A fiber optic delay device for finely adjusting delay time

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical fiber delay device for fine-tuning delay time. The base plays a supporting role. The base is provided with a guide rail. A fine-tuning slider is slidably assembled on the guide rail. An optical fiber collimator is connected to an optical fiber and mounted on the fine-tuning slider. A reflector is mounted on the base and is used to reflect light. The optical fiber collimator is mounted on the fine-tuning slider. The fine-tuning slider is slidably assembled on the guide rail of the base and can adjust the distance relative to the reflector. The delay amount of the optical fiber is adjusted by changing the distance with the reflector. The fine-tuning slider is driven to slide relative to the base by a fine-tuning driving mechanism. The fine-tuning driving mechanism is a piezoelectric ceramic or a screwless magnetic suspension motor. The piezoelectric ceramic and the screwless magnetic suspension motor can realize precise adjustment and convert electrical signals into spatial displacement. The piezoelectric ceramic or the screwless magnetic suspension motor is used to drive the fine-tuning slider, so that the displacement of the optical fiber and the delay amount can be precisely adjusted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical devices, and further to an optical fiber delay device for finely adjusting delay time. Background Art

[0002] Since the birth of fiber optic technology, the research and application of various fiber optic devices have emerged in an endless stream. As a new type of signal processing device, the fiber optic delay line (FDL) has developed from a simple section of optical fiber at the beginning to an independent device with a variety of complex structures at this stage. It has become one of the key devices in optical information processing technology and has a variety of signal processing functions, such as participating in the acquisition and transmission of measurement signals in fiber optic sensing and optical measurement systems, realizing signal encoding and caching in fiber optic communication systems, realizing precise phase distribution and control of microwave signals in optically controlled phased array antenna systems, and correlation noise removal of radar echo signals. Generally, optical delay lines are divided into: cable delay lines, quartz delays, optical fiber fixed delay lines, etc. According to the use function of the delay line, it is divided into: fixed delay lines and adjustable delay lines. Adjustable delays are divided into manually adjustable and electrically adjustable delay lines.

[0003] The adjustable fiber delay line can change the delay time. The traditional adjustment method is to drive the lead screw through a motor, and the rotation of the lead screw drives the slider to move horizontally, and the position of the reflector installed on the slider is adjusted synchronously. This adjustment method is limited by the accuracy of the lead screw, and it is difficult to further improve the adjustment accuracy of the fiber delay.

[0004] For technicians in this field, how to adjust optical fiber delay more accurately is a technical problem that needs to be solved at present. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides an optical fiber delay device for fine-tuning the delay time, which uses piezoelectric ceramics or a screwless magnetic suspension motor to drive a fine-tuning slider to accurately adjust the delay rate of optical fiber transmission. The specific scheme is as follows:

[0006] An optical fiber delay device for fine-tuning delay time comprises a base, an optical fiber collimator, and a reflector. The optical fiber collimator is used to connect an optical fiber. The optical fiber collimator is mounted on a fine-tuning slider. The fine-tuning slider is slidably mounted on a guide rail of the base and can adjust the distance relative to the reflector.

[0007] The fine-tuning slider is driven to slide relative to the base by a fine-tuning driving mechanism, and the fine-tuning driving mechanism is a piezoelectric ceramic or a screwless magnetic suspension motor.

[0008] Optionally, a housing of the fine-adjustment drive mechanism is mounted on the fine-adjustment slide block, and a driving foot of the fine-adjustment drive mechanism can contact the base.

[0009] Optionally, a positioning protrusion is laterally protruded from the base, and the driving foot is supported on the positioning protrusion.

[0010] Optionally, a return spring is connected between the base and the fine-adjustment slider, and when the fine-adjustment drive mechanism drives the fine-adjustment slider to translate, the return spring is stretched or compressed to generate deformation.

[0011] Optionally, at least two of the positioning protrusions and the return springs are provided respectively, and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical projection plane of the center line of the guide rail.

[0012] Optionally, the fine adjustment slider comprises a housing and a pressure cover, and the housing is installed in a positioning groove of the housing;

[0013] An elastic sheet is arranged on the shell, and the pressure cover can be pressed on the elastic sheet to position the fine adjustment drive mechanism.

[0014] Optionally, a lens slider is slidably mounted on the guide rail, the reflector is mounted on the lens slider, and the lens slider is driven to slide along the guide rail by an adjusting screw.

