconductor laser has an astigmatic difference, that is, it is like a two-point light source,
It is necessary to configure an optical system for use as a light source of parallel light flux. In order to utilize the excellent accuracy of the collimator whose optical system such as laser and auto level is strictly configured,
It is necessary to configure the optical system such as the incident angle of the laser beam, the divergence angle, the focal point position, etc. including the optical system of the telescope, and establish the principle adjustment means for adjusting the optical system to the required extent. There is. Further, it is necessary to establish a principle means for maximizing the use of the output from the laser source. The laser collimator satisfying such conditions can be used as a communication means. Furthermore, after clarifying the principle of adjustment, an adjustment mechanism for facilitating the adjustment work must be established. Furthermore, design considerations are required for mass-produced products such as laser auto level.

The present invention has been made based on the above technical background, and achieves the following objects.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a telescope or laser collimator for forming a point-like real image of a laser on a target collimation point.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laser collimator having an adjusting mechanism for sharpening a point-like real image formed at a target collimation point.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a laser collimator capable of expanding the degree of freedom in design.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging method for a laser collimator that sharpens the imaging of a target point.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a communication method utilizing the characteristics of the laser collimator.

[0016]

The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above object. Numerical numbers added in parentheses () to the components of the means described below are
It is a symbol for facilitating the understanding of the means of the present invention by clarifying the correspondence between the components of the present invention and the components of the embodiments shown in the reference drawings, and the present invention is limited to the embodiments. It is not a sign to do.

The laser collimator of the present invention comprises a telescope section (1) comprising an objective lens (5), a focusing lens (6) and an eyepiece lens (7), and the eyepiece lens in the telescope section (1). Laser beam (3
8b), a laser light source unit (2), a positioning coupling unit (3) for positioning and coupling the laser light source unit (2) to the telescope unit (1), and the laser light source unit (2). And a light source side optical system including a collimating optical system (34) for converging a laser beam (38b) incident through the eyepiece lens (7) at a collimation point of the telescope unit (1). It is characterized by consisting of.

The laser collimator of the present invention is provided in the laser light source section (2) in the laser collimator,
A reflecting mirror (40) for changing the traveling direction of the laser beam collimated by the collimating optical system (34).

Furthermore, the laser collimator of the present invention is
In one laser collimator selected from the laser collimators, the light source side optical system including the collimating optical system (34) is displaced to direct the laser beam (38b) to the eyepiece (7). It is characterized by comprising a laser beam direction adjusting means (50) for adjusting the incident direction.

Furthermore, the laser collimator of the present invention is
In one laser collimator selected from the laser collimators, the positioning coupling unit (3) outputs the laser beam (38b) output from the light source side optical system of the laser light source unit (2). Position switching means (20, 21, 22, 22) for switching the position of the laser light source unit (2) between a laser incident position to be incident on the telescope unit (1) and a laser non-incident position other than the laser incident position. 23,
25).

Furthermore, the imaging method of the laser collimator according to the present invention comprises an objective lens (5) and a focusing lens (6).
And an eyepiece lens (7) and a telescope unit (1) whose collimation point is located near the focal point of the objective lens (5), and a laser beam (1) which is incident on the telescope unit (1) through the eyepiece lens (7). 38b) laser light source section (2)
And a laser beam emitted from a laser collimator, which has a positioning coupling part (3) for positioning and coupling the laser light source part (2) to the telescope part (1) in a point form at a distant target point. A method for forming an image by a laser collimator for forming an image, wherein a laser beam (38b) incident on the eyepiece lens (7) from the laser light source unit (2) is directed to a collimation point of the telescope unit (1). It is characterized by collecting light.

Furthermore, in the laser communication method of the present invention, a transmitting side telescope section (1a) comprising an objective lens (5) and an eyepiece lens (7), and the transmitting side telescope section (1a).
A laser light source unit (a) including a laser modulator (110) and a light source side optical system that makes a laser beam (38b) incident on the collimation point of the transmission side telescope unit (1a) from the eyepiece lens (7). And a receiving side telescope section (1b) comprising an objective lens (5) and an eyepiece lens (7), and the telescope section (1b).
In addition, laser communication is performed using a laser receiving device (B) that receives the laser emitted from the transmitting side laser oscillation device (A) by the objective lens (7) and receives the laser that has passed through the eyepiece lens (7). It is characterized by that.

[0023]

In the laser collimator of the present invention, the laser beam incident on the eyepiece lens is focused on the collimation point. Therefore, a light source of one light spot is formed at the collimation point. A real image of such a light source is formed at a target point corresponding to the collimation point of the telescope. The laser beam is reflected by the reflecting mirror and then enters the eyepiece lens. Since the direction of the laser beam incident on the eyepiece lens is adjusted, the laser beam is accurately formed into a point-like image on the collimation point of the telescope. Such a point light source clearly forms an image at a distant target point. A real image is formed on the target point which is visually focused without adjustment. Two laser telescopes to which a laser modulator is added are laser transmitting / receiving means.

[0024]

【Example】

(First Embodiment of Laser Collimator) Next, a first embodiment of the laser collimator of the present invention will be specifically described in detail with reference to the reference drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a laser collimator according to the present invention. The laser collimator of the present invention comprises three parts, a telescope part 1, a laser light source part 2 and a positioning coupling part 3. The positioning coupling unit 3 is means for positioning the telescope unit 1 and coupling it to the telescope unit 1. The telescope section includes a telescope. "Telescope" does not necessarily include a mirror, regardless of its name.

