An automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurements

Abstract

The present invention discloses an automatic adjustment reference arm for OCT measurement, belonging to the technical field of OCT measurement. The automatic adjustment reference arm comprises a support assembly, a drive assembly and an adjustment assembly. The support assembly comprises a base, two sliders and an adjustment block, and the two sliders and the adjustment block can be slidably arranged on the base. The drive assembly comprises a drive member and two hinged rods, and the output shaft of the drive member is connected to the adjustment block in a transmission manner. The adjustment assembly comprises a light source collimator, a light source receiver and a plurality of reflectors, the light source collimator and the light source receiver are arranged on the base at intervals, and the light source collimator and the light source receiver are arranged in a direction parallel to the slider, and the plurality of reflectors are arranged on the two sliders respectively, and the light beams passing through the light source collimator enter the light source receiver after passing through the reflectors in sequence. An automatic adjustment reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention can automatically adjust the optical path length of the reference arm, thereby increasing the measurement range of OCT.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of OCT measurement, and more specifically, relates to an automatic adjustment reference arm for OCT measurement. Background Art

[0002] With the widespread application of laser welding technology in aerospace, shipbuilding, automobile and other fields, weld penetration detection is particularly important in automated laser welding, and plays a positive role in improving welding quality and promoting production. At present, OCT measurement (optical coherence tomography, a new optical diagnostic technology) has been extended to laser welding penetration detection (in the OCT measurement process, the optical path lengths of the reference arm and the sample arm are consistent and will interfere, which is converted into corresponding electrical signals after processing). With the advantages of non-contact, non-destructive, and clear imaging, it can monitor the weld penetration and physical state in real time, and can efficiently find the optimal welding parameters.

[0003] However, the optical path length corresponding to the reference arm in OCT measurement is usually fixed, so that the optical path length of the sample arm is fixed, resulting in the OCT measurement range being relatively fixed. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the above defects or improvement needs of the prior art, the present invention provides an automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement, the purpose of which is to automatically adjust the optical path length of the reference arm, thereby increasing the measurement range of OCT.

[0005] The present invention provides an automatic adjustment reference arm for OCT measurement, the automatic adjustment reference arm comprising a support component, a drive component and an adjustment component;

[0006] The support assembly includes a base, two sliders and an adjustment block, the two sliders and the adjustment block are slidably arranged on the base, and the sliding directions of the two sliders are coaxial, the adjustment block is located between the two sliders, and the sliding direction of the adjustment block is perpendicular to the sliding direction of each slider;

[0007] The driving assembly includes a driving member and two hinged rods, the output shaft of the driving member is in driving connection with the adjusting block to drive the adjusting block to slide, and the two ends of each hinged rod are respectively hinged to the adjusting block and one of the sliders;

[0008] The adjustment component includes a light source collimator, a light source receiver and a plurality of reflectors. The light source collimator and the light source receiver are arranged at intervals on the base, and are arranged in a direction parallel to the sliding direction of the slider. The plurality of reflectors are arranged on two sliders respectively, and the angle between each reflector and the sliding direction of the corresponding slider is 45°, and two adjacent reflectors are perpendicular to each other. The adjustment component is configured so that the light beam passing through the light source collimator is reflected back and forth by the reflectors on each slider in turn and then enters the light source receiver.

[0009] Optionally, the base has two guide rails arranged at intervals, the two guide rails are arranged coaxially, the adjustment block is located between the two guide rails, the two guide rails correspond to the two sliders one by one, and each slider is slidably arranged on the corresponding guide rail.

[0010] Optionally, a guide groove is provided on the base, the guide groove extends in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail, and the adjustment block is slidably arranged in the guide groove.

[0011] Optionally, the automatically adjusting reference arm also includes a grating scale displacement sensor, which includes a grating scale and two code scanning probes. The grating scale is located on the base and extends along the sliding direction of the slider. The two code scanning probes are respectively located on the two sliders, and each of the code scanning probes is located above the grating scale.

[0012] Optionally, a distance measuring sensor is provided on each of the sliders, and two distance measuring sensors are arranged opposite to each other to monitor the distance between the two sliders.

[0013] Optionally, the base is provided with two position sensors, which are arranged at intervals and located on both sides of one of the sliders to monitor two extreme movement positions of the sliding of the slider.

[0014] Optionally, the adjustment component further includes an input optical fiber, and the input optical fiber is connected to the light source collimator.

[0015] Optionally, the adjustment component further includes an output optical fiber, and the output optical fiber is connected to the light source receiver.

