Optical source position adjustment device

• US 5,700,084 A
• Filed: 08/22/1996
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Original Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Inventors: Koishi, Musubu, Yasukawa, Manabu, Horiguchi, Chiyoharu
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/697,351
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 250/201.8, 250/548, 250/559.29, 250/559.3, 356/139.04, 356/139.05, 356/139.06, 356/139.08, 356/141.3, 359/159, 362/268, 362/233, 362/271, 362/272, 362/275, 362/276, 362/287, 362/419, 362/428, 362/802
• US Class Current: 362/275
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/26 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0014 Measuring characteristics or properties thereof measuring techniques per se G01J, G01K, G01N, G01R
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/023 Mount members, e.g. sub-mount members
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0233 Mounting configuration of laser chips
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0235 Method for mounting laser chips

Abstract

In the light-source position adjustment device, a magnification lens 31 magnifies a light bundle emitted from a light source 50. A half mirror 32 guides the light bundle outputted from the magnification lens system toward the first and second optical paths. An angular shift measuring portion is disposed in the first optical path for detecting emission angle intensity distribution of the light source. A position shift measuring portion is disposed in the second optical path for detecting a magnification image of the light source which is produced on an image plane of the magnification lens. The light source 50 is disposed on a multi-axes stage unit 10 which is driven by a stage drive unit 20. A control portion 40 receives output signals from the angular shift measuring portion and the position shift measuring portion, and determines an amount by which a light-emission direction shifts from the predetermined standard direction and an amount by which a light-generating point of the light source is displaced from the standard position. The control portion 40 outputs control signals to the stage drive unit. Receiving the control signals, the stage drive unit 20 drives the multi-axes state unit 10 so that the light-emission direction be aligned with the standard direction and so that the light-generating point be located on the standard position.

Claims

1. A light-source position adjustment device for aligning, with a predetermined standard direction, a direction in which a light source emits light and for positioning a light emission point on a predetermined standard position, the device comprising:

a magnification lens system for magnifying a light bundle emitted from a light source;

first optical path setting means for guiding a light bundle magnified at the magnification lens system toward first and second optical paths;

angular shift measuring means disposed in the first optical path and for detecting emission angle intensity distribution of the light source;

position shift measuring means disposed in the second optical path and for detecting a magnification image of the light source produced on an image plane of the magnification lens;

a multi-axes stage unit including means for producing parallel movement and swinging movement of the light source;

stage drive means for transmitting a drive signal to the multi-axes stage unit; and

control means for determining, based on an output signal from the angular shift measuring means, an amount that a direction in which the light source emits light shifts from the predetermined standard direction and for determining, based on an output signal from the position shift measuring means, an amount that a light-generating point of the light source is displaced from the standard position, the control means outputting control signals to the stage drive means.

2. A light-source position adjustment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first optical path setting means divides the light bundle emitted from the magnification lens system and guides the divided light bundle toward the first optical path and the second optical path.

3. A light-source position adjustment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first optical path setting means receives the light bundle emitted from the magnification lens system and switches between guiding the light bundle toward the first optical path and the second optical path, and wherein the control means controls switching timing to thereby measure the angle shift amount and the displacement amount.

4. A light-source position adjustment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the angular shift measuring means includes:

a first optical system disposed in the first optical path and for re-imaging the emission angle intensity distribution of the light source generated at a back focal plane of the magnification lens; and

a first light detector for detecting the emission angle intensity distribution re-imaged by the first optical system.

5. A light-source position adjustment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the position shift measuring means includes a second light detector disposed in the second optical path and for detecting a magnified image of the light source generated at the image plane of the magnification lens system.

6. A light-source position adjustment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the position shift measuring means includes:

second light path setting means disposed in the image plane of the magnification lens system in the second optical path and for guiding the light bundle emitted from the magnification lens system along a wide-range measuring optical path and a narrow-range measuring optical path;

wide-range measuring means disposed in the wide-range measuring optical path and for detecting a spatial magnification image of the light source originated from an entire field of the magnification lens system; and

narrow-range measuring means disposed in the narrow-range measuring optical path and for detecting a spatial magnification image of the light source originated from a part of the field of the magnification lens system.

7. A light-source position adjustment device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second optical path setting means separates the optical bundle emitted from the magnification lens system and guides the divided optical bundle along the wide-range measuring optical path and the narrow-range measuring optical path.

8. A light-source position adjustment device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second optical path setting means receives the optical bundle emitted from the magnification lens system and switching guides the optical bundle along the wide-range measuring optical path and the narrow-range measuring optical path, and

wherein the control means controls a first switch timing of the second optical path setting means for guiding the optical bundle to the wide-range measuring optical path and for causing the wide-range measuring means to roughly determine the amount that the light-generating point of the light source is displaced from the standard position, the control portion roughly controlling the stage drive means based on the determined result, and

wherein the control means controls a second switch timing of the second optical path setting means for guiding the optical bundle to the narrow-range measuring optical path and for causing the narrow-range measuring means to finely determine the amount that the light-generating point of the light source is displaced from the standard position, the second switch timing being after the first switch timing, the control portion finely controlling the stage drive means based on the determined result.