Optical fiber slip ring for OCT (optical coherence tomography) system

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber communication, and discloses an optical fiber slip ring for an OCT (optical coherence tomography) system, which comprises a shell, a central rotating shaft rotationally arranged in an inner cavity of the shell and a central shaft fixedly arranged in the inner cavity of the shell, the light beam input into the light beam receiving and releasing assembly by the optical fiber is expanded, the energy density is reduced, and then the light beam is transmitted to the other light beam receiving and releasing assembly. An inner cavity of the central rotating shaft is provided with an aligning mechanism used for adjusting the light beam receiving and releasing assembly to coincide with the axis of the central rotating shaft. And a bearing compensation mechanism is arranged between the synchronous driving wheel and the outer bearing on the central rotating shaft. The optical fiber slip ring is provided with the high-power receiving and transmitting assembly and the output assembly, meanwhile, a precise aligning structure and a bearing compensation structure are adopted, the transmission precision of the optical fiber slip ring is improved, fluctuation in the movement process is weakened, and the stability of product operation is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber communication, and in particular to an optical fiber slip ring for an OCT system. Background Art

[0002] The single-channel fiber optic slip ring is shown below. The single-channel fiber optic slip ring is composed of a shell, a rotating shaft, a pair of miniature high-speed bearings, a pair of unbiased fiber collimators and other devices for protecting the pigtail. The shell and the rotating shaft are designed with high-precision inner holes for installing the unbiased collimator. The unbiased collimator is highly coaxial with the product's rotation axis. When the fiber optic slip ring is working, the unbiased collimator at the rotor end does not revolve but only rotates. Therefore, the unbiased collimator installed in the center of the shell can efficiently receive optical signals in a static state.

[0003] Currently, all OCT fiber slip rings on the market are low-power fiber slip rings, with power generally less than 100mW, and the optical fiber used is relatively simple, generally single-mode optical fiber. For example, the patent document with publication number CN111736269A discloses an optical fiber slip ring and OCT imaging system for an OCT system. The single-mode optical fiber collimator and SC / APC mother seat used in it cannot withstand the transmission of high pulses, high peak power and high-power lasers, resulting in limited OCT technology and application scenarios, many of which are limited to biological imaging. In addition, in high-power transmission scenarios, small fluctuations and losses are required during the rotation process. The current optical fiber slip rings cannot meet the application requirements of high-power transmission scenarios well. Summary of the invention

[0004] 1. Technical issues to be solved

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a fiber optic slip ring for an OCT system, which solves the problem that the existing fiber optic slip ring has large fluctuations and losses and is difficult to meet application requirements when used in high-pulse, high-peak power and high-power laser scenarios.

[0006] (II) Technical solution

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0008] A fiber optic slip ring for an OCT system comprises a shell, a central rotating shaft rotatably arranged in an inner cavity of the shell, and a central shaft fixedly arranged in the inner cavity of the shell, wherein beam receiving and releasing components are arranged opposite to the inner cavities of the central shaft and the central rotating shaft, and the light beam inputted into the beam receiving and releasing component by an optical fiber is expanded and the energy density is reduced before being transmitted to another beam receiving and releasing component, and a centering mechanism for adjusting the coincidence of the axis of the beam receiving and releasing component with the central rotating shaft is arranged in the inner cavity of the central rotating shaft, a synchronous driving wheel is fixedly arranged on the outer surface of one end of the central rotating shaft close to the central shaft, and a bearing compensation mechanism is arranged on the central rotating shaft between the synchronous driving wheel and the outer bearing to compensate for the play of the outer bearing during the movement of the central rotating shaft.

[0009] Preferably, the beam receiving and releasing assembly comprises a metal tube, a quartz rod fixedly arranged in the inner cavity of the metal tube, and an achromatic lens, and an optical fiber is fused to one end of the quartz rod away from the achromatic lens.

[0010] Preferably, an inner bearing is arranged between the central rotating shaft and the central shaft, the inner bearing is arranged outside the central shaft, a first support sleeve is arranged between two inner bearings, and one end of the central shaft is locked and fixed to the inner bearing by a first locking nut.

[0011] Preferably, the central rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the outer shell through an outer bearing, a second support sleeve is arranged between the outer bearings, a second locking nut for locking the outer bearing is arranged at one end of the outer shell, the bearing compensation mechanism includes a flat washer and a corrugated washer, a flat washer and a corrugated washer are respectively arranged tightly between the outer bearing and the synchronous drive wheel, and the flat washer and the corrugated washer are arranged on the central rotating shaft in a sleeve-connected manner.

[0012] Preferably, the centering mechanism comprises a centering hole arranged in an annular manner on the central rotating shaft, and the six degrees of freedom of the beam retracting and releasing assembly are adjusted by screws threadedly connected in the centering hole.

