Laser light source shutter system using a variable focus optical element
First Claim
1. A light source shutter system comprising:
- a light source;
a variable focus optical element to transmit a beam emitted from the light source;
a pinhole located on an optical path through which the beam travels from the variable focus optical element; and
a controller controlling the variable focus optical element to first have a first focal length being equal to a distance between the variable focus optical element and the pinhole to transmit the beam and then a second focal length being different from the first focal length to block the beam.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laser light source shutter system includes a light source, a variable focus optical element to transmit a beam emitted from the light source, a pinhole located on an optical path through which the beam travels from the variable focus optical element, and a controller to control a transmission and blocking of the beam by controlling a focal length of the variable focus optical element to be equal to a distance between the variable focus optical element and the pinhole or to be equal to other distances different from the distance. Therefore, a laser light source shutter free from vibration can be realized electronically with a low cost and a high light-blocking rate using a variable focus optical element such as a variable focus lens and a variable focus mirror.
20 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A light source shutter system comprising:
-
a light source; a variable focus optical element to transmit a beam emitted from the light source; a pinhole located on an optical path through which the beam travels from the variable focus optical element; and a controller controlling the variable focus optical element to first have a first focal length being equal to a distance between the variable focus optical element and the pinhole to transmit the beam and then a second focal length being different from the first focal length to block the beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)
-
-
6. A light source shutter method comprising:
-
emitting a beam using a light source; transmitting the beam to a pinhole located on an optical path through which the beam travels by transmitting the beam irradiated from the light source using a variable focus optical element; and controlling the variable focus optical element to first have a first focal length being equal to a distance between the variable focus optical element and the pinhole and then a second focal length being different from the first focal length to block the beam.
-
-
9. A light source shutter system, comprising:
-
a laser outputting a laser beam; a beam expander/collimator expanding and collimating the laser beam output from the laser; a first polarizing beam splitter by which the expended and collimated laser beam is turned 90 degrees; a first quarter wave plate through which the laser beam reflected by first polarizing beam splitter passes; a variable focus concave mirror by which the laser beam from the first quarter wave plate is reflected, a controller to control the variable focus concave mirror to have a first focal length to transmit the laser beam and a second focal length to block the laser beam; a pinhole located apart from the variable focus concave mirror by the first focal length; and either (i) a first component comprising a second polarizing beam splitter, a second quarter wave plate, and a concave mirror which are sequentially positioned or (ii) a second component comprising an exit lens; wherein the variable focus concave mirror, the first quarter wave plate, the first polarizing beam splitter, the pinhole, and either the first component or the second component are sequentially positioned. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
Specification