JPS6355518A - Refracting optical deflector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To deflect an incident light in an optional direction in a prescribed range by turning the first and second polarizing prisms independently of each other based on input data. CONSTITUTION:The first and second polarizing prisms P1 and P2 consisting of combinations of plural element prisms having small vertical angles, turning means M1 and M2 which allow polarizing prisms P1 and P2 to closely face each other on the same optical axis and turn the first and second prisms P1 and P2 around the optical axis independently of each other, and a control means which performs a prescribed operation based on input data to drive turning means M1 and M2 are provided. The first and second prisms P1 and P2 are turned independently of each other based on input data. Thus, the incident light is deflected in an optional direction in the prescribed range.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Technical Field of the Invention) This invention uses a plurality of element prisms (deflection prisms).
The present invention relates to an optical deflector using a combination of two polarizing prisms, and relates to a refractive optical deflector that can automatically and accurately deflect a light beam in any direction with a simple operation.

(Technical background of the invention and its problems) The recent development of laser beam technology is remarkable.
Due to its good convergence and straightness of light, it has come to be widely used in fields such as civil engineering, architecture, and surveying.

For example, as is well known, when marking a specified position on a structure such as a building, a scale or the like is used to mark the structure, but in order to accurately determine and display the marking position, Laser beams are used.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a laser beam used in the field of marking, in which a laser beam emitting device 9 is installed in a horizontal state toward the marking surface OP at a predetermined position relative to the structure. A laser beam is emitted from this laser beam emitting device 9 so as to irradiate predetermined marking positions D1 to On on the marking surface DP. However, this predetermined marking position Di~Dn
In order to irradiate the laser beam, first set the relationship between the marking surface DP and the laser beam emitting device 9 accurately according to the distance between the marking surface DP and the laser beam emitting device 9 and the inclination of the structure, and then The marking position on the surface DP 1) The angle of the laser beam for irradiating 1 to Dn is calculated each time, and the laser beam emitting device 9 is moved manually or by an electric device for each calculated angle. It is necessary to slightly move the direction up, down, left and right, which poses a problem in that the calculation processing and operations become complicated.

Furthermore, the fields of use of light beams such as laser beams as mentioned above are not limited to the fields of civil engineering and architectural surveying.
Although it has come to be used in a wide range of fields, as mentioned above, there is no method to quickly and accurately deflect the light beam in any direction, and its use is not currently available.
There was a problem that it could not be propelled forward.

(Object of the invention) This invention was made under the above circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide a refractive optical deflector that can accurately and automatically deflect a light beam such as a laser beam in any direction without blind spots by a simple input operation.

(Summary of the Invention) The present invention relates to a refraction type optical deflector capable of deflecting incident light in any direction, and the present invention relates to a refraction type optical deflector capable of deflecting incident light in an arbitrary direction. , a rotation means for causing the deflection prisms to face each other in close proximity to each other on the same optical axis, and for independently rotating the first and second deflection prisms respectively about the optical axis; and input data. control means for performing a predetermined calculation based on the input data and driving the rotation means, and rotating the first and second deflection prisms independently based on the input data, thereby controlling the incident light to a predetermined value. It is designed so that it can be deflected in any direction within the range. Further, another invention provides a first deviation angle prism which is formed by combining a plurality of element prisms each having a small apex angle, and in which at least one of the element prisms is rotatable; a second deviation angle prism, which is arranged close to the optical axis of the angle prism and is made up of a combination of a plurality of element prisms each having a small apex angle, at least one of which is rotatable; a rotating means for independently rotating the first and second deflection prisms and rotating each rotatable element prism of the first and second deflection prisms; control means for controlling the rotation means, and each rotatable element prism of the first and second deflection prisms is rotated via the control means and the rotation means to determine the deflection angle relationship. By correcting the input light and rotating the first and second deflection prisms independently based on the input command data, the incident light can be accurately deflected in any direction within a predetermined range. be.

(Embodiments of the Invention) First, the principle of the deflection method according to the present invention will be explained.A deflection prism has been conventionally known as a means for deflecting a light beam in a predetermined direction. In the present invention, attention is paid to this deflection prism, and the above object is achieved by devising the structure of the deflection prism and rotating the two deflection prisms independently.

