A method for coupling multiple light sources into optical fibers

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of optics, and specifically relates to a multi-light source optical fiber coupling method, comprising: preparing a plurality of single-channel components, a light-combining lens, and a light propagation medium device, wherein the plurality of single-channel components are arranged circumferentially around the front side of the light-combining lens, each single-channel component comprises a light-collecting and steering lens and an LED light source, and the light-propagation medium device is located on the light converging area of ​​the light-combining lens; emitting light toward the light-collecting and steering lens through the LED light source; reflecting the light incident from the LED light source horizontally and vertically to the light-combining lens through the light-collecting and steering lens; reflecting the light input from each light-collecting and steering lens through the light-combining lens, and merging the reflected light into the optical fiber. In the coupling method of the present invention, the light emitted by all single-channel components can be coupled through the light-combining lens and converged to the light propagation medium device, each optical path passes through fewer optical surfaces, has less energy loss, each single channel does not affect each other, and can accommodate more single channels.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of optics, and in particular relates to a multi-light source optical fiber coupling method. Background Art

[0002] LED multi-channel light source system can be applied to medical detection instruments, which usually includes LED light source, light collecting lens, beam splitter, and light propagation medium device. Each channel includes corresponding LED light source, light collecting lens and beam splitter. LED light source is responsible for emitting light, light collecting lens is responsible for collecting light, and beam splitter is responsible for reflecting light. The light of each channel is finally input into the light propagation medium device and output by the light propagation medium device, and the light propagation medium device is optical fiber.

[0003] The existing LED multi-channel light source system has the problems of not compact arrangement, large volume and high cost. The Chinese patent with publication number CN115218135A discloses an LED multi-channel light source system for medical detection instruments, including a light propagation medium device and multiple single-channel components. The single-channel component includes a light-collecting and steering lens and an LED light source. The light-collecting and steering lens includes a light-collecting lens part and a steering lens part. The light-collecting lens part is used to collect the light emitted by the LED light source and output it at a uniform angle. The steering lens part is inclined relative to the light-collecting lens exit surface, and is used to receive the light input by the light-collecting lens part of the single-channel component and reflect it for output, while transmitting the light horizontally incident from other single-channel components. In the LED multi-channel light source system of the invention, the light output by the light-collecting and steering lens of the rear LED light source can be merged with the light output by the light-collecting and steering lens of the front LED light source, so as to realize the merging of multiple light paths, further optimize the spatial arrangement of the LED multi-channel light source system, and alleviate the problems of large volume and high cost.

[0004] However, the above LED multi-channel light source system still has the following problems:

[0005] The single-channel components are lined up in a row, and the lenses behind them suffer large energy losses after passing through multiple optical surfaces, so the number of single-channel components is limited. Summary of the invention

[0006] In order to make up for the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a technical solution for a multi-light source optical fiber coupling method.

[0007] A multi-light source optical fiber coupling method, comprising:

[0008] Step 1, preparing a plurality of single-channel components, a light-combining lens and a light propagation medium device, wherein the plurality of single-channel components are arranged circumferentially around the front side of the light-combining lens, each single-channel component comprises a light-collecting and steering lens and a corresponding LED light source, and the light propagation medium device is located on the light converging area of ​​the light-combining lens;

[0009] Step 2, emitting light toward the light-collecting and redirecting lens through an LED light source;

[0010] Step 3, the light incident from the LED light source is reflected horizontally and vertically to the light combining lens through the light collecting and redirecting lens;

[0011] Step 4, the light input from each light collecting and steering lens is reflected out through a light combining lens, and the reflected light is combined and enters the optical fiber to achieve coupling.

[0012] Furthermore, the design of the light-combining lens includes: a plurality of vertical incident planes are arranged along the circumferential direction on the front outer wall of the light-combining lens, the positions and number of the incident planes correspond one-to-one to the single-channel components, and a free-form surface corresponding to the incident plane is provided on the rear outer wall of the light-combining lens, the light input by the light-collecting and steering lens is received through the incident plane, a light-converging area is formed through the free-form surface, and the light reflected by it is converged in the light-converging area.

[0013] Furthermore, the design of the light-combining lens also includes: the upper and lower ends of the light-combining lens are both designed to be horizontal planes.