Telescope Unit 1 The telescope unit 1 of the first embodiment is constructed as described below. The telescope is an optical system including a telescope body 4, an objective lens 5, a focusing lens 6 and an eyepiece lens 7. The objective lens is a lens that has a longer focal length than an eyepiece lens in a telescope and that collects incident light. The eyepiece refers to a lens that has a shorter focal length than that of an objective lens in a telescope and that magnifies a real image formed by the objective lens, but does not necessarily mean that the lens looks into the eye.

The objective lens 5 is fixedly provided at the front end of the cylindrical front portion of the telescope body 4. Eyepiece 7
Is fixed to the rear end of the cylindrical rear portion of the telescope body 4. The focusing lens 6 is provided immediately behind the objective lens 5 and is supported by the telescope body 4. The focusing lens 6 is movable in parallel to the optical axis, and is moved by an adjusting knob 8 rotatably supported by the telescope body 4.

A transparent collimating means 9 is provided near the focal position of the eyepiece 7 and is fixed to the telescope body 4. The collimating means 9 is made of a transparent plate so that the intersection of the marked crosshairs is near the focal point of the eyepiece 7,
The collimating means 9 is fixed in position with respect to the eyepiece 7 and fixed to the telescope body 4. The intersection of the orthogonal cross lines is hereinafter referred to as the collimation point. Further, the position of the objective lens 5 is adjusted with respect to the collimating means 9 so that the focal point of the lens system including the objective lens 5 and the focusing lens 6 is located at the collimation point.
The telescope body 4, the objective lens 5, the focusing lens 6, the eyepiece 7, and the collimating means 9 form the telescope with the collimation line of the first embodiment. Optical Automatic Correction Mechanism 10 of Telescope Unit The optical automatic correction mechanism 10 of the first embodiment is configured as described below. Focusing lens 6 and collimating means 9
An optical automatic correction mechanism 10 is provided between and. The optical automatic correction mechanism 10 includes an objective lens 5 and an eyepiece lens 7.
As long as the initial setting of the optical axis of the optical system including the collimating means 9 and the collimating means 9 is completed, as long as the initially set telescope main body 4 is tilted within a certain range with respect to the initial set angle. A real image of the same target point is a gravity pendulum optical system incorporated in the optical system of the telescope so as to always form a constant image on the collimation point of the collimating means 9.

Such a gravitational pendulum optical system was developed by Zeiss Co. in about 1951 and was published in Japanese Patent Publication Sho 36 (196).
1) -4492, in Japan, 1957
It was developed around the year by Sokia. As described above, the optical automatic correction mechanism 10 which is a gravity pendulum optical system is used.
Is well known because it is incorporated in a level as an auto level, and the principle structure is simply shown in FIG.

An optical automatic correction mechanism 10 simply shown in FIG.
Is composed of one suspension prism 11, four suspension members 12 made of an elastic material for suspending the one suspension prism 11, and a fixed prism 13. The fixed prism 13 is
It is fixed to the telescope body 4. The hanging member 12 is a thin metal ribbon. The suspension prism 11 is suspended by such a suspension member 12 in a special suspension manner. Although various suspension methods are known, the suspension prism 11 shown in the figure has an inverted trapezoidal shape so that the distance between the lower ends of the four suspending members 12 is shorter than the distance between the upper ends thereof. It is the hanging method.

The light incident from the objective lens 5 is directed to the total reflection surface 13a of the fixed prism 13, and the light reflected by the total reflection surface 13a of the fixed prism 13 is directed to the total reflection surface 11a of the suspension prism 11 and the total reflection surface 11a. The light reflected by is directed to the total reflection surface 11b of the hanging prism 11, and the total reflection surface 1
The light reflected by 1b is the total reflection surface 13b of the fixed prism 13.
The suspension prism 11 and the fixed prism 13 are positioned so that the light reflected by the total reflection surface of the fixed prism 13 is directed toward the eyepiece lens 7.

Although not shown in the drawing, one
An electrically conductive eddy current plate is fixed to the upper end of a centering rod that is physically provided and stands up, and a magnet is fixed to the telescope body 4 so as to be located at a close distance on both sides of the eddy current plate. The suspension prism 11, the alignment rod, the eddy current plate, and the four suspension members 12 form a resonance vibration system. A high-frequency vibration is generated in the aligning rod, the vibration energy applied to the prism 11 is consumed as frictional heat of the eddy current, and the vibration generated in the suspension prism 11 disappears almost instantaneously.

Positioning / Coupling Section 3 The positioning / coupling section 3 of the first embodiment is constructed as described below. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the positioning joint 3 has a joint body 20. Coupling body 20
Is attached to a mounting portion 21 formed on the cylindrical rear portion of the telescope body 4. The coupling body 20 is
In the first embodiment, it is rotatably attached to the attachment portion 21. The mounting portion 21 is a plate-shaped coupling portion main body 2
0 guide gap 21 having upper and lower sliding surfaces for guiding the upper and lower surfaces
a. The coupling portion main body 20 has a guide gap 21a.
It is fitted to the mounting portion 21 and is rotatably supported by the shaft pin 22.

The coupling body 20 is provided with a retractable pin 23. The retractable pin 23 is urged toward the mounting portion 21 by a spring 24 inserted in a cylinder standing upright on the coupling portion main body 20. The figure shows the case where the coupling body 20 is at the laser incident position described later. The laser incident position of the coupling portion main body 20 is determined by the positioning hole 25 provided in the mounting portion 21. The positioning hole 25 is formed by a guide guide surface that is continuously connected to a plane that is a sliding surface below the mounting portion 21. Such positioning holes 25
The lower end surface of the retractable pin 23 is formed so as to match the hole forming surface.