[0015] Optionally, a grating ruler is arranged on the guide rail, and a photoelectric probe is arranged on the lens slider, and the photoelectric probe is used to read the scale information on the grating ruler and feed back the read scale information to the control unit.

[0016] Optionally, a photoelectric switch is fixedly mounted on the base or the fine-tuning slider, the photoelectric switch is located on the moving path of the lens slider, and the photoelectric switch is used to limit the extreme position of the lens slider moving toward the fine-tuning slider.

[0017] The invention provides an optical fiber delay device for fine-tuning delay time. The base plays a supporting role. The base is provided with a guide rail. A fine-tuning slider is slidably assembled on the guide rail. An optical fiber collimator is connected to an optical fiber and mounted on the fine-tuning slider. A reflector is mounted on the base and used for reflecting light. The optical fiber collimator is mounted on the fine-tuning slider. The fine-tuning slider is slidably assembled on the guide rail of the base and can adjust the distance relative to the reflector. The delay amount of the optical fiber is adjusted by changing the distance with the reflector. The fine-tuning slider is driven to slide relative to the base by a fine-tuning driving mechanism. The fine-tuning driving mechanism is a piezoelectric ceramic or a screwless magnetic suspension motor. The piezoelectric ceramic and the screwless magnetic suspension motor can realize precise adjustment and convert an electrical signal into a spatial displacement. The piezoelectric ceramic or the screwless magnetic suspension motor is used to drive the fine-tuning slider, so that the displacement of the optical fiber and the delay amount can be precisely adjusted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the optical fiber delay device for finely adjusting the delay time provided by the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the mutual assembly of the fine adjustment drive mechanism and the fine adjustment slider provided by the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the front view of the base.

[0022] The figure includes:

[0023] Base 1, guide rail 11, positioning protrusion 12, photoelectric switch 13, fiber optic collimator 2, reflector 3, fine adjustment slider 4, shell 41, pressure cover 42, fine adjustment drive mechanism 5, shell 51, drive foot 52, elastic sheet 53, reset spring 6, lens slider 7, adjustment screw 71. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The core of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber delay device for fine-tuning the delay time, which uses piezoelectric ceramics or a screwless magnetic suspension motor to drive a fine-tuning slider to accurately adjust the delay rate of optical fiber transmission.

[0025] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the optical fiber delay device for fine-tuning the delay time of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0026] Combination Figure 1 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the optical fiber delay device for finely adjusting the delay time provided by the present invention; the optical fiber delay device for finely adjusting the delay time includes a base 1, an optical fiber collimator 2, a reflector 3 and other structures, wherein the base 1 serves as a supporting component of the entire assembly, on which other components are positioned and installed.

[0027] The optical fiber collimator 2 is used to connect the optical fiber. The optical fiber collimator is a device that collimates the light coming out of the optical fiber or emits the collimated light into the optical fiber. The optical fiber delay device is provided with two optical fiber collimators 2. The two optical fiber collimators 2 are respectively connected to one optical fiber, and the optical fibers in the two optical fibers are one in and one out. Figure 1As shown by the arrow in , the light is emitted from one of the fiber collimators 2 and hits the reflector 3, which reflects the light and makes the fiber optic shoot to the other fiber collimator 2. If the distance between the reflector 3 and the fiber collimator 2 is different, the delay rate of the fiber optic transmission will be different.

[0028] The optical fiber collimator 2 is mounted on the fine adjustment slider 4, which is slidably mounted on the guide rail 11 of the base 1. The optical fiber collimator 2 moves synchronously with the fine adjustment slider 4, thereby adjusting the distance relative to the reflector 3. The movement direction of the fine adjustment slider 4 is as follows: Figure 1 As shown by the double-headed arrows in the figure, it can reciprocate in the two directions of the straight lines shown by the arrows.

[0029] The guide rail 11 can be a long strip structure protruding from the base 1, assembled and guided with the guide groove on the fine adjustment slider 4; the guide rail 11 can also be a long strip groove structure recessed on the base 1, assembled and guided with the guide boss on the fine adjustment slider 4.

[0030] The fine-tuning slider 4 is driven to slide relative to the base 1 by the fine-tuning driving mechanism 5. The fine-tuning driving mechanism 5 is a piezoelectric ceramic or a screwless magnetic levitation motor. The piezoelectric ceramic or the screwless magnetic levitation motor generates a force between the fine-tuning slider 4 and the base 1, causing the fine-tuning slider 4 to be displaced relative to the base 1, thereby changing the distance between the fiber optic collimator 2 and the reflector 3.

