SK7517Y1 - Optical laser system designed for electronic control of the divergence of the laser beam - Google Patents

Abstract

The optical system according to the invention has in the path of the laser beam placed at least one computer-controllable lens (2) with an electronically tunable optical power to control the divergence of the laser beam at incident surfaces. The system also contains at least one lens (1). The diameter of the laser beam in the area of incident surfaces at different distances from the laser according to the invention can be adapted to the particular distances by means of an optical system of each impact area for achieving equal the diameter of the laser beam at each impact area. The intensity of the laser beam can be also adjusted without loss of power so as not to threaten a person close to the projected beams. The optical system can be used to create the effect of actively controllable diameter of the laser beam during laser show, in advertisement or in laser welding.

Description

The invention relates to an optical system for controlling the divergence of a laser beam by means of an electronically controllable lens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, electronic lenses are mainly used in applications aimed at preserving an object or scene in the focus of the optical system in which the electronic lens is used while the object or optical system is moving.

Active immediate adaptation of the divergence of the laser beams in the laser shows practically does not exist. The divergence and hence the diameter of the laser beams has so far remained constant during the laser show. The safety of laser shows is ensured only by mechanical obstacles and by adjusting the laser power.

The essence of the technical solution

These disadvantages are overcome by the optical system according to the invention, which is based on the fact that at least one electronic lens with tunable optical power φ in the range from -100 to 100 dpt is placed in the laser beam path, where dpt = m ^-1 represents the dioptres unit. The optical power of electronic lenses is computer controllable. When changing the optical power of the electronic lens, the divergence of the beam changes, resulting in a change in the diameter of the beam on a given impact surface.

The optical system may comprise at least one standard optical power lens in the range of -16 to 3 dpt, in addition to an electronic tunable optical power lens.

The optical system according to the invention can be used to create the effect of actively controllable divergence of the laser beam in the laser show, advertising, during laser welding. This is a new unique effect for rendering the variable line width images with the laser show, with the ability to adjust the divergence of the laser beam to a given space with respect to the distance of its impact surfaces from the laser.

The optical system can be used to actively increase safety in the laser show while maintaining light output by increasing the diameter of laser beams projected close to people.

Laser beams that project close to people are safer the less they are. At a given laser power, the intensity of the beam on a given impact surface decreases as the beam diameter increases. By adjusting the diameter of the laser beam by means of an electronic lens with a tunable optical power, the laser effects that project close to the person can be adjusted to increase the safety of persons without compromising the power of the laser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1 and 2 show an optical system comprising a sequentially conventional lens 1, a lens 2 with an electronically controllable optical power, and a conventional lens 3.

Figure 1 shows the state where the output divergence of the passing beam Θ = 0 ° is maintained at the output of the optical system.

Figure 2 shows the state when the optical system changes the divergence of the beam from Θ = 0 ° at the input to Θ = 8.4 ° at the output.

Figures 3 and 4 show an optical system comprising successively two lenses 4 with electronically controllable optical power (denoted as 4a, 4b).

Figure 3 shows the state where the output divergence of the passing beam Θ = 0 ° is maintained at the output of the optical system.

Figure 4 shows the state when the optical system changes beam divergence from Θ = 0 ° at the inlet to Θ = 12.18 ° at the outlet.

Figures 5 and 6 show an optical system comprising one lens 5 with an electronically controllable optical power.

Figure 5 shows the state when the optical system changes beam divergence from Θ = 0 ° at the inlet to Θ = 5.73 ° at the outlet.

Figure 6 shows the state when the optical system changes the parallel beam at the inlet to a convergent Θ = 0.57 ° at the outlet.

SK 7517 Υ1

EXAMPLES

The present invention is described and explained in more detail by way of examples. In all examples, a 10 mm diameter laser beam was used to enter the optical system.

Example 1

The optical system shown in Figure 1 comprises a conventional lens 1 having an optical power φ = 2 dpt, a lens 2 having an electronically controllable optical power in the range of φ from -1 to -5 dpt and a conventional lens 3 having an optical power φ = -14.28 dpt. The distance between the lenses 1 and 2 is 200 mm and the distance between the lenses 2 and 3 is 358.6 mm. The thin solid line illustrates the passage of light rays through the optical system when the lens 2 has an optical power φ = -1 dpt. In this state the output divergence of the passing beam äz = 0 ° is maintained at the output of the optical system.

Example 2

The optical system shown in Figure 2 comprises a conventional lens 1 with an optical power φ = 2 dpt, a lens with an electronically controllable optical power 2 in the range of φ from -1 to -5 dpt, and a conventional lens 3 with an optical power φ = -14.28 dpt. The distance between the lenses 1 and 2 is 200 mm and the distance between the lenses 2 and 3 is 358.6 mm. The thin solid line shows the light beams passing through the optical system when the lens 2 has an optical power φ = -5 dpt. In this state, the optical system changes the divergence of the beam from Θ = 0 ° at the input to Θ = 8.4 ° at the output.

Example 3

The optical system shown in Figure 3 comprises two lenses 4a, 4b with an electronically controllable optical power in the range φ from 20 to 100 dpt. The distance between the lenses 4a, 4b is 20 mm. The thin solid line shows the light beams passing through the optical system when the lenses have an optical power φ = 100 dpt. In this state the output divergence of the passing beam äz = 0 ° is maintained at the output of the optical system.

Example 4

The optical system shown in Figure 4 comprises two lenses 4a, 4b with an electronically controllable optical power in the range of φ from 20 to 100 dpt. The distance between the lenses 4a, 4b is 20 mm. The thin solid line shows the light beams passing through the optical system when the lenses have an optical power φ = 20 dpt. In this state, the optical system changes the non-diverging beam at the inlet to the convergent Θ = 18.18 ° at the outlet.

Example 5

The optical system shown in Figure 5 comprises one lens 5 with an electronically controllable optical power in the range of φ from -100 to 1 dpt. The thin solid line shows the light beams passing through the optical system when the lens has an optical power φ = -100 dpt. In this state, the optical system changes the divergence of the beam from Θ = 0 ° at the input to Θ = 53.13 ° at the output.

Example 6

The optical system shown in Figure 5 comprises one lens 5 with an electronically controllable optical power in the range of φ from -100 to 1 dpt. The thin solid line shows the light beams passing through the optical system when the lens has an optical power φ = 1 dpt. In this state, the optical system converts the parallel input beam to a converging beam Θ = 0.57 ° at the output.

Industrial usability

The optical laser system for electronically controlling the divergence of the laser beam according to the invention can be used to adjust the divergence of the laser beam in the laser show, to adjust the laser beam diameter to the distance of the impact surfaces from the laser, and to adjust the laser beam to close persons. The main application can be found in advertising, laser show, but also in laser welding.

Claims (2)

An optical system for electronically controlling the divergence of a laser beam produced by a laser device, characterized in that at least 5 a computer-controlled lens (2) having an electronically tunable optical power in the range of φ from -100 to 100 dpt. Optical system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one lens (1) with an optical power in the range of φ from -16 to 3 dpt.