[0013] Preferably, one end of the light beam receiving and releasing assembly located in the central rotating axis is connected to an output head via an optical fiber, and one end of the output head is provided with a quick-connect interface.

[0014] Preferably, a microlens connected to one end of the optical fiber is arranged in the output head to convert the light beam into spatial light output.

[0015] (III) Beneficial effects

[0016] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] The optical fiber slip ring for the OCT system can expand the light beam sent by the optical fiber into the light beam receiving and releasing component through the light beam receiving and releasing component, and transmit it to another light beam receiving and releasing component after the energy density is reduced. Since the output light beam becomes larger and the energy density is reduced, the two light beam receiving and releasing components can withstand high-power and high-pulse laser beams without being damaged; through the centering mechanism, the light beam receiving and releasing component located in the inner cavity of the central rotating shaft can be adjusted so that the optical axis of the transmitting and receiving end coincides with the axis of the central rotating shaft, thereby improving the transmission accuracy; through the bearing compensation mechanism, when the central rotating shaft rotates, in order to improve the stability of the product operation, the clearance movement of the bearing during the movement can be compensated, so that the fluctuation of the overall movement of the product is smaller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the present invention in the AA direction;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the center alignment hole layout structure of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the layout structure of the outer bearing and the synchronous drive wheel of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the flat pad and the corrugated pad of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the layout structure of the light beam retracting and releasing assembly of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the state of the light beam of the present invention when passing through the light beam retracting and releasing component.

[0025] In the figure: 1. outer shell; 2. central axis; 3. beam transceiver assembly; 31. metal tube; 32. quartz rod; 33. achromatic lens; 4. first support sleeve; 5. inner bearing; 6. first locking nut; 7. central rotating shaft; 8. outer bearing; 9. second support sleeve; 10. second locking nut; 11. self-aligning hole; 12. output head; 13. quick-connect interface; 14. synchronous drive wheel; 15. flat washer; 16. corrugated washer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] See also Figure 1 The present invention provides a technical solution: a fiber optic slip ring for an OCT system, comprising a shell 1, a central rotating shaft 7 rotatably arranged in the inner cavity of the shell 1, and a central shaft 2 fixedly arranged in the inner cavity of the shell 1, wherein beam receiving and releasing components are arranged opposite to the inner cavities of the central rotating shaft 2 and the central rotating shaft 7, and the beam of the optical fiber input beam receiving and releasing component is expanded and the energy density is reduced before being transmitted to another beam receiving and releasing component, and the inner cavity of the central rotating shaft 7 is provided with a centering mechanism for adjusting the coincidence of the beam receiving and releasing component and the axis of the central rotating shaft 7, and a synchronous driving wheel 14 is fixedly arranged on the outer surface of one end of the central rotating shaft 7 close to the central shaft 2, and a bearing compensation mechanism is arranged on the central rotating shaft 7 between the synchronous driving wheel 14 and the outer bearing 8 to compensate for the play of the outer bearing 8 during the movement of the central rotating shaft 7.

[0028] The present invention, through the provision of a beam receiving and releasing assembly, can expand the light beam sent by the optical fiber into the beam receiving and releasing assembly, and transmit it to another beam receiving and releasing assembly after the energy density is reduced. Since the output light beam becomes larger and the energy density is reduced, the two beam receiving and releasing assemblies can withstand high-power, high-pulse laser beams without being damaged; through the provision of a centering mechanism, the light beam receiving and releasing assembly located in the inner cavity of the central rotating shaft 7 can be adjusted so that the optical axis of the transmitting and receiving end coincides with the axis of the central rotating shaft 7, thereby improving the transmission accuracy; through the provision of a bearing compensation mechanism, when the central rotating shaft 7 rotates, in order to improve the stability of the product operation, the bearing clearance movement during the movement can be compensated, thereby reducing the fluctuation of the overall movement of the product.

[0029] Reference Figure 6 and 7 As shown, in this embodiment, the beam receiving and releasing assembly includes a metal tube 31, a quartz rod 32 fixedly arranged in the inner cavity of the metal tube 31, and an achromatic lens 33. An optical fiber is fused to one end of the quartz rod 32 away from the achromatic lens 33. The optical fiber and the quartz rod 32 are fused by a fusion process. The material of the quartz rod 32 is similar to that of the optical fiber. After fusion, the output surface is the other end of the quartz rod 32. Since the output beam becomes larger and the energy density is reduced, it can withstand high-power, high-pulse laser beams without being damaged.

[0030] In this embodiment, an inner bearing 5 is arranged between the central rotating shaft 7 and the central shaft 2, the inner bearing 5 is arranged outside the central shaft 2, a first support sleeve 4 is arranged between the two inner bearings 5, and one end of the central shaft 2 is locked and fixed by a first locking nut 6.