FIG. 3(A) is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a deflection prism, and the deflection prism P (here, the optical refractive index is assumed to be 1.5).
has a unique argument δ depending on its apex angle τ. Here, as shown in FIG. 3(f), on one surface of the deflection prism P.

On the other hand, when the light beam L incident perpendicularly enters the prism surface and is output, it is refracted by half of its apex angle, so the incident light that passes through the two deflection prisms P is as follows: The light is refracted by the apex angle τ of the prism P at most and is emitted. That is, the following equation generally holds between the apex angle of the deflection prism and the deflection angle δ for one prism.

δ=τ/2 ・・・・・・・・・ (1
) Note that the above equation (1) naturally differs depending on the optical refractive index of the deflection prism P.

Here, the deflection prism P is set to its incident optical axis LO
When rotated around , on the irradiation surface, a circle with a radius of the line molecule connecting the point A, which is refracted and irradiated by the deflection angle δ, and the point LO on the incident optical axis, is drawn. It turns out.

Figures 3 ([1) and (C) are for explaining a method of deflecting a light beam L in a desired direction by combining two deflection prisms having a unique deflection angle δ as described above. These are principle diagrams, in which (B) is a view seen from a direction perpendicular to the optical axis LO, and (C) is a view seen from a direction along the optical axis LO. As shown in FIG. 3 (B) and (C), two identical deflection prisms PL and P2 are provided with their apex angles close to each other in the Y-axis (+) direction (here, deflection prism P1 is (shall be placed on the incident light side). Here, either surface of the polarizing prisms Pi and P2 may be opposed to each other. Further, the distance between the deflection prisms Pi and P2 is made as short as possible.

When these two (oblate prisms PI, P2) are rotated by angles α and -α in opposite directions from the Y-axis, the light beam L passing through the oblate prisms Pl, P2 is as follows. It is known that depending on the rotation angle, a composite deflection angle can be obtained that is deflected in a constant linear direction along the Y axis.
There is.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3(C), when the respective declination directions of the two same declination prisms PI and P2 coincide with the Y-axis (+) direction (rotation angle α=-α = 0) as the starting point, and from this position this set of deflection prisms PI, P2
When the angles α and −α are rotated in opposite directions, the horizontal direction of the declination α and −α (Xl1iI11
The component forces δ・-5inα and δ・5in(-α) in the direction) cancel each other out and become °0", and the component forces δ・cos in the vertical direction (Y!1i111 direction in the figure) of the corresponding deviation angles α and -α
Only α and δ·cos(−α) are added, and the resulting declination angle becomes 2·δ·COSα in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, when the rotation angle α (-α) is changed, the maximum deviation angle ±2δ (with ±) determined by the self-vertical angle τ equivalent angle will be It is possible to obtain a composite declination angle at any position on Y@ within the range.

Therefore, such a set of two deflection prisms PI, P2
As mentioned above, the same angles α, −
The deflection prisms PI and P2 of the pair are changed to the state (the opening degree of both deflection prisms is 2α
) by rotating them in the same direction and at the same angle, the light beam can be irradiated in the desired direction and at the desired position. In other words, the incident light is
This can be achieved by irradiating the light beam at an arbitrary position within a circle defined by a radius of 2.delta. with respect to LQ.

FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) show that a deflector 1 consisting of a combination of two deflection prisms PI and P2 having the same deflection angle δ (in apex angle) is used to beam the laser beam shown in FIG. 11 above. Civil engineering by
These figures show an example of the irradiation method applied to the architectural surveying system, in which (A) is a view seen from a direction perpendicular to the optical axis LO, and (B) is a view seen from a direction along the optical axis LO. It is a diagram. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the deflector 1 is disposed on the front axis LO of the laser beam emitting device 9, which is disposed at a predetermined position with respect to the structure. By operating the laser beam emitting device 9, the laser beam emitted from the laser beam emitting device 9 is deflected to sequentially irradiate predetermined marking positions D1 to Dn on the marking surface DP.

