JPS59109023A - Light path changing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stop the oscillation of a laser etc. and to secure safety when a light path changing element is damaged or released by providing a light detecting device on the holding surface of a holding member of a light path changing element. CONSTITUTION:A laser detecting element 11 such as a thermistor etc. is provided on the mirror holding face 2a of a mirror holder. A laser beam 4 emitted from a light source is reflected by a reflecting mirror 1 and led in a specified direction. When the reflecting mirror 1 is damaged or released, the laser detecting element 11 is irradiated, and the output is inputted to a laser driving device 14 through an amplifier 13. Laser oscillation is stopped and safety is secured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical path switching device that switches an optical path by reflecting a laser beam or the like emitted from a light source in a direction different from that of the light source.

In recent years, optical means such as lasers have been widely used in fields such as clinical medicine, mechanical processing, and information processing, and laser devices such as laser scalpels and laser processing devices have been developed. These laser devices generally have an optical path switching device having an optical path switching element such as a reflecting mirror or a prism built into the main body of the device, thereby controlling the direction of the laser beam.

1 and 2 are views showing an example of a conventional optical path switching device, in which reference numeral 1 is a reflecting mirror, 2 is a mirror holder for holding the reflecting mirror 1 at an angle, and 3 is a stopper. That is, this reflective mirror 1 is fixed to a mirror holder 2 by a stopper 3, and is held at a predetermined angle so that the entire laser beam 4 from a light source (not shown) is switched in a predetermined direction. Further, the mirror holder 2 may be provided with a driving mechanism such as a linear solenoid 5 as shown in FIG.
In some cases, the shutter is operated six times in the direction of the arrow to provide a so-called shutter function.

By the way, in the optical path switching device configured as described above, the reflecting mirror 1 may be damaged or detached from the holder 2 during operation or transportation of the device. However, since the conventional optical path switching device does not have a function to detect this, it is not possible to obtain a predetermined output of the laser beam at the work point where the laser beam should be guided, which is dangerous.

In particular, maser scalpels that use high-power lasers are extremely dangerous and can cause great harm to patients. In addition, there was a fear that the processing accuracy of the products would be greatly affected by the processing equipment, resulting in a series of defective products.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and is a highly safe optical path switching device that can immediately detect when an optical path switching element such as a reflective mirror is damaged or detached and can stop oscillation of a laser or the like. is intended to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that a light detection means is provided on the holding surface of a holding member that fixes and holds an optical path switching element.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which the same parts as in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, a laser detection element J1 formed of, for example, a thermistor whose surface is coated with a light absorber is provided on the mirror holding surface 2a of the mirror holder 2. The output end of the laser diode 11 is connected to an amplifier 13 via a lead wire 12, and the amplifier 13 is connected to a laser driving device 14 including a high-voltage power source and the like.

Therefore, the laser beam 5 emitted from the light source is guided in the original direction when the reflecting mirror 1 is in a normal state, and when the reflecting mirror 1 is damaged or detached from the holder 2, it is guided to the laser detecting element 1. irradiated. As a result, a detection signal is output from the laser detection element 11, and after this detection signal is amplified by the amplifier 13, the laser drive device 1
4 and the radar oscillation is stopped.

Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4(a) (bl is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4(a) is a diagram showing a normal state, and FIG.
bl is a diagram showing a case of an abnormal state. In this figure, the same parts as in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations of those parts will be omitted.

In this embodiment, a reflective surface 16 made of polished laser reflective material such as aluminum is formed on the mirror holding surface 2a of the mirror holder 2 at a different reflection angle from that of the reflective mirror 1. That is, when the reflecting mirror 1 is in a normal state, the laser beam 5 from the light source is guided in the original direction as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, the light is reflected by the reflective surface 16 and enters the laser detection element 11. Thereafter, operations similar to those described in the first embodiment are performed, and the laser oscillation is stopped.

In this way, in the second embodiment, a reflective surface 16 having a different angle from the reflection angle of the reflective mirror 1 is formed on the holding surface 2a of the mirror holder 2, and the laser detection element 11 is arranged on the optical path of this reflective surface 16. With this structure, breakage and detachment of the reflecting mirror 1 can be immediately detected as in the first embodiment, and furthermore, since there is no need to take out lead wires from the mirror holder body, parts that are frequently driven, such as the shutter mechanism, can be easily detected. If used for this purpose, there is no need to worry about malfunctions due to disconnection.

In the first and second embodiments, it has been described that the laser detection element 1 is formed of a sensor such as a thermistor, but the present invention can also be implemented using a fuse connected to a gold standard voltage power source. It is. That is, in this way, when the reflecting mirror 1 is damaged or detached, the fuse is melted by the heat of the laser beam 5, and a reliable stopping operation can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the light detection means is provided on the holding surface of the holding member that fixes and holds the optical path switching element, when the optical path switching element is damaged or detached, the oscillation of a laser or the like is immediately activated. It is possible to provide a highly safe optical path switching device that can stop the operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an IMr side view showing an example of a conventional optical path switching device, FIG. 4(a) (bl is a diagram explaining another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4(a) is an optical path diagram when the reflecting mirror is in a normal state, and FIG. 4(fb) is an optical path diagram when the reflecting mirror is in a normal state. This is an optical path diagram when is in an abnormal state. 1...Reflection mirror, 2...Mirror holder, 3...
- Stopper, 4... Laser beam, 1... Laser detection element, 13... Amplifier, 16... Reflective surface. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Hiko Suzue Takehiko Fang Figure 1 - (- Fang 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 (a) (b) Commissioner of the Patent Office Kazuo Wakasugi 1. Request for display of case No. 1985-218566 2 , Name of the invention Optical path switching device 3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant (037) - J' Rollins Optical Industry Co., Ltd. 4, Agent 6, Full text of the amendment's specification 138 -

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) An optical path switching device comprising at least an optical path switching element that reflects light from a light source and switches the optical path in a direction different from that of the light source, and a holding member that holds the optical path switching element. An optical path switching device comprising: means for detecting damage or detachment of an optical path switching element; and means for stopping light from the light source based on a signal from the detection means. (1) The optical path switching device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is a photodetecting element provided on the holding surface of the holding member. (3) The detection means includes a reflecting surface formed on the holding surface of the holding member 60 and having a different angle from the reflection angle of the optical step switching element d1, and a photodetecting element disposed on the optical path of this reflecting surface. Claim No. 1 (1) characterized in that
) Optical path switching device described in item 2.