[0014] Furthermore, the design of the light-combining lens also includes: all incident planes on the light-combining lens are designed to be connected in sequence.

[0015] Furthermore, the design of the light collecting and steering lens includes: the light collecting and steering lens includes a light collecting lens portion and a steering lens portion integrally connected thereto, the light collecting lens portion is used to collect the light emitted by the LED light source and output it vertically, and the steering lens portion is used to receive the light input by the light collecting lens portion and reflect it horizontally for output.

[0016] Furthermore, the design of the light collecting and steering lens also includes: the light collecting and steering lens is a solid structure; the light collecting lens portion has a light collecting lens incident end and a light collecting lens output end; the steering lens portion has a light splitting lens incident end, a light splitting lens reflecting end and a light splitting lens output end, the light splitting lens incident end is connected to the light collecting lens output end, and is used to receive the light input by the light collecting lens portion, and the light splitting lens reflecting end is used to reflect the light received by the light splitting lens incident end and output it from the light splitting lens output end.

[0017] Furthermore, the design of the light-collecting and redirecting lens also includes: the light-collecting lens portion is a light-collecting collimating lens, which can collect light and output it vertically.

[0018] Furthermore, the design of the light collecting and redirecting lens also includes: the light collecting lens portion is a rotation axis symmetrical structure, the outer diameter of the light collecting lens incident end is smaller than the outer diameter of the light collecting lens exit end, and the bottom of the light collecting lens portion has a groove.

[0019] Furthermore, the design of the light collecting and redirecting lens also includes: the incident end of the beam splitting lens is perpendicular to the output end of the beam splitting lens, and the reflection end of the beam splitting lens forms a 45° angle with the incident end (1010) of the beam splitting lens and the output end of the beam splitting lens respectively; the design of the light collecting and redirecting lens also includes: the light collecting lens part and the redirecting lens part are an integrated optical plastic injection molding structure.

[0020] Furthermore, the light propagation medium device is an optical fiber or an optical waveguide.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: in the coupling method of the present invention, the light emitted by all single-channel components can be coupled through a light-combining lens and converged to the light propagation medium device, each light path passes through fewer optical surfaces, the energy loss is small, each single channel does not affect each other, and more single channels can be accommodated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a flow chart of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the light combining lens structure in the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 This is the second schematic diagram of the light combining lens structure in the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the light collecting and redirecting lens structure in the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 This is the second schematic diagram of the light-collecting and redirecting lens structure in the present invention;

[0029] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Middle AA section view.

[0030] In the figure: a light collecting and steering lens 1, a light collecting lens portion 100, a light collecting lens incident end 1000, a light collecting lens output end 1001, a groove 1002, a steering lens portion 101, a light splitting lens incident end 1010, a light splitting lens reflecting end 1011, a light splitting lens output end 1012, a light combining lens 2, an incident plane 200, a free-form surface 201, a light propagation medium device 3, and an LED light source 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it is necessary to understand that the terms "one end", "the other end", "outside", "upper", "inside", "horizontal", "coaxial", "center", "end", "length", "outer end" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0032] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0033] See also Figure 1 , a multi-light source optical fiber coupling method, comprising:

[0034] Step 1, preparing a plurality of single-channel components, a light-combining lens 2 and a light propagation medium device 3, wherein the plurality of single-channel components are arranged circumferentially around the front side of the light-combining lens 2, each single-channel component comprises a light-collecting and steering lens 1 and a corresponding LED light source 4, and the light propagation medium device 3 is located on the light converging area of ​​the light-combining lens 2;

[0035] Step 2, emitting light toward the light-collecting and redirecting lens 1 through the LED light source 4;

[0036] Step 3, the light incident from the LED light source 4 is reflected horizontally and vertically to the light combining lens 2 through the light collecting and redirecting lens 1;

[0037] Step 4, the light input from each light collecting and redirecting lens 1 is reflected out through the light combining lens 2, and the reflected light is combined to enter the light propagation medium device 3 to achieve coupling.