The coupling section main body 20 at the laser incident position is positioned with respect to the telescope section 1 by the positioning means composed of the positioning holes 25, the retractable pins 23 and the like. The coupling unit body 20, the mounting unit 21, the shaft pin 22, and the retractable pin 23 as described above serve as position switching means for switching the position of the laser light source unit 2 to be described later between the laser incident position and the laser non-incident position. Is also composed.

Laser Light Source Section 2 The laser light source section 2 of the first embodiment is constructed as described below. The positioning coupling portion 3 is fitted into a fitting hole 26 formed in the coupling portion main body 20, and is supported and attached to the positioning coupling portion 3 by a fixing means (not shown).
Therefore, the laser light source unit 2 at the laser incident position is positioned with respect to the telescope unit 1 via the coupling unit body 20 of the positioning coupling unit 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the laser light source unit 2 is composed of a cylindrical laser light source unit body 30. A light source side optical system is formed in the laser light source unit body 30. The laser light source unit body 30 is fitted into the fitting hole 26 of the joining unit body 20 of the positioning joining unit 3.

The laser light source section 2 includes a laser light source. A cylindrical laser light source body 32 is fixedly attached to the lower end surface of the ceiling wall 31 of the laser light source body 30. As the laser light source main body 32, a laser projector commercially available from Nippon Kagaku Engineering is used. The laser light source main body 32 will be briefly described. Inside the laser light source main body 32, a semiconductor laser oscillator 33 and a light source side optical system including a collimating lens system 34 as a collimating light source including a plurality of lenses and an electric circuit. And part 35. The semiconductor laser oscillator 33 has an astigmatic difference 2
Since it is a point light source, the collimation of the beam is adjusted even if the emission efficiency is reduced by the lens system 34.

The visible light laser output from the semiconductor laser oscillator 33 is currently red. Such semiconductors are guaranteed by the manufacturer for continuous use for 3000 hours at 1.5 volts, and are currently commercially available from multiple companies. It is said that it is only a matter of time before the low-wavelength green and blue-violet long-lived semiconductor lasers that allow clear visual confirmation of the laser spot in the open air in Japan and China are developed.

The laser components output from the collimating lens system 34 include those that are not collimated. The uncollimated components are naturally thrown out of the optical system by the subsequent optical system. At least one lens of the plurality of lenses of the collimating lens system 34 is a collimator lens 36.
Is. The collimator lens 36 includes the laser light source body 32.
It is moved in the optical axis direction by an adjusting knob 37 rotatably provided on the outer periphery of the. The divergence angle of the laser beam 38a output from the collimating lens system 34 can be finely adjusted by the adjusting knob 37.

As shown in FIG. 4, the laser light source unit 2 of the first embodiment includes a light source side optical system including a laser light source and a reflecting mirror 40. A reflecting mirror 40 is provided below the laser light source body 32. The reflecting mirror 40 is supported by the laser light source unit body 30. The reflecting mirror 40 is a total reflection prism. The reflector 40 uses the laser beam 3 output from the laser light source.
It is positioned so as to change the traveling direction of 8a by 90 degrees within the vertical plane. The laser beam 38b thus redirected goes to the window 41 provided in the laser light source unit body 30. The window 41 is made of optical glass. Laser Beam Adjusting Means 50 The laser beam adjusting means 50 of the first embodiment is configured as described below. The laser beam adjusting means 50 of the first embodiment includes a uniaxial rotating means 51 of the laser light source and the collimating lens system 34, a biaxial rotating means 52 of the reflecting mirror 40, and the reflecting mirror 4.
It is composed of 0 uniaxial moving means 59. The light source side optical system including the collimating lens system 34 and the reflecting mirror 40 is adjusted and assembled by the triaxial rotating means and the uniaxial moving means as a whole. Here, rotation refers to rotational movement, and movement refers to translational movement. Such 3-axis rotation 1-axis movement is equivalent to 1-axis rotation of the collimating lens system 34 and 2-axis rotation 1 of the reflecting mirror 40.
It has been disassembled into axial movements.

First Laser Beam Direction Adjusting Means 51 The first laser beam direction adjusting means 51 includes means for rotatably supporting the laser light source body 32, as shown in FIG. A supporting ring 53 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the laser light source body 32. 18 for the support ring 53
A supporting hole is formed at a position different by 0 degrees, and a supporting shaft 54 is inserted into this supporting hole. The support shaft 54 is fixed to a bearing member 55 attached to the laser light source unit body 30. A threaded portion formed in a part of the supporting shaft 54 is screwed into a screw hole formed in the bearing member 55.

The first laser beam direction adjusting means 51 includes a moving means for swinging the laser light source main body 32.
The ceiling wall 31 is used as such a moving means. The ceiling wall 31 is movably fixed to the upper end surface of the laser light source unit body 30. The upper end surface of the laser light source body 30 is formed as a cylindrical surface 56 centered on the supporting shaft 54. The portion of the ceiling wall 31 that is in contact with the cylindrical surface 56 is also formed as a cylindrical surface. The ceiling wall 31 is fixed to the laser light source body 30 with bolts 57.