Therefore, among this predetermined marking surface IDI~On,
For example, regarding the method of irradiating marking position D7,
This will be explained in detail below.

In FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), the distance between the marking surface DP and the deflector 1 is 2, the inclination of the structure is "0",
In other words, it is horizontal. In addition, the position data of the marking position D7 on the marking surface OP, that is, when the incident light goes straight without being deflected, the marking surface DP is The respective coordinate values of marking position 07 on the horizontal axis (X axis) and vertical axis (YII!111) assumed above are x, y, and the distance between the marking position D 7 and the above origin 0 is r, the marking Let β be the angle that the line segment connecting position D7 and the origin 0 makes with the Y axis. Furthermore, the incident light is deflected only by the single deflection angle δ of the deflection prism PI (or P2) used in the deflector 1, and is irradiated onto the marking surface OP at the point AI (or 82), and let the distance between the point At (or A2) and the origin 0 be rr.

In such a state, the deflection prisms Pi, P2
When the deflection prisms PI and P are rotated by α and −α angles in the Q direction shown in the drawing and in the opposite direction, respectively, with the Y axis as the starting point,
Point A irradiated on the Y-axis after being deflected by the composite deflection angle of 2.
The distance between s and the origin 0 is ``.

and the distance #r between the marking position D7 and the origin O are equal, then the following equation holds between them.

rr= It・tanδ ・・・・・・・・・
・ (2) r=(77T completed 7...)
... (3) r=r'=rr・cos a+r+”co
s(-a)=2Irr-cos a=
(4) Here, the distance 1 between the marking surface DP and the deflector 1 is strictly speaking the distance between the two deflection prisms PI,
Although the deviation angle prisms PI and P2 differ depending on the distance between P2, in reality, the deviation angle prisms PL and P2 differ.
As mentioned above, the distance between the two is very small and can be ignored compared to the distance +XU between the marking surface OP and the deflector 1. Therefore, the distance between the marking surface DP and the deflector l can be approximated by β.

Then, the irradiation point As obtained by rotating the deflection prisms PI and P2 by angles α and -α, respectively, as described above, is further rotated by angle β in the Q direction shown in the figure, as shown in FIG. 4(B). If the deflection prisms Pi and P2 are simultaneously rotated by an angle β in the Q direction shown in the figure, the irradiation point AS will reach the desired marking position D7, and the following equation holds between them. .

tan/3=-... (5) Therefore, the above equations (2) to (4) are summarized as follows.

is obtained, and from the above equation (5), β=tanri5...
(7) is found.

Here, in the above description, after the same deflection prisms Pi and P2 are rotated by the same angle α (-α) in opposite directions, the deflection prisms PI and P2 are moved to a predetermined position. An example has been shown in which both are simultaneously rotated in the same direction by an angle of β, but in reality, the following procedure may be used.

That is, in order to deflect the laser beam and irradiate it to the marking position D7 on the marking surface DP, the deflection prisms PI and P2 are moved from the Y axis to α+β, respectively.
It is sufficient to rotate by −α+β angle. Therefore, the angle α1 for rotating the deflection prism Pi from the Y axis is:
αl=α+β, and the angle α2 at which the deflection prism P2 is rotated from the Y axis becomes α2=−α+β. Therefore, from the above equations (6) and (7), the following can be obtained. Here, each rotation angle α1 . α2 has Ylth as the starting point, but in addition to memorizing the angle each time,
The angles may be determined using the stored angles as starting points.

Then, by repeating such an operation and performing a simple input operation (inputting the x and y coordinate values of the marking position), it becomes possible to irradiate all desired marking positions O1 to Dn.