[0038] The above-mentioned multi-light source fiber coupling method is implemented by a multi-light source fiber coupling system. The multi-light source fiber coupling system is specifically as follows:

[0039] The multi-light source fiber coupling system includes a light combining lens 2, a light propagation medium device 3 and a plurality of single-channel components. The upper and lower ends of the light combining lens 2 are both horizontal planes. The front outer wall of the light combining lens 2 is evenly arranged with a plurality of vertical incident planes 200 along the circumferential direction. All the incident planes 200 are preferably connected in sequence. In addition, the incident planes 200 can also be arranged at intervals. The rear outer wall of the light combining lens 2 is provided with free-form surfaces 201 corresponding to all the incident planes 200 at the same time. In addition, the free-form surfaces 201 can also be arranged at intervals into a plurality of blocks, corresponding one to one with the incident planes 200. All light rays incident horizontally on the free-form surfaces 201 will be reflected and converged in the light converging area of ​​the free-form surfaces. The free-form surfaces can be parabolic surfaces. The light propagation medium device 3 is an optical fiber or an optical waveguide, which is located on the light converging area of ​​the free-form surfaces 201. The number of single-channel components can be adjusted as needed. They are located on the front side of the light combining lens 2. The positions and numbers correspond one to one with the incident planes. The single-channel components include a light collecting and steering lens 1 and a corresponding LED light source 4.

[0040] The light collecting and redirecting lens 1 is configured to collect the light emitted by the LED light source 4 and reflect the light in parallel and output it so that it is vertically incident on the incident plane 200 of the light combining lens 2. The free curved surface 201 of the light combining lens 2 is configured to reflect the light entering from the incident plane 200 and output it so that it converges on the light propagation medium device 3.

[0041] In the present invention, the LED light sources 4 of different channels use different wavelengths, and each channel can be turned on and off as needed.

[0042] It can be understood that in the above technical solution, in the present invention, the light emitted by all single-channel components can be coupled through the light-combining lens 2 and converged to the light propagation medium device 3. Each light path passes through fewer optical surfaces and has a small energy loss. Each single channel does not affect each other and can accommodate more single channels.

[0043] Continue reading Figure 6 The light collecting and steering lens 1 is a solid structure, which is integrally injection molded by optical plastic, and includes a light collecting lens portion 100 and a steering lens portion 101 integrally connected thereto. The light collecting lens portion 100 is used to collect and output light. The light collecting lens portion 100 is a circular bowl-shaped structure, and the bottom of the light collecting lens portion 100 has a groove 1002, and the cross-sectional profile of the groove 1002 is circular. The upper and lower ends of the light collecting lens portion 100 respectively have a light collecting lens output end 1001 and a light collecting lens incident end 1000, and the outer diameter of the light collecting lens incident end 1000 is smaller than the outer diameter of the light collecting lens output end 1001.

[0044] It should be noted that the light collecting lens portion 100 is preferably a light collecting collimating lens, and its structure and principle are well-known technologies.

[0045] Continue reading Figure 8The steering lens portion 101 is used to receive the light input from the light collecting lens portion 100 and reflect it for output. It has a splitter lens incident end 1010, a splitter lens reflection end 1011 and a splitter lens output end 1012. The splitter lens incident end 1010 is connected to the light collecting lens output end 1001, and is used to receive the light input from the light collecting lens portion 100. The splitter lens reflection end 1011 is used to reflect the light received by the splitter lens incident end 1010 and output it from the splitter lens output end 1012.

[0046] Specifically, the overall structure of the steering lens portion 101 is an isosceles right-angled triangular prism, which can reflect and output vertically input light horizontally. The incident end 1010 of the beam splitter lens, the reflecting end 1011 of the beam splitter lens and the output end 1012 of the beam splitter lens are connected end to end. The incident end 1010 of the beam splitter lens is perpendicular to the output end 1012 of the beam splitter lens, and the reflecting end 1011 of the beam splitter lens forms a 45° angle with the incident end 1010 and the output end 1012 of the beam splitter lens respectively.

[0047] The incident end 1010 and the output end 1012 of the beam splitter lens are both square, the incident end 1000 and the output end 1001 of the light collecting lens are both circular, and the length of the incident end 1010 and the output end 1012 of the beam splitter lens is equal to the outer diameter of the output end 1001 of the light collecting lens.

[0048] It should be noted that, in order to improve the transmittance of light, a film may be coated on the surface of the reflective end 1011 of the beam splitter lens.