[0016] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] For an automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention, when the optical path length needs to be increased, the driving member is started, and the adjusting block is driven to slide downward through the output shaft of the driving member, thereby driving the two hinged rods to move downward. The hinged rod will rotate during the downward movement, thereby pushing the two sliders to slide toward the two ends of the base, thereby automatically increasing the distance between the two sliders. On this basis, during OCT measurement, the light beam is converted into a parallel light beam through the light source collimator. Then, the light beam is reciprocated and reflected multiple times by the reflectors on the two sliders, and finally enters the light source receiver, so that the optical path length increases in multiples, and then the optical path length of the reference arm can be automatically adjusted, which can ultimately increase the measurement range of OCT.

[0018] Similarly, when the optical path length needs to be reduced, the driver is started, and the output shaft of the driver drives the adjustment block to slide upward, thereby driving the two hinged rods to move upward. The hinged rod will rotate during the downward movement, thereby pushing the two sliders closer to each other, thereby automatically reducing the distance between the two sliders. On this basis, during OCT measurement, the light beam is converted into a parallel light beam through the light source collimator. Then, the light beam is reflected back and forth multiple times by the reflectors on the two sliders, and finally enters the light source receiver, thereby reducing the optical path length by multiples, and then the optical path length of the reference arm can also be automatically adjusted, which can ultimately increase the measurement range of OCT.

[0019] That is to say, the automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement provided by the embodiment of the present invention can automatically adjust the optical path length of the reference arm, thereby increasing the measurement range of OCT. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a side view of an automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a first state of an automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a second state of an automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of another automatic adjustment reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] The symbols in the figure mean the following:

[0025] 1. Support assembly; 11. Base; 111. Guide rail; 112. Guide groove; 113. Position sensor; 114. Vertical plate; 12. Slider; 13. Adjustment block; 2. Drive assembly; 21. Drive member; 22. Articulated rod; 3. Adjustment assembly; 31. Light source collimator; 32. Light source receiver; 33. Reflector; 34. Input optical fiber; 35. Output optical fiber; 4. Grating scale displacement sensor; 41. Grating scale; 42. Scanning probe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0027] Figure 1 is a side view of an automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a first state of an automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention, combined with Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the automatically adjustable reference arm includes a supporting component 1 , a driving component 2 and an adjusting component 3 .

[0028] The support assembly 1 includes a base 11, two sliders 12 and an adjustment block 13. The two sliders 12 and the adjustment block 13 can be slidably arranged on the base 11, and the sliding directions of the two sliders 12 are coaxial. The adjustment block 13 is located between the two sliders 12, and the sliding direction of the adjustment block 13 is perpendicular to the sliding direction of each slider 12.

[0029] The driving assembly 2 includes a driving member 21 and two hinged rods 22. The output shaft of the driving member 21 is drivingly connected to the adjustment block 13 to drive the adjustment block 13 to slide. The two ends of each hinged rod 22 are respectively hinged to the adjustment block 13 and a slider 12.

[0030] The adjustment component 3 includes a light source collimator 31, a light source receiver 32 and a plurality of reflectors 33. The light source collimator 31 and the light source receiver 32 are arranged at intervals on the base 11, and the light source collimator 31 and the light source receiver 32 are arranged in a direction parallel to the sliding direction of the slider 12. The plurality of reflectors 33 are respectively arranged on the two sliders 12, and the angle between each reflector 33 and the sliding direction of the corresponding slider 12 is 45°. Two adjacent reflectors 33 are perpendicular to each other. The adjustment component 3 is configured such that the light beam passing through the light source collimator 31 is reflected back and forth through the reflectors 33 on each slider 12 in turn and then enters the light source receiver 32.

[0031] For an automatic adjustment reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention, when the optical path length needs to be increased, the driving member 21 is started, and the adjusting block 13 is driven to slide downward through the output shaft of the driving member 21, thereby driving the two hinged rods 22 to move downward. During the downward movement of the hinged rod 22, it rotates, thereby pushing the two sliders 12 to slide toward the two ends of the base 11, thereby automatically increasing the distance between the two sliders 12 (see Figure 3 ). On this basis, during OCT measurement, the light beam is transformed into a parallel light beam through the light source collimator 31. Then, the light beam is reflected back and forth multiple times by the reflectors 33 on the two sliders 12, and finally enters the light source receiver 32, so that the optical path length increases in multiples, and then the optical path length of the reference arm can be automatically adjusted, which can ultimately increase the measurement range of OCT.

