Optical detection device and optical device

• US 7,059,781 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Koichi, Suzuki, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): HEALY, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US10/872,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20040264839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 385/52, 385/88, 385/89, 385/90, 385/91, 385/92, 385/93, 385/94
• US Class Current: 385/93
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence

Abstract

An optical detection device is provided with an optical path dividing section which is disposed on an optical path toward a light receiving surface which receives an optical beam. The optical path dividing section is provided with an aperture section through which an optical beam passes through under condition that an optical axis of the optical beam coincides a predetermined optical axis which is disposed toward the light receiving surface and an optical element which is disposed around the aperture section so as to reflect a part of the optical bam when the optical axis of the optical beam is deviated from the predetermined optical axis. By doing this, it is possible to detect a wide range of light by a simple structure without loss in the optical detection device and the optical system.

Claims

1. An optical detection device comprising:

an optical path dividing section which is disposed on an optical path toward a light condensing surface on which an optical beam is condensed, the light condensing surface having a first light receiving element; and

a second light receiving element which receives the optical beam which is divided by the optical path dividing section, wherein

the optical path dividing section is provided with an aperture section through which the optical beam passes under the condition that an optical axis of the optical beam coincides with a predetermined optical axis which is disposed toward the first light receiving element and an optical element which is disposed around the aperture section so as to reflect a portion of the optical beam to the second light receiving element when the optical axis of the optical beam is deviated from the predetermined optical axis.

2. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is provided with a light-condensing function.

3. An optical detection device according to claim 1, wherein

the optical element is formed by a prism, which is provided with a reflecting surface on a surface of the prism, and a curved surface which has a function such that the optical beam which is reflected by the reflecting surface is condensed on the second light receiving element.

4. An optical detection device according to claim 2, wherein the optical element has rotatively asymmetric power with respect to the predetermined optical axis.

5. An optical detection device according to claim 2, wherein the optical element has a reflecting surface which has rotatively asymmetric power.

6. An optical detection device according to claim 2, wherein the optical element includes an aspherical reflecting surface.

7. An optical detection device according to claim 2, wherein the optical element includes a Fresnel reflecting surface.

8. An optical detection device according to claim 2, wherein the optical element includes a diffractive reflecting surface.

9. An optical detection device according to claim 2, wherein the optical element has a reflecting surface which is slanted or decentralized with respect to the predetermined optical axis.

10. An optical device comprising:

the optical detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and

a control device for adjusting an incident angle of the optical beam into the optical path dividing section so as to coincide with the predetermined optical axis according to a detection signal generated by the light incident on the second light receiving element from the optical element in the optical detection device.

11. An optical device comprising:

the optical detection device according to any one of claim 10; and

a deflection-angle-adjustable optical deflecting element for deflecting the optical beam, wherein the control device controls the deflection angle which is deflected by the deflection-angle-adjustable optical deflecting element.

12. An optical device comprising:

the optical detection device according to claim 10, wherein the optical detection device is mounted on a stage, and the control device adjusts an angle of the stage.