Here, Fig. 5 shows how light at an incident angle θ1 with respect to the normal N, -N,' is incident on the prism at the apex angle at A-8, and is output in the CD direction at an angle of deviation δ. It shows. Then, the incident angle and refraction angle at the first surface of the prism are set to θ3. θ,.

and the angle of incidence and angle of refraction at the second surface are respectively θ2
．． If θ2°, the law of refraction holds true for a prism placed in the air, and the deflection angle δ is δ−θbiθ1゛4θ2°−θ2 ・(θ14−θ2°)−(01“ +02), and since the apex angle is τ, it is −θ1°÷02, and δ−(θ1+θ2°)−τ ・・・・・・・・・(
11). In addition, the above equation (11) is expressed as (9) and (l
O) From the formula, δ-θ, +5in-'(n-sin (r-
sin-' (sin θl/n))l-r・
It can be rewritten as (12). Now, in order to see how the declination angle δ changes as the incident angle θ1 changes, τ−60
When calculating for a prism of °, n-1,6,
It will look like Figure 7. In this FIG. 7, the incident angle θ1
The reason why we did not calculate values below 53°10'' is because the incident angle θ and the exit angle 02° occupy symmetrical positions at this angle, so instead of calculating for smaller values of the incident angle θ, This is because we can take the value corresponding to the incident angle θ in the opposite direction.However, 1 oblate angle δ is 46′″2
0° is the minimum, and the incident angle θ1 is 53°lO.

Even if it is made smaller, the declination angle δ does not become smaller; on the contrary, it becomes larger. The relationship between the angle of incidence θ1 as the horizontal axis and the deflection δ as the vertical axis is shown in Figure 6. If a parallel line is drawn from point A with a deflection angle of 53°, it intersects at two points B and C, and the deflection is angle 53°
It can be seen that there are two incident angles that give θ+ -AB and 01-80.

From the above, it has been clarified that the deflection angle varies depending on the incident angle of the light beam to the deflection prism. Further, in the above description, the apex angle τ of the prism is kept constant, but when the apex angle τ is changed and the measured values of the deflection angle δ for various incident angles θ1 are summarized in a table, the result is shown in FIG. As is clear from Fig. 8, if the apex angle of the deflection prism is large, the incident angle θ
It can be seen that the amount of change in the declination angle δ is large depending on the difference of 1, and as the apex angle τ becomes smaller, the amount of change in the declination angle δ is extremely small even if the incident angle θ1 changes. For this reason, in this invention, the ninth
As shown in the figure, deflection prisms (hereinafter referred to as element prisms) 41 to 4 with small apex angles (for example, −3° or less)
3 are combined to form an deflection prism 40, and similar element prisms 51 to 53 are combined to form an deflection prism 50.
form. The deflection prisms 40 and 50 can be rotated independently with respect to the optical axis LX, and at least one of the element prisms can be rotated. By using elemental prisms with small apex angles, it is possible to correct the variation in the declination angle due to the change in the incident angle described above, and by rotating the element prisms independently, the declination angle characteristics of the declination prisms 40 and 50 can be made the same. It is possible to arrange them.

In this way, since the deflection prisms 40 and 50 themselves are provided with rotatable element prisms, by appropriately rotating these rotatable element prisms, the overall ( The deflection amount of the deflection prisms 40 and 50 can be made to match a predetermined deflection angle, and the deflection amount of one deflection prism can be made to match the deflection amount of the other deflection prism. If the angle amount is different,
A blind spot where deflection is not possible is created at the center of the optical axis within a radius range corresponding to the difference in the amount of deflection.

In addition, in the above description, the deflection prisms 40 and 50 are each 3
Although it is composed of element prisms 41 to 43 and 51 to 53, the number of element prisms and the number of rotatable element prisms are arbitrary.

The structure and operation of the refractive optical deflector 1 of the present invention based on the above principle will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1(A) is a front external view as seen from the optical axis direction showing the schematic structure of the optical deflector 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 1(B) is a half-sectional view of the lower half of both sides thereof. .

In FIGS. 1(A) and (B), a pair of declination prisms Pi and P2 each consisting of a plurality of element prisms as shown in FIG. It is fitted and fixed in the prism frame 11.12,
The prism frames 11 and 12 are arranged so that the prisms PL and P2 are close to each other, and bearings 13 and 14 are installed in the outer frame IO.
The prism frame 11 is rotatably fitted to the prism frame 11.
．． Worm gears 21 and 22 are fixed to the outside of the outer frame 12 (the outside of the outer frame 10), respectively. Further, for example, one of the element prisms of the deflection prism Pi is rotatable, and the outer frame 1O is supported and fixed on the base plate 16 by a support stand I5. Here, Fig. 1 (B)
As shown in FIG. On the other hand, the deflection prism P2 is on the output light side.