[0032] Similarly, when it is necessary to reduce the optical path length, the driver 21 is started, and the output shaft of the driver 21 drives the adjustment block 13 to slide upward, thereby driving the two hinged rods 22 to move upward. The hinged rod 22 will rotate during the downward movement, thereby pushing the two sliders 12 closer to each other, thereby automatically reducing the distance between the two sliders 12. On this basis, during OCT measurement, the light beam is converted into a parallel light beam through the light source collimator 31. Then, the light beam is reciprocated and reflected multiple times by the reflectors 33 on the two sliders 12, and finally enters the light source receiver 32, thereby reducing the optical path length by multiples, and then the optical path length of the reference arm can also be automatically adjusted, which can ultimately increase the measurement range of OCT.

[0033] That is to say, the automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement provided by the embodiment of the present invention can automatically adjust the optical path length of the reference arm, thereby increasing the measurement range of OCT.

[0034] Exemplarily, a vertical plate 114 is disposed on one side of the base 11 , and the light source collimator 31 and the light source receiver 32 are inserted into the vertical plate 114 and penetrate the vertical plate 114 .

[0035] exist Figure 2 In the figure, the number of reflectors 33 (4) on the left slider 12 is twice the number of reflectors 33 (2) on the right slider 12. At this time, the light source collimator 31 and the light source receiver 32 are located on the same side of the base 11.

[0036] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of another structure of an automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the number of reflectors 33 (2) on the left slider 12 can also be equal to the number of reflectors 33 (2) on the right slider 12. In this case, the light source collimator 31 and the light source receiver 32 are located on both sides of the base 11.

[0037] It is easy to understand that the number of reflectors 33 on each slider 12 is an even number, so that the reflected light can still remain horizontal during the sliding process of the slider 12, and can also be recovered by the light source receiver 32. In addition, the number of reflectors 33 on each slider 12 is determined according to the adjustment range, and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0038] See again Figure 2 The base 11 has two guide rails 111 arranged at intervals, the two guide rails 111 are coaxially arranged, the adjustment block 13 is located between the two guide rails 111, the two guide rails 111 correspond to the two sliders 12 one by one, and each slider 12 is slidably arranged on the corresponding guide rail 111.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the guide rail 111 plays a guiding role in the sliding of the two sliders 12 .

[0040] Exemplarily, the base 11 has a guide groove 112 extending in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail 111 , and the adjustment block 13 is slidably arranged in the guide groove 112 , so that the adjustment block 13 is guided to slide through the guide groove 112 .

[0041] In one implementation of the present invention, the automatically adjusting reference arm also includes a grating scale displacement sensor 4, which includes a grating scale 41 and two code scanning probes 42. The grating scale 41 is located on the base 11 and extends along the sliding direction of the slider 12. The two code scanning probes 42 are respectively located on the two sliders 12, and each code scanning probe 42 is located above the grating scale 41.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the two barcode scanning probes 42 can accurately identify the positions of the two sliders 12 relative to the grating scale 41, thereby accurately determining the spacing between the two sliders 12, and further accurately determining the optical path length of the reference arm.

[0043] In another embodiment of the present invention, a distance measuring sensor (not shown) is provided on each slider 12, and two distance measuring sensors are arranged relative to each other to monitor the distance between the two sliders 12. Thus, the distance between the two sliders 12 can be determined by the two distance measuring sensors, and then the optical path length of the reference arm can be determined.

[0044] For example, one distance measuring sensor may be used as a light transmitter, and the other distance measuring sensor may be used as a light receiver, so that the distance between the two slides 12 can be calculated by the time difference.

[0045] It should be noted that the present invention may also measure the distance between the two sliders 12 in other ways, and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0046] Continue to see Figure 2The base 11 has two position sensors 113 , which are arranged at intervals and located on both sides of a slider 12 to monitor the two extreme movement positions of the slider 12 .

[0047] In the above embodiment, the two position sensors 113 can respectively monitor the extreme movement positions of the slider 12 at the leftmost end and the rightmost end of the guide rail 111 to prevent the slider 12 from leaving the guide rail 111 .

[0048] For example, two position sensors 113 may also be provided on both sides of the other slider 12 to monitor the two extreme movement positions of the other slider 12 .

[0049] In this embodiment, the adjustment component 3 further includes an input optical fiber 34 , which is connected to the light source collimator 31 , so that a light beam can be directly input to the light source collimator 31 through the input optical fiber 34 .

[0050] Similarly, the adjustment component 3 also includes an output optical fiber 35 , and the output optical fiber 35 is connected to the light source receiver 32 .

[0051] In addition, the driving member 21 may be a cylinder, an electric push rod or other driving mechanisms, which is not limited in the present invention.