Laser Beam Position Adjusting Means 59 The laser beam position adjusting means 59 of the first embodiment is constructed as described below. The laser beam position adjusting means 59 of the first embodiment includes a uniaxial translational moving table 60. A screw 61 is passed through the uniaxial translation table 60. The screw 61 is supported by a screw support member 62 attached to the laser light source unit body 30. Collars 63, 63 are provided at both ends of the screw 61. Since the two opposing surfaces of the collars 63, 63 are in contact with the two surfaces formed on the screw supporting member 62, the screw 61 rotates but does not move. The uniaxial translation table 60 includes the screw-supporting member 6
It is sandwiched between the guide bodies 64 on both sides attached to the No. 2 guide. Therefore, the uniaxial translation table 60 translates in the uniaxial direction but does not rotate.

Second Laser Beam Direction Adjusting Means 52 The second laser beam direction adjusting means 52 of the first embodiment is constructed as described below. The second laser beam direction adjusting means 52 includes a biaxial rotating body 71. The upper surface of the uniaxial translation table 60 is formed into a spherical surface 72. Spherical surface 72
The biaxial rotating body 71 is in contact with. The part of the biaxial rotating body 71 that contacts the spherical surface 72 is also formed on the spherical surface 73. The biaxial rotating body 71 has a plurality of bolt through holes 74.
A screw hole 75 is formed in the uniaxial translation table 60. A plurality of bolts 76 are passed through the bolt through holes 74, and the screw holes 7
Screwed to 5.

A power source unit 80 and a battery box 81 are attached to the laser light source unit body 30. Three 1.5-volt batteries 82 are removably inserted in the battery box 81 in series. A lid 83 is provided on the front surface of the battery box 81 so as to be openable and closable.
4.5 volt is taken out from both electrodes of the series battery and applied to the semiconductor laser oscillation unit 33 and the electric circuit unit 35 in the laser light source main body 32 through both electrodes of the laser light source main body 32.

Although not shown, the electric circuit section 35 operates and the semiconductor laser oscillating section 33 oscillates a laser beam only when the coupling section main body 20 is rotated about the shaft pin 22 to be positioned at the laser incident position. A switching circuit is provided so that the electric circuit section 35 does not operate and the semiconductor laser oscillation section 33 is not activated when the main body 20 is at a position other than the laser incident position, that is, the laser non-incident position. Laser activation is done with a separate switch. Other Means The telescope body 4 of the telescope unit 1 is fixed on the turntable 85. The turntable 85 is rotatably provided on the table body 86. The turntable 85 is rotationally driven by a knob (not shown). The base body 86 is provided with a bubble tube 87. The base body 86 is provided on a tripod mounting base 88. The base body 86 is supported on the mounting base 88 by three screw type expansion / contraction support members 89.

(Operation of the First Embodiment) Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. It is assumed that the optical axis of the known telescope unit 1 is horizontal by the known adjustment method. Also,
On the optical axis (the line through which the light beam incident on the objective lens 5 that coincides with the optical axis of the objective lens 5 passes through geometrically optics) thus adjusted, the intersection of the crosshairs of the collimating means 9 (visual It is assumed that the reference points are the same. Based on such a premise, the laser beam 38 by the laser beam adjusting means 50, 59.
A method of adjusting the direction and position of b will be described.

The coupling portion main body 20 is rotated around the shaft pin 22 to position the laser light source portion main body 30 at the laser non-incident position with the coupling portion main body 20 as one body. While moving the focusing lens 6 by means of the adjusting knob 8, an arbitrary distant object point which is visible to the eye is marked through the eyepiece through the eyepiece lens. For example, the marker is fixed to a distant wall or the like so that the intersection of the crosshairs of the marker coincides with the collimation point of the collimation means 9. The laser light source unit body 30 is positioned at the laser incident position on the coupling unit body 20 and the unitary body. At this laser incident position, the retractable pin 23 is located in the positioning hole 2 of the mounting portion 21.
Determined by fitting in 5. The position of the retractable pin 23 is stable due to the urging force of the spring 24.

The switching of the switching circuit in the laser-lightable state is turned on to activate the semiconductor laser oscillator 33.
The laser beam 38a is reflected by a reflecting mirror 40, which is a prism, and becomes a laser beam 38b. The laser beam 38b is
It is incident from the eyepiece lens 7. The coupling body 20 is positioned with respect to the telescope body 4 by a shaft pin 22 and a retractable pin 23. The accuracy of such positioning is sufficient for quality control of the production line. However, because the semiconductor laser oscillator 33 is a general commercial product that is not made for the laser collimator of the present invention and the essential properties of the semiconductor laser, the laser beam 38a is almost always the optical axis. Not on.

The adjusted center line of the laser beam 38b is adjusted so as to coincide with the optical axis of the eyepiece lens 7. The laser beam 38a is adjusted so as to cross the optical axis of the eyepiece lens 7. Bolt 57 is loosened and ceiling wall 3
Move 1 slightly. The laser reaches near a distant target point. A laser that arrives near a distant target point is circular (elliptical) rather than point-like.

The adjusting knob 37 of the laser light source main body 32 is turned to slightly move the collimating lens system 34, so that the laser beam that has arrived near a distant target point is focused in a point shape. The ceiling wall 31 is slightly moved to rotate the laser light source body 32 about the supporting shaft 54. The ceiling wall 31 is the laser light source unit main body 3
It rotates by sliding on the cylindrical surface at the upper end of 0. When the laser focus point is closest to the target point, the bolt 56 is loosely tightened to temporarily fix the laser light source body 32 to the laser light source unit body 30. As shown in FIG. 5, the uniaxial rotation adjustment A of the laser light source body 32 has been performed.