The stepping motors Ml and M2 are also connected to the base plate 16.
These stepping motors Ml, M
As shown in FIG.
Worms 23 and 24 that mesh with worms 1 and 22 are pivoted. Therefore, when the stepping motors Ml and M2 are rotated, the deflection prisms PI and P2 fitted into the prism frame 11.12 are rotated by a predetermined angle through the ohms 23.24 and the worm gears 21.22. It is now possible to rotate. Here, the stepping motor MIJ2 rotates the deflection prisms PI and P2 via the worms 23 and 24 and the ohm gears 21 and 22, so if this drive mechanism is used, very small angles can be achieved. You will be able to rotate slowly and accurately.

Further, the stepping motors Ml and M2 are controlled by a control device 3, which will be described later, so that they can rotate independently by a predetermined angle.

FIG. 2 (8) is a block configuration diagram schematically showing a control device 3 that drives the stepping motors Ml and M2 to deflect the incident light to a desired position by the optical deflector 1 and irradiate the incident light. .

In FIG. 2 (^), 35 is an input means consisting of a keyboard etc. for inputting the various data mentioned above, and 30 is a CPt
1. It is an arithmetic circuit consisting of RAM, ROM, etc., and receives known data X from the input means 35.

When y, x, and δ are input, the above (
αl and α2 are calculated by calculating equations 1) and (8). 3
1 and 32 are αl and α calculated by the calculation circuit 30.
2, this is a drive circuit that generates pulses for rotating the stepping motors M1 and M2 by predetermined angles, respectively. 33 and 34 are the arithmetic circuits 30
This is a memory that updates and stores αl and α2 calculated each time.
The positions of i and P2 are updated and stored. Here, as mentioned above, in the explanation of the principle, each rotation angle of the deflection prisms PL and P2 was calculated using the Y axis as a starting point, but the angles α1, . The angle at which the stepping motor should be rotated is calculated using α2 as the starting point, and the stepping motor Ml, ! A2
may also be driven.

Further, FIG. 2(B) is a block diagram showing a schematic process of calculation in the calculation circuit 30. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 2(B), the deflection prism I'l, the deflection angle δ of P2, the distance λ between the deflector 1 and the marking surface DP, and the x and y marks of the marking position D7 are input from the input means 35. Then, the calculation circuit 30 first calculates 'tan δ' and calculates r based on wheat.
2. J2-tan δ”. Furthermore, 'X' J and 'y2J are calculated based on x and y, and after calculating 'x2+y2', 'X + y J' is calculated.

After that, the angle to be determined is calculated according to the above equation (8) and output to the drive circuit 31.32 and memory 33.34.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which the refractive optical deflector 1 and laser beam emitting device 9 of the present invention and the marking position are on the same plane and on the same straight line,
In actual sites, it is not necessarily possible to install them on the same plane or on the same straight line.

Figure 1O (8) to (C) are diagrams for explaining the usage method under such installation conditions, and Figure 1 (A) is
For example, it is a diagram for explaining a case where a structure is bent in the horizontal direction in the middle. In FIG. 1O (A), the optical deflector 1 is aligned with its leading axis at a position where the light beam L emitted from a laser beam emitting device (not shown) must be bent along the shape of the structure. set up,
With the deflector 1, the optical axis LO° is first adjusted as described above.
is bent along the shape of the structure. and,
This light! By refracting the incident light as described above using IhLO° as the reference line, it is possible to indicate the desired position of the marking surface DP.

Further, Fig. 1O (B) is a diagram showing a case where the structure is bent and inclined in the vertical direction, and in this case as well, the optical deflector 1 is installed at the bent position. , that light! It is a good idea to refract Ftl+ L O' in accordance with the slope of the structure. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the case of bending in both the horizontal direction shown in FIG. 10 (8) and the vertical direction shown in FIG. 10 (B) can be handled in the same manner.