[0031] Piezoelectric ceramics are a kind of functional ceramic material that can convert mechanical energy and electrical energy into each other. They are inorganic non-metallic materials and have sensitive characteristics. The stator and mover of the magnetic levitation motor operate without contact.

[0032] Piezoelectric ceramics and screwless magnetic suspension motors can achieve precise adjustment, converting electrical signals into spatial displacement. Using piezoelectric ceramics or screwless magnetic suspension motors to drive fine-tuning sliders can accurately adjust the displacement of optical fibers and the delay of optical fiber transmission. Compared with traditional screw adjustment, the accuracy is higher.

[0033] On the basis of the above scheme, Figure 2 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of the mutual assembly of the fine-tuning drive mechanism 5 and the fine-tuning slider 4 provided by the present invention; the fine-tuning drive mechanism 5 includes a shell 51 and a driving foot 52, the driving foot 52 is a movable part, the shell 51 of the fine-tuning drive mechanism 5 is installed on the fine-tuning slider 4, the driving foot 52 of the fine-tuning drive mechanism 5 can contact with the base 1, and the movement of the driving foot 52 is used to form a relative force between the base 1 and the fine-tuning slider 4, thereby driving the fine-tuning slider 4 to move along the guide rail 11.

[0034] In addition to the above-mentioned structural form, the housing 51 of the fine adjustment drive mechanism 5 of the present invention can also be installed on the base 1, and the driving foot 52 contacts the fine adjustment slider 4 to realize driving. Such a structure is also possible.

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of the front view direction of the base 1, and a positioning protrusion 12 is provided on the base 1 to protrude laterally. The positioning protrusion 12 is arranged on the side facing the fine-tuning slider 4, and is a protrusion structure protruding from the outer surface of the base 1; the driving foot 52 is pressed on the positioning protrusion 12, and the shape of the positioning protrusion 12 can be spherical or flat. The outer surface of the positioning protrusion 12 is a finely machined surface. The driving foot 52 is pressed on the positioning protrusion 12, which can ensure the accuracy of its driving. It is only necessary to accurately machine the surface of the positioning protrusion 12, and there is no need to machine the corresponding surface of the base 1.

[0036] Combination Figure 1 As shown, the present invention connects a reset spring 6 between the base 1 and the fine-tuning slider 4. When the fine-tuning drive mechanism 5 drives the fine-tuning slider 4 to translate, the reset spring 6 is stretched or compressed to produce deformation and accumulate elastic force. When the fine-tuning drive mechanism 5 removes the driving force, it can be reset under the drive of the reset spring 6.

[0037] Combination Figure 1 As shown, the following example illustrates that the fine-tuning drive mechanism 5 pushes the fine-tuning slider 4 to translate to the right, and the return spring 6 applies an elastic force on the left side to the fine-tuning slider 4, ensuring that the driving foot 52 of the fine-tuning drive mechanism 5 is always in contact with the positioning protrusion 12. When the fine-tuning drive mechanism 5 removes the driving force, the fine-tuning slider 4 is moved to the initial position under the action of the elastic force of the return spring 6 for the next adjustment operation.

[0038] In the present invention, at least two positioning protrusions 12 and at least two return springs 6 are respectively provided, and the two positioning protrusions 12 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical projection plane of the center line of the guide rail 11; the two return springs 6 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical projection plane of the center line of the guide rail 11. The symmetrical layout can improve the stability of the displacement process of the fine-tuning slider 4.

[0039] Combination Figure 2 As shown, the fine adjustment slider 4 of the present invention includes a housing 41 and a pressure cover 42, a housing 51 is installed in the positioning groove of the housing 41, and the housing 41 and the pressure cover 42 can be relatively fixedly assembled. An elastic sheet 53 is provided on the housing 51, and the pressure cover 42 can be pressed on the elastic sheet 53 to apply downward elastic pressure to the fine adjustment drive mechanism 5 to prevent the fine adjustment drive mechanism 5 from shaking inside the fine adjustment slider 4.