Next, the screw 61 of the laser beam position adjusting means 59 is rotated to move the uniaxial translation table 60 back and forth. The reflecting mirror 40 moves back and forth so that the position where the laser beam 38a strikes the reflecting mirror 40 moves up and down, and the distant laser converging point moves up and down. Move the distant laser focus to the target point as close as possible. As shown in FIG. 5, the uniaxial translational movement B has been performed. Next, the bolt 76 is loosened to biaxially rotate the biaxial rotor 71 of the second laser beam direction adjusting means 52. This two-axis rotation adjustment is performed by trial and error, but it is easy to understand empirically how to move the laser focusing point in the distant place. As shown in FIG. 5, the biaxial rotation adjustments C and D have been performed.

When the laser converging point does not completely coincide with the target point, the first laser beam direction adjusting means 51, the laser beam is observed by looking at the direction of deviation of the laser converging point closest to the target point from the target point. The adjustment work is repeated by the position adjusting means 59 and the second laser beam direction adjusting means 52.
That is, the triaxial rotation adjustments A, C and D and the uniaxial translational adjustment B are repeated.

When the laser focusing point completely coincides with the target point, the bolts 57 and 76 are strongly tightened, and finally the adjusting knob 37 is slightly turned to bring the laser focusing point to the smallest and highest brightness. Since the above adjustment is trial and error, the perfect adjustment may not be completed just because the laser focus point coincides with the target point. It is also necessary to confirm whether or not the laser converging point is coincident with the collimation point coincident target point viewed through the eyepiece lens 7 for the same horizontal plane target points having different distances.

After such confirmation, the laser beam is focused on the collimation point of the collimation means 9 as a real image.
In this specification, the light at the light collecting point thus collected is referred to as a collimating light collecting point. In other words, the collimating focal point is a new light source 80.
Becomes This light source 80, as shown in FIG.
Is formed at the collimation point of, and is not formed at the focal point 81 of the eyepiece lens 7. That is, the light source 80 is formed near the focus of the eyepiece lens 7.

Since the light source 80 is focused by the eyepiece lens 7 on the collimation focusing point, the laser emitted from the light source 80 travels within a certain solid angle range from the collimation focusing point. This range is shown in FIG. 4 and is the light cone 85. It is not clear whether this light cone is formed symmetrically with the optical axis.
If the light cone is formed symmetrically with respect to the optical axis, the amount of light incident on the objective lens 5 is maximized.

From this point of view, that is, in order to maximize the amount of light incident on the objective lens 5, the three-axis rotation 1
It is preferable that trial and error of the axial movement adjustments A, B, C and D be performed. Conversely, the adjustments A, B, C, and D of the three-axis rotation and the one-axis movement that maximize the brightness at the target point are the adjustments that match the laser beam 38b with the optical axis of the eyepiece 7. Since it is sufficient to make adjustments in the direction of increasing the brightness of the target point while visually observing the brightness at the target point (or viewing the light amount display of the photometer), the trial and error is based on a considerable law. Done in.

Therefore, the adjustment may be finished when the brightness becomes highest. The maximum brightness of the target point is obtained by further subtly changing the position of the collimator lens 36 with the adjusting knob 37. By such adjustment, the laser beam 38b is accurately focused on the collimation point. The cross-sectional area of the laser beam cross-section at the focused point thus collected is currently 40 microns × 60 microns.

Not all lasers in the light cone emitted from the light source 80 enter the objective lens 5. The outer laser in the light cone emitted from the light source 80 is fixed prism 1
3, the light does not enter the suspension prism 11, reaches the outside of the aperture range of the focusing lens 6 and the objective lens 5, and the objective lens 5
Does not enter. The laser incident on the objective lens 5 is focused on a target point corresponding to the collimation point as a real image of the collimation focusing point. When such an adjusted state is achieved, as long as the telescope body 4 is within a certain allowable angle range, the real image forming position of the collimated converging point remains unchanged regardless of the tilting of the telescope body 4 and remains at the target point. I am doing it.

The method of using the laser collimator after such adjustment will not be described from the purpose of the adjustment, but will be briefly described. Adjustment is made by the adjustment knob 8 so that an object point, for example, an arbitrary point of the steel frame, clearly forms an image on the intersection of the cross lines. The laser light source unit 2 is rotationally displaced to the laser incident position. This rotational displacement causes the laser beam 38b to enter the eyepiece lens, and a point-like real image is formed at the collimation point.
The real image of the collimation point becomes a new light source, and the real image of this light source is accurately formed at the target point.

A line is drawn with the ballpoint pen at the image forming point, and the position of the point is represented by the intersection of the vertical lines. Rotate the rotary table 85 by turning the knob attached to the collimator. The laser light source unit 2 is rotationally displaced to the laser non-incident position, and adjustment is made by the adjusting knob 8 so that the second target point clearly forms an image on the intersection of the cross lines. When the laser light source unit 2 is rotationally displaced to the laser incident position again, the light spot of the laser is formed at the second target point.
The plurality of points of interest marked in this way are on the same line. Such work can be done by one person. Two people will work when the target point is far, but since no hand signal is required, it is possible to work at night.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the laser collimator of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a front sectional view, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of a part of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second embodiment is essentially the first embodiment.
This is an orthogonal three-axis collimator in which three sets of the objective lens 5 and the focusing lens 6 are used to focus laser beams at three target points simultaneously or individually. Three focusing lenses 6 (hereinafter referred to as 6a, 6b, 6c)
The orthogonal three-axis separation optical system 100 described below is inserted between the optical automatic correction mechanism 10 and the optical automatic correction mechanism 10.