[0052] The automatic adjustment reference arm provided by the present invention has the following advantages:

[0053] 1. The automatic adjustment reference arm of the present invention can converge the light beam into the light source receiver 32 after multiple regular reflections in a limited light beam transmission space, shorten the movement stroke of the slider 12, and greatly improve the utilization rate of the device space during the light beam transmission process.

[0054] 2. The present invention provides an automatic adjustment reference arm. During the process of adjusting the optical path, the reflectors 33 on the two sliders 12 move relative to each other, and the light beam transmission distance changes exponentially, which greatly increases the OCT measurement depth. The original measurement depth of 1-3 mm can now measure 5-15 mm depth.

[0055] 3. The automatic adjustment reference arm of the present invention can simultaneously drive the reflectors 33 on the two sliders 12 to move quickly through the driving assembly 2 during the optical path adjustment process, thereby greatly increasing the adjustment speed during the adjustment process, thereby improving the OCT measurement efficiency.

[0056] 4. The automatic adjustment reference arm of the present invention is provided with a grating scale displacement sensor 4, which can provide real-time feedback of the high-precision positions of the two sliders 12, thereby improving the accuracy of the optical path change and further improving the measurement accuracy.

[0057] 5. The automatic adjustment reference arm of the present invention can realize the input and output of the light beam through the optical fiber quick-plug connector, and can be used as a structured module in the OCT measurement device to facilitate adjustment and maintenance.

[0058] It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurements, It is characterized in that The automatic adjustment reference arm comprises a support component (1), a drive component (2) and an adjustment component (3); The support assembly (1) comprises a base (11), two sliders (12) and an adjustment block (13); the two sliders (12) and the adjustment block (13) are both slidably arranged on the base (11), and the sliding directions of the two sliders (12) are coaxial; the adjustment block (13) is located between the two sliders (12), and the sliding direction of the adjustment block (13) is perpendicular to the sliding direction of each slider (12); The driving assembly (2) comprises a driving member (21) and two hinged rods (22); the output shaft of the driving member (21) is drivingly connected to the adjusting block (13) to drive the adjusting block (13) to slide; and the two ends of each hinged rod (22) are respectively hinged to the adjusting block (13) and one of the sliders (12); The adjustment component (3) comprises a light source collimator (31), a light source receiver (32) and a plurality of reflectors (33); the light source collimator (31) and the light source receiver (32) are arranged on the base (11) at intervals, and the light source collimator (31) and the light source receiver (32) are arranged in a direction parallel to the sliding direction of the slider (12); the plurality of reflectors (33) are arranged on two sliders (12) respectively, and the included angle between each reflector (33) and the sliding direction of the corresponding slider (12) is 45°, and two adjacent reflectors (33) are perpendicular to each other; the adjustment component (3) is configured such that a light beam passing through the light source collimator (31) is reflected back and forth by the reflectors (33) on each slider (12) in sequence and then enters the light source receiver (32).

2. An automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The base (11) is provided with two guide rails (111) arranged at intervals, the two guide rails (111) are coaxially arranged, the adjustment block (13) is located between the two guide rails (111), the two guide rails (111) and the two sliders (12) correspond one to one, and each slider (12) is slidably arranged on the corresponding guide rail (111).

3. An automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The base (11) is provided with a guide groove (112), the guide groove (112) extends in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail (111), and the adjustment block (13) is slidably arranged in the guide groove (112).

4. The automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The automatic adjustment reference arm further comprises a grating scale displacement sensor (4), the grating scale displacement sensor (4) comprising a grating scale (41) and two code scanning probes (42), the grating scale (41) being located on the base (11) and extending along the sliding direction of the slider (12), the two code scanning probes (42) being located on the two sliders (12) respectively, and each of the code scanning probes (42) being located above the grating scale (41).

5. The automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement according to claim 1, It is characterized in that A distance measuring sensor is respectively arranged on each of the sliders (12), and two of the distance measuring sensors are arranged opposite to each other to monitor the distance between the two sliders (12).

6. An automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that The base (11) is provided with two position sensors (113), which are arranged at intervals and located on both sides of a slider (12) to monitor two extreme movement positions of the slider (12).

7. An automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that The adjustment component (3) further comprises an input optical fiber (34), wherein the input optical fiber (34) is connected to the light source collimator (31).

8. An automatically adjustable reference arm for OCT measurement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that The adjustment component (3) further comprises an output optical fiber (35), wherein the output optical fiber (35) is connected to the light source receiver (32).

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