[0031] Reference Figure 3 and 4As shown, in this embodiment, the central rotating shaft 7 is rotatably connected to the housing 1 through the outer bearing 8, a second support sleeve 9 is arranged between the outer bearings 8, and a second locking nut 10 for locking the outer bearing 8 is arranged at one end of the housing 1. The bearing compensation mechanism includes a flat washer 15 and a corrugated washer 16. The flat washer 15 and the corrugated washer 16 are respectively arranged tightly between the outer bearing 8 and the synchronous driving wheel 14, and the flat washer 15 and the corrugated washer 16 are arranged on the central rotating shaft 7. When the central rotating shaft 7 rotates, in order to improve the stability of the product operation, a corrugated washer is used to compensate for the clearance movement of the outer bearing 8 during the movement. Make the fluctuation of the product movement smaller.

[0032] Reference Figure 3 and 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the centering mechanism includes a centering hole 11 arranged in an annular manner on the central rotating shaft 7, and the six degrees of freedom of the beam receiving and releasing assembly are adjusted by screws connected by thread in the centering hole 11. The centering hole 11 is added to the central rotating shaft 7, and 8 screws are used to adjust the six degrees of freedom of the beam receiving and releasing assembly, so that the optical axis of the transmitting and receiving end coincides with the axis of the central rotating shaft 7.

[0033] In this embodiment, one end of the beam receiving and releasing assembly located in the central rotating shaft 7 is connected to an output head 12 via an optical fiber, and a quick-connect interface 13 is arranged at one end of the output head 12 .

[0034] In this embodiment, a microlens connected to one end of the optical fiber is arranged in the output head 12 to convert the light beam into a spatial light output. Conventional interfaces such as FC / APC and SC / APC connectors all use physical precision contact, which is easy to burn when high power energy density is concentrated. The output head 12 containing a microlens is used to convert the light beam into a spatial light output, which effectively avoids the concentration of the energy density of the light beam and avoids burning the connector.

[0035] It should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions. The sentence "includes an element defined by ... does not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the element".

[0036] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An optical fiber slip ring for an OCT system, comprising a housing, a central rotating shaft rotatably arranged in an inner cavity of the housing, and a central shaft fixedly arranged in the inner cavity of the housing, characterized in that: The inner cavities of the central axis and the central rotating axis are provided with beam receiving and releasing components opposite to each other. The light beam input by the optical fiber into the beam receiving and releasing component is expanded and its energy density is reduced before being transmitted to another beam receiving and releasing component. The inner cavity of the central rotating axis is provided with a centering mechanism for adjusting the coincidence of the axis of the beam receiving and releasing component with that of the central rotating axis. A synchronous driving wheel is fixedly provided on the outer surface of one end of the central rotating axis close to the central axis. A bearing compensation mechanism is arranged on the central rotating axis between the synchronous driving wheel and the outer bearing to compensate for the play of the outer bearing during the movement of the central rotating axis.

2. The optical fiber slip ring for an OCT system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The beam receiving and releasing assembly comprises a metal tube, a quartz rod fixedly arranged in the inner cavity of the metal tube and an achromatic lens, and an end of the quartz rod away from the achromatic lens is fused with an optical fiber.

3. The optical fiber slip ring for an OCT system according to claim 2, characterized in that: An inner bearing is arranged between the central rotating shaft and the central shaft, the inner bearing is arranged outside the central shaft, a first support sleeve is arranged between two inner bearings, and one end of the central shaft is locked and fixed to the inner bearing by a first locking nut.

4. The optical fiber slip ring for an OCT system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The central rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the outer shell through an outer bearing, a second support sleeve is arranged between the outer bearings, a second locking nut for locking the outer bearing is arranged at one end of the outer shell, the bearing compensation mechanism includes a flat washer and a corrugated washer, a flat washer and a corrugated washer are respectively arranged tightly between the outer bearing and the synchronous driving wheel, and the flat washer and the corrugated washer are arranged on the central rotating shaft in a sleeve-connected manner.

5. The optical fiber slip ring for an OCT system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The centering mechanism comprises a centering hole annularly arranged on the central rotating shaft, and screws threadedly connected in the centering hole are used to adjust the six degrees of freedom of the beam retracting and releasing assembly.

6. The optical fiber slip ring for an OCT system according to claim 5, characterized in that: One end of the light beam retracting and releasing component located in the central rotating shaft is connected to an output head through an optical fiber, and one end of the output head is arranged with a quick-insertion interface.

7. The optical fiber slip ring for an OCT system according to claim 6, characterized in that: A microlens connected to one end of the optical fiber is arranged in the output head to convert the light beam into spatial light output.

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