Other configurations, that is, the optical automatic correction mechanism 10, the eyepiece 7, and the collimating means 9 which constitute the telescope section are the same as those in the first embodiment. The configurations of the laser light source section 2 and the positioning coupling section 3 are exactly the same as in the first embodiment. Other configurations such as the bubble tube 87 are the same. The lid in front of the objective lens is especially necessary as an optical system.

A first laser beam splitter 101 is provided in front of the optical automatic correction mechanism 10. The first laser beam splitter 101 is rotated by 45 degrees about a horizontal line that passes through the optical axis and is orthogonal to the optical axis as a rotation axis.
It is fixed to. First beam splitter 10 for laser
In No. 1, a multilayer film for laser is formed on the reflecting surface so as to have a reflectance of about 33%. An objective lens 5 (hereinafter referred to as 5a) is fixedly provided at the front end of the telescope body 4.

An X-axis focusing lens 6a is provided immediately behind the objective lens 5a so as to be movable in the optical axis direction. The X-axis focusing lens 6a can be moved by an X-axis adjusting knob 8a rotatably provided on the telescope body 4. A second laser beam splitter 102 is provided between the first laser beam splitter 101 and the X-axis focusing lens 6a. The second laser beam splitter 102 is fixed to the telescope body 4 while being inclined by 45 degrees about a vertical line passing through the optical axis as a rotation axis. The second beam splitter 102 for laser has about 5
The multilayer film for laser is formed on the reflecting surface so as to have a reflectance of 0% (transmittance of about 50%).

As shown in FIG. 7, there is provided a rhombus prism 103 in which two right angle prisms are bonded together. One total reflection surface 104 of the rhombus prism 103 is a vertical plane orthogonal to the second laser beam splitter 102. The other total reflection surface 105 facing the total reflection surface 104 is parallel to the total reflection surface 104.

The optical axis is the first beam splitter 10 for laser.
Consider the point that intersects 1 as the origin O. The optical axis passing through the origin O and directed to the objective lens 5a is defined as the X axis. The light beam passing through the origin O on the optical axis is reflected by the second laser beam splitter 102 and is incident on the total reflection surface 104, is reflected by the total reflection surface 104 and is incident on the total reflection surface 105, and is reflected by the total reflection surface 105. reflect. Thus, the light ray reflected by the total reflection surface 105 is on a horizontal line that passes through the origin 0 and is orthogonal to the X axis (provided by the theorem of 3 perpendiculars). Such a horizontal line is the Y axis.
A light beam on the optical axis that is incident on the first laser beam splitter 101 at the origin O is reflected by the first laser beam splitter 101 in the vertical direction. The vertical line of the light ray reflected in this way is the Z axis. Thus, X axis, Y
The axis and the Z axis form a Cartesian coordinate axis whose origin is a point O.

It is assumed that the distance between the origin O and the objective lens 5a is set to such a length that the guarantee function of the optical automatic correction mechanism 10 works. If the distance between the origin O and the objective lens 5b and the distance between the origin O and the objective lens 5c are set equal to the distance between the origin O and the objective lens 5a, all the three-axis optical systems have an optical automatic correction mechanism. The ten automatic correction functions can be used exactly as they are.

The objective lens 5b and the objective lens 5c are covered, and a real image of the target point on the X axis is formed at the collimation point by the adjusting knob 8a. Next, the objective lens 5a and the objective lens 5c
Then, the adjustment knob 8b is used to form a real image of the target point on the Y-axis at the collimation point. Next, the objective lenses 5a and 5b are covered, and a real image of the Z-axis target point is formed at the collimation point by the adjusting knob 8c.

By making such adjustments, the laser light source unit 2
When the laser is incident on the eyepiece 7 from the same as in the first embodiment, the laser is focused on the X-axis target point, the Y-axis target point, and the Z-axis target point, respectively. If the tilt of the telescope body 4 is within the allowable range, the laser focusing point is unchanged, and the X-axis target point and Y
It is at the axis target point and the Z axis target point.

(First Embodiment of Communication Method) FIG. 8 shows a first embodiment of the laser communication method of the present invention. The laser communication method of the present invention uses two telescopes, a transmitting side telescope 1a and a receiving side telescope 1b. Transmitting side telescope 1a, receiving side telescope 1
Both b are composed of an objective lens 5 and an eyepiece lens 7.
Since the communication is long-distance communication regardless of whether it is performed on the ground or in outer space, the target point may be considered to be at infinity. Therefore, a focusing lens is in principle unnecessary. For near field communication such as in a factory, a focusing lens is added. A collimation unit 8 is provided to perform optical axis alignment by observing a target point with the eyes from behind the eyepiece lens 7.

In this case, the target point for the transmitting side telescope 1a is the receiving side telescope 1b, and the target point for the receiving side telescope 1b is the transmitting side telescope. Transmitting telescope 1a
A laser oscillation source, for example, a semiconductor laser oscillation unit 33 is provided behind the eyepiece 7. This semiconductor laser oscillator 33
Is fixedly provided on a telescope main body 4 (not shown) that supports the objective lens 5 and the eyepiece 7, or is rotatably displaceable or detachable as in the first and second embodiments of the laser collimator.