[0040] Based on any of the above-mentioned technical solutions and their combinations, the present invention slidingly installs a lens slider 7 on a guide rail 11, and a reflector 3 is installed on the lens slider 7. The lens slider 7 is driven to slide along the guide rail 11 by an adjusting screw 71, and the lens slider 7 and the fine-tuning slider 4 can translate along the same straight line; the lens slider 7 is also guided by the guide rail 11, and the lens slider 7 driven by the adjusting screw 71 can move a position in a large range.

[0041] When in use, first adjust the position of the lens slider 7 to make the reflector 3 approximately in the desired position, then adjust the position of the fine adjustment slider 4 to accurately adjust the reflector 3 and the fiber collimator 2 to accurately adjust the delay rate.

[0042] The coarse adjustment lens slider 7 and the fine adjustment slider 4 realize two sets of coordinated adjustment, which can not only ensure the adjustment accuracy, but also accelerate the adjustment speed.

[0043] Furthermore, the present invention sets a grating ruler on the guide rail 11 and a photoelectric probe on the lens slider 7. The photoelectric probe is used to read the scale information on the grating ruler and feed the read scale information back to the control unit, and the stop position of the lens slider 7 is controlled by the scale detection result on the grating ruler.

[0044] The present invention fixes a photoelectric switch 13 on the base 1 or the fine-tuning slider 4. The photoelectric switch 13 is located on the moving path of the lens slider 7. The photoelectric switch 13 is used to limit the extreme position of the lens slider 7 moving toward the fine-tuning slider 4. When the lens slider 7 is detected by the photoelectric switch 13, the lens slider 7 stops moving to prevent the lens slider 7 from moving excessively and colliding with the fine-tuning slider 4.

[0045] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables one skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention will not be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but rather to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An optical fiber delay device for finely adjusting delay time, comprising a base (1), an optical fiber collimator (2), and a reflector (3), characterized in that: The optical fiber collimator (2) is used to connect an optical fiber, the optical fiber collimator (2) is mounted on a fine-tuning slider (4), the fine-tuning slider (4) is slidably mounted on a guide rail (11) of the base (1), and the fine-tuning slider (4) is capable of adjusting the distance relative to the reflector (3); The fine adjustment slider (4) is driven to slide relative to the base (1) by a fine adjustment drive mechanism (5), and the fine adjustment drive mechanism (5) is a piezoelectric ceramic or a screwless magnetic suspension motor; The fine adjustment drive mechanism (5) comprises a housing (51) and a drive foot (52), wherein the housing (51) is mounted on the fine adjustment slider (4), and the drive foot (52) is in contact with the base (1); A positioning protrusion (12) is laterally protruded from the base (1), and the driving foot (52) rests on the positioning protrusion (12); A return spring (6) is connected between the base (1) and the fine-adjustment slider (4), and when the fine-adjustment drive mechanism (5) drives the fine-adjustment slider (4) to translate, the return spring (6) is stretched or compressed to generate deformation; The fine adjustment slider (4) comprises a housing (41) and a pressure cover (42), and the housing (51) is installed in a positioning groove of the housing (41); An elastic sheet (53) is provided on the housing (51), and the pressure cover (42) is pressed on the elastic sheet (53) to position the fine adjustment drive mechanism (5).

2. The optical fiber delay device for finely adjusting the delay time according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least two of the positioning protrusions (12) and the return springs (6) are provided respectively, and the two positioning protrusions (12) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical projection plane of the center line of the guide rail (11); and the two return springs (6) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical projection plane of the center line of the guide rail (11).

3. The optical fiber delay device for finely adjusting the delay time according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A lens slider (7) is slidably mounted on the guide rail (11), the reflector (3) is mounted on the lens slider (7), and the lens slider (7) is driven to slide along the guide rail (11) by an adjusting screw (71).

4. The optical fiber delay device for finely adjusting the delay time according to claim 3, characterized in that: A grating ruler is arranged on the guide rail (11), and a photoelectric probe is arranged on the lens slider (7). The photoelectric probe is used to read scale information on the grating ruler and feed back the read scale information to the control unit.

5. The optical fiber delay device for finely adjusting the delay time according to claim 3, characterized in that: A photoelectric switch (13) is fixedly mounted on the base (1) or the fine-adjustment slider (4); the photoelectric switch (13) is located on the moving path of the lens slider (7); and the photoelectric switch (13) is used to limit the extreme position of the movement of the lens slider (7) toward the fine-adjustment slider (4).

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