[0049] When the coupling method of the present invention is used, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the LED light source 4 in each single-channel component emits light, and multiple light rays are collimated by their respective steering lens parts 101 and then output horizontally and vertically incident on the corresponding incident plane 200 on the light-combining lens 2. These light rays are reflected by the free curved surface 201 of the light-combining lens 2 and leave from the upper end of the light-combining lens 2. Finally, the multiple light rays are combined and enter the light propagation medium device 3.

[0050] In addition, the light-collecting and redirecting lens 1 of the present invention may also adopt the corresponding structure in patent CN115218135A.

[0051] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-light source optical fiber coupling method, characterized in that: include: Step 1, preparing a plurality of single-channel components, a light-combining lens (2) and a light propagation medium device (3), wherein the plurality of single-channel components are arranged circumferentially around the front side of the light-combining lens (2), each single-channel component comprises a light-collecting and redirecting lens (1) and a corresponding LED light source (4), and the light propagation medium device (3) is located on the light converging area of ​​the light-combining lens (2); Step 2, emitting light toward the light-collecting and redirecting lens (1) through the LED light source (4); Step 3, the light incident from the LED light source (4) is reflected horizontally and vertically to the light combining lens (2) through the light collecting and redirecting lens (1); Step 4, the light input from each light collecting and redirecting lens (1) is reflected by the light combining lens (2), and the reflected light is combined to enter the light propagation medium device (3) to achieve coupling; The design of the light combining lens (2) includes: a plurality of vertical incident planes (200) are arranged along the circumferential direction on the front outer wall of the light combining lens (2), the positions and number of the incident planes (200) correspond to the single-channel components one by one, and a free-form surface (201) corresponding to the incident plane (200) is arranged on the rear outer wall of the light combining lens (2), the light input from the light collecting and redirecting lens (1) is received through the incident plane (200), a light converging area is formed through the free-form surface (201), and the light reflected by the free-form surface (201) is converged in the light converging area; The design of the light collecting and redirecting lens (1) comprises: the light collecting and redirecting lens (1) comprises a light collecting lens portion (100) and a redirecting lens portion (101) integrally connected thereto; the light collecting lens portion (100) is used to collect light emitted by an LED light source (4) and output it vertically; and the redirecting lens portion (101) is used to receive light input by the light collecting lens portion (100) and reflect it horizontally for output.

2. A multi-light source optical fiber coupling method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The design of the light-combining lens (2) also includes: the upper and lower ends of the light-combining lens (2) are both designed to be horizontal planes.

3. A multi-light source optical fiber coupling method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The design of the light-combining lens (2) also includes: all incident planes (200) on the light-combining lens (2) are designed to be connected in sequence.

4. A multi-light source optical fiber coupling method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The design of the light collecting and redirecting lens (1) further includes: the light collecting and redirecting lens (1) is a solid structure; the light collecting lens portion (100) has a light collecting lens incident end (1000) and a light collecting lens exit end (1001); the redirecting lens portion (101) has a light splitting lens incident end (1010), a light splitting lens reflection end (1011) and a light splitting lens exit end (1012); the light splitting lens incident end (1010) is connected to the light collecting lens exit end (1001) and is used to receive light input from the light collecting lens portion (100); the light splitting lens reflection end (1011) is used to reflect light received by the light splitting lens incident end (1010) and output the light from the light splitting lens exit end (1012).

5. The multi-light source optical fiber coupling method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The design of the light collecting and redirecting lens (1) also includes: the light collecting lens portion (100) is a light collecting collimating lens.

6. A multi-light source optical fiber coupling method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The design of the light collecting and redirecting lens (1) also includes: the light collecting lens portion (100) is a rotationally symmetrical structure, the outer diameter of the light collecting lens incident end (1000) is smaller than the outer diameter of the light collecting lens exit end (1001), and the bottom of the light collecting lens portion (100) has a groove (1002).

7. A multi-light source optical fiber coupling method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The design of the light collecting and redirecting lens (1) further includes: the incident end (1010) of the light splitting lens is perpendicular to the output end (1012) of the light splitting lens, the reflection end (1011) of the light splitting lens forms an angle of 45° with the incident end (1010) and the output end (1012) of the light splitting lens respectively; and the light collecting lens part (100) and the redirecting lens part (101) are optical plastic integral injection molding structures.

8. The multi-light source optical fiber coupling method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light propagation medium device (3) is an optical fiber or an optical waveguide.

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