A collimating lens system 34 is provided immediately before the semiconductor laser oscillator 33. The collimating lens system 34 is for removing the non-parallel component so that the output laser of the semiconductor laser oscillator 33 having an astigmatic difference becomes a parallel laser beam 38b. A communication laser modulator 110 is provided between the collimating lens system 34 and the eyepiece 7. The transmission side laser modulation element 110 is composed of, for example, a titanate value crystal body 111 and a polarizing element 112. In this case, the transmission side laser modulation element 110 is a power modulation element. It is known that laser communication passing between clouds is practically possible by changing the power modulation to laser pulse modulation. Transmitting side laser modulator 11
To 0, the transmission signal voltage is input from the communication voltage signal generation circuit 114.

The receiving side telescope 1b is provided with a receiving side laser modulation element 111 for passing a collimated receiving side laser beam 38c passing through the eyepiece lens 7. This receiving side laser modulation element 111 is fixedly provided on a telescope body 4 (not shown) that supports the objective lens 5 and the eyepiece lens 7, or
Similar to the first and second embodiments of the laser collimator, the laser collimator is provided so as to be rotatable and detachable.

The voltage signal generated by the receiving side laser modulation element 111 is input to the communication voltage signal generation circuit 114. It is convenient to provide the receiving side telescope 1b with the semiconductor laser oscillator 33 and the collimating lens system 34 symmetrically.
Furthermore, if a polarization element 112 is added in front of the receiving side laser modulation element 111 and the electric system and the optical system on the receiving side and the transmitting side are configured as a completely symmetrical system, bidirectional communication is possible. Although FIG. 8 is shown as a receive-only telescope, it will be described below assuming that the above-mentioned perfect symmetry system is configured. The semiconductor laser oscillator 33 of the receiving side telescope 1b is activated to enlarge the diameter of the laser beam 38b and output it from the objective lens 5. The optical axis of the receiving side telescope 1b is roughly the transmitting side telescope 1
Suitable for a. The laser beam emitted from the eyepiece lens 5 spreads at a certain angle as the nature of the light even if it is adjusted by the focusing lens. The laser beam that spreads in this way is
Almost parallel portions are incident on the objective lens 5 of the distant transmission-side telescope 1a and are condensed as a real image at the rear focal point of the objective lens.

The attitude of the telescope 1a is adjusted so that the real image matches the collimation point. Similarly, the receiving side telescope 1b
To adjust the optical axes of the two telescopes 1a and 1b. The principle of adjusting the attitudes of the telescopes 1a and 1b so that the amount of light received by the receiving-side / transmitting-side laser modulator 111 is maximized is as described above. By this method,
The attitude control of the telescopes 1a and 1b can be automated.

The laser output from the semiconductor laser oscillating unit 33 is collimated by the collimating lens system 34, modulated by the transmitting side laser modulation element 110, and the eyepiece 7
And is focused on a collimation point near the confocal point of the objective lens 5 and the eyepiece lens 7, becomes a parallel beam by the objective lens 5, and travels from the transmitting side telescope 1a to the receiving side telescope 1b. The laser incident on the objective lens 5 of the receiving side telescope 1b forms an image in the vicinity of the focal point of the objective lens, and the rear eyepiece 7
And becomes the receiving side laser beam 38c. The reception side laser beam 38c is converted into an electric signal by the reception side laser modulation element 111. Such laser communication can be performed bidirectionally.

When the transmitting and receiving telescopes 1a and 1b are both installed on the ground, one is installed on the ground and the other is installed on a satellite in a geostationary orbit, and both are installed on the satellite, three telescopes are used. There are various cases such as one installed on the ground, another installed on a geostationary satellite, and another installed on a satellite in a circular orbit.

Note that ground-to-ground communication on days with a large amount of water vapor is currently impossible. If the distance of the water vapor layer is doubled, the attenuation of the laser is doubled, and the distance of the water vapor layer is 10 times.
If doubled, the amount of laser attenuation will be 1000 times. Above ground
Since the cloud layer between satellites is at most 10 km, if the telescope of the present invention is used for pulse modulation and a laser with a wavelength of 5.2 μm is used, terrestrial / satellite laser communication is possible at this point. .

(Other Embodiments) The laser light source section 2 of the first, second, and third embodiments has the telescope section 1 via the positioning coupling section 3.
Although it is rotatably provided in, it can be provided in parallel. The laser light source unit 2 of the first, second, and third embodiments is not detachably attached to the telescope unit 1 via the positioning coupling unit 3, but can be detachably attached.

Although the laser light source units of Examples 1, 2 and 3 are three-axis rotation and one-axis movement, they can be two-axis rotation and two-axis movement. In this case, the prism 40 is fixed to the laser light source unit main body, and the laser light source main body 32 is biaxially rotated and biaxially moved. When the prism 40 is omitted, the laser light source body 3
2 is rotated by 2 axes and moved by 2 axes.

At the time of mass production, collimation is performed on a laser focusing point passing through a point light source whose optical axis is set on a reference horizontal line or a vertical line and a circular slit (located just before the objective lens and having the same diameter as the objective lens). The point is positioned, and conversely, the optical system of the laser light source unit is adjusted so that the laser converges at the position of the point light source with maximum brightness.

A bubble tube is provided in the laser light source unit 2, a vertical objective lens and a horizontal objective lens are provided, and a prism is rotated to provide a vertical and horizontal collimator, and various design changes are possible. is there. The optical automatic correction mechanism is omitted depending on the application. Especially, when communicating between moving satellites, it is unnecessary in outer space without gravity (Lagrangian point).