As shown in FIG. 10(C), when the structure is curved on the same plane, the optical deflector 101j02 is moved at each position where only the optical beam can travel straight, as shown in the figure. and a plurality of bent optical axes Ll, L2
and set the marking surface D as described above.
What is necessary is to instruct a predetermined purchase of P.

In the above-described embodiment, an example of how the refractive optical deflector of the present invention is used in combination with a laser beam emitting device is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. It can be used for all applications in which a light beam is deflected in any direction and irradiated.

Furthermore, each deflection prism P1. P2
Rotate manually to irradiate the position you want to measure, calculate backwards from each rotation angle, and calculate the coordinate value of the above position (distance 1!1)
If it is determined, it can also be used as a measuring instrument.

(Effect of the invention) As described above, if the refractive optical deflector of the present invention is used, the unique data of the deflection prisms PI and P2 as described above (
each x of the deflection angle) δ, the distance 191 between the deflector 1 and the irradiation surface DP, and the irradiation position D I % D n on the irradiation surface DP
By simply inputting the , y-coordinate values, a light beam such as a laser beam can be automatically and accurately irradiated onto a designated position, and can be applied to a wide range of fields. Furthermore, since the deflection prism is constructed by combining element prisms with small apex angles, errors due to differences in incident angles can be eliminated. Further, the element prisms constituting the deflection prism can be rotated, and variations in the deflection characteristics of the two deflection prisms can be corrected by the rotation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(^) and (B) are an external view and a sectional view showing an embodiment of the structure of a refractive optical deflector according to the present invention, and FIG.
A) and (B) are block diagrams and operational diagrams schematically showing the control device for a refractive optical deflector according to the present invention, and FIG.
A) to (C) are diagrams for detailed explanation of this invention,
Figures 4 (A) and (B) are diagrams for explaining an example of application of the refractive optical deflector of the present invention to the fields of civil engineering and architectural surveying, and Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams showing the angle of incidence of the light beam. A diagram for explaining the relationship with the declination angle, Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams showing actual measurement data, Figure 9 is a diagram showing the principle of this invention, and 1θ
Figures ('A) to (C) are diagrams for explaining other application examples of the present invention, and Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the conventional marking work for structures. 1.101, 102... Refraction type optical deflector, 3... Control device, 9... Laser beam emitting device, 10... Outer frame, 11.12... Prism frame, 13.14. ... Bearing, 15... Support stand, 16... Base plate, 21.2
2... Worm gear, 23.24... Worm, 3
0... Arithmetic circuit, 31. 32... Drive circuit, 33.
34...Memory, 35...Input means, LO, LOo
, Ll, L2...optical axis, Ml, M2...stepping motor, P, Pl, P2...deflection prism, δ...
・Declination angle, τ...apex angle. Applicant's agent Yuzo Yasugata (A) (B) 4th 烙 5mokucha 6k #, 7 ko 8m sheep 9k] Z

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) First and second deflection prisms formed by combining a plurality of element prisms having small apex angles, and the first and second deflection prisms are placed close to each other on the same optical axis and face each other, and , a rotating means for independently rotating the first and second deflection prisms about the optical axis;
control means for performing a predetermined calculation based on input data and driving the rotation means, and rotating the first and second deflection prisms independently based on the input data, thereby controlling the incident light. 1. A refractive optical deflector capable of deflecting in any direction within a predetermined range. (2) A first deflection prism formed by combining a plurality of elemental prisms having small apex angles, at least one of which is rotatable; and a light beam of the first deflection prism. a second deflection angle prism which is arranged close to each other on the axis and is made up of a combination of a plurality of element prisms each having a small apex angle, at least one of which is rotatable; a rotation means for independently rotating the deflection prism of the first and second deflection prisms and rotating each rotatable element prism of the first and second deflection prisms; and a rotation means for rotating the rotation means based on input command data. and a control means for controlling,
The rotatable element prisms of the first and second deflection prisms are rotated through the control means and the rotation means to correct the deflection relationship, and the first deflection angle relationship is corrected based on the input command data. A refractive optical deflector, characterized in that the incident light can be accurately deflected in any direction within a predetermined range by independently rotating the second polarizing prism and the second polarizing prism.