[0083]

According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited. Since the laser point light source is formed at the collimation point, the laser can be accurately focused on the target point corresponding to the collimation point of the telescope without adjustment. The following effects are achieved with respect to the adjustment for forming such an optical system. That is, it is not necessary that the laser beam from the light source unit 2 which is made substantially parallel and incident on the eyepiece lens exactly coincides with the optical axis of the eyepiece lens 7. The laser beam that enters the laser beam in parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece lens 7 is focused in the vicinity of the collimation point with sufficient accuracy, and therefore adjustment is easy.

The laser beam from the laser light source unit 2 which is made substantially parallel to the eyepiece lens and made incident on the eyepiece lens 7 is
Need not be exactly parallel to the optical axis of. Adjustment is easy because the laser beam obliquely incident on the optical axis of the eyepiece may be focused on the collimation point.

Such adjustment is performed by trial and error in the direction in which the brightness of the target point becomes higher, and the adjustment work may be performed when the maximum brightness is obtained. Therefore, the adjustment is easy and accurate. Can be confirmed. Therefore, by applying the collimator to laser communication, the attitude of the telescope mounted on the satellite can be easily controlled by easy optical axis alignment.

Since the reflecting mirror is provided, the degree of freedom in designing the laser light source section is expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a first embodiment of a laser collimator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a positioning coupling portion 3.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of a laser light source unit.

FIG. 5 is a geometrical diagram for explaining the adjustment of the direction / position adjusting means of the laser beam.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view showing a second embodiment of the laser collimator according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an optical diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the communication method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Telescope part (4,5,6,7) 1a ... Transmission side telescope 1b ... Reception side telescope 2 ... Laser light source part 3 ... Positioning coupling part (20,21,22,23,25) 4 ... Telescope body 5 ... Objective lens 6 ... Focusing lens 7 ... Eyepiece 9 ... Collimation means 10 ... Optical automatic correction mechanism (11, 12, 13) 11 ... Suspension prism 12 ... Suspension member 13 ... Fixed prism 20 ... Coupling body 21 ... Mounting part 22 ... Shaft pin 23 ... Injecting / retracting pin 25 ... Positioning hole 30 ... Laser light source main body 31 ... Ceiling wall 32 ... Laser light source main body 33 ... Semiconductor laser oscillator 34 ... Parallelizing lens system 35 ... Electric circuit 36 ... Collimator Lens 38a, b ... Laser beam 40 ... Reflector 50 ... Laser beam adjusting means (51, 52) 51 ... First laser beam direction adjusting means (31, 54, 5)
6) 52 ... Second laser beam direction adjusting means (60, 71, 7)
2, 73) 54 ... Supporting shaft 56 ... Cylindrical surface 59 ... Laser beam position adjusting means (60, 61) 60 ... Uniaxial translation table 61 ... Screw 71 ... Biaxial rotating body 72, 73 ... Spherical surface 110 ... Laser modulation element

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A telescope section (1) comprising an objective lens (5), a focusing lens (6) and an eyepiece lens (7).
A laser light source unit (2) for outputting a laser beam (38b) to be incident on the telescope unit (1) through the eyepiece lens (7); and positioning the laser light source unit (2) on the telescope unit (1). And a laser beam (38b) provided on the laser light source (2) and incident through the eyepiece (7), and a collimation point of the telescope (1). A laser collimator comprising: a light source side optical system including a collimating optical system (34) for converging light on the laser collimator. 2. The laser collimator according to claim 1, wherein the laser light source section (2) is provided with reflection for changing the traveling direction of the laser beam collimated by the collimation optical system (34). A laser collimator comprising a mirror (40). 3. A laser collimator according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam (38b) is arranged by displacing a light source side optical system including the collimating optical system (34). And a laser beam direction adjusting means (50) for adjusting the direction in which the light is incident on the eyepiece (7). 4. The laser collimator according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the positioning coupling part (3) is output from the light source side optical system of the laser light source part (2). The laser beam (38b) for the telescope unit (1)
Position switching means (20, 2) for switching the position of the laser light source section (2) between a laser incident position to be incident on the laser and a laser non-incident position other than the laser incident position.
1, 22, 23, 25), and a laser collimator. 5. An objective lens (5) comprising an objective lens (5), a focusing lens (6) and an eyepiece lens (7).
A telescope unit (1) having a collimation point located near the focal point of the laser beam, and a laser light source unit (2) for outputting a laser beam (38b) to be incident on the telescope unit (1) through the eyepiece lens (7); To form a laser beam emitted from a laser collimator, which is composed of a positioning coupling section (3) for positioning and coupling the laser light source section (2) with the telescope section (1), at a distant target point in a point form. The method of imaging a laser collimator according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam (38b) incident on the eyepiece lens (7) from the laser light source unit (2) is focused on the collimation point of the telescope unit (1). And a method for imaging a laser collimator. 6. A transmission side telescope section (1a) comprising an objective lens (5) and an eyepiece lens (7), and a laser beam (38) from the eyepiece lens (7) to the transmission side telescope section (1a).
b) light source side optical system and laser modulator (11)
0), a laser light source unit (2) including a laser light source unit (A), a receiving side telescope unit (1b) including an objective lens (5) and an eyepiece lens (7), and the telescope unit ( 1b) laser communication using a laser receiving device (B) that receives the laser emitted from the transmitting side laser oscillation device (A) by the objective lens (7) and receives the laser that has passed through the eyepiece lens (7) A laser communication method comprising: