Optical fiber splitter supporting triaxial fine tuning and free gating

Abstract

The invention discloses an optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine tuning and free gating, and the splitter employs a plurality of optical fiber flanges to cooperate with a branching device to form a plurality of coupling channels, and can be connected with a plurality of optical probes at the same time. Different optical probe signals can enter the spectrograph by switching different channels so as to achieve the purpose of rapidly detecting sample information of different production lines, fine adjustment on the X-axis and the Y-axis can be achieved through the arrangement of the adjusting device after the optical fiber flange is installed, then the actual position and the theoretical position of the optical fiber flange are calibrated, and the detection accuracy is improved. According to the optical fiber branching device, the problem of signal attenuation is effectively avoided, meanwhile, position adjustment of the branching device on the Y axis is achieved through arrangement of the Z-axis adjusting mechanism, so that position adjustment of the parabolic mirror is achieved, focal length adjustment is achieved by adjusting the distance between the parabolic mirror and the optical fiber flange, and then the transmission quality of light beams between the optical fiber flange and the parabolic mirror is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber splitters, and in particular to an optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating. Background Art

[0002] Online detection spectrometers use optical probes to illuminate samples to collect sample information. The collected light beams are transmitted to the spectrometer via optical fibers for spectral analysis to obtain the internal composition of the sample. Usually, the spectrometer is only equipped with one optical channel to receive sample information. When faced with multiple production lines working at the same time, multiple spectrometers are often required to meet detection needs. In order to save detection costs and improve detection efficiency, fiber optic splitters are usually used to connect multiple optical probes to a single spectrometer. By switching the connection channels, different optical probes can be connected to the spectrometer in turn.

[0003] There is another type of fiber optic beam splitter on the market with functions similar to the above requirements. It uses a combination of lenses and parabolic mirrors and realizes switching between different optical probes and spectrometers through motor flipping. However, this type of fiber optic beam splitter mainly ensures the position accuracy of the fiber optic flange through mechanical processing. After installation and fixation, the position cannot be fine-tuned. However, mechanical processing errors generally exist. The processing errors of various parts of the entire instrument are stacked up, which will cause an error between the actual position and the theoretical position of the fiber optic flange. Once the fiber optic flange is fixed, the position of the received light beam is difficult to coincide with the theoretical position, resulting in severe attenuation of the signal of the light beam entering the optical fiber after passing through the reflector. In actual applications, the coupling efficiency is less than 50%, and the coupling efficiency between different channels is inconsistent. The low coupling efficiency will cause the optical signal to weaken and reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of the system. If the illumination power of the optical probe is increased to enhance the optical signal, it may cause burning and damage to the sample. For this reason, the present application proposes a fiber optic splitter that supports fine-tuning and free selection. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a fiber optic splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free selection comprises a housing and a splitting device, as well as a plurality of adjusting devices and a fiber flange connected to the optical fiber; specifically, an output hole for optical signal output is provided at the center point of one end of the housing, a plurality of input holes for optical signal input are evenly provided at a position close to the circumferential side of the output hole, and each output hole and input hole is equipped with an adjusting device located outside the housing, the adjusting device comprises a Y-axis adjusting mechanism, an X-axis adjusting mechanism is provided on the Y-axis adjusting mechanism, the fiber flange is provided on the X-axis adjusting mechanism, and both the X-axis adjusting mechanism and the Y-axis adjusting mechanism have avoidance holes for optical signals to enter the output hole or the input hole; the splitting device comprises a Z-axis adjusting mechanism arranged inside the housing, a support arm is provided on the Z-axis adjusting mechanism, a rotating shaft is rotatably provided on the support arm, one end of the rotating shaft corresponding to the optical fiber flange is connected to the rotating arm, and the other end is connected to a driving mechanism installed on the support arm, both ends of the rotating arm are provided with parabolic mirrors, and one of the parabolic mirrors is always in the same straight line with the output hole, and the other parabolic mirror is always in the same straight line with one of the input holes.

[0007] Preferably, the driving mechanism has a power output shaft, and the power output shaft is detachably connected to the rotating shaft via a coupling.

[0008] Preferably, the Z-axis adjustment mechanism includes a dovetail groove which is mounted on the shell and is through-connected, and a dovetail slider which can be moved along the Z-axis direction is slidably connected to the dovetail groove, and the support arm is fixed on the dovetail slider; the Z-axis adjustment mechanism also includes a handle and a fixed plate which is mounted on the shell near the through-end of the dovetail groove, and a control rod which is screwed onto the fixed plate and rests on the dovetail slider, and the handle is arranged on the fixed plate and is connected to the control rod.

[0009] Preferably, along the movable direction of the dovetail slider, a tension spring is connected between the groove wall of the dovetail sliding groove and the dovetail slider.

[0010] Preferably, a counterweight is provided at one end of the rotating arm for assembling a parabolic mirror which is in the same straight line as the output hole.

[0011] Preferably, the Y-axis adjustment mechanism includes a base mounted on the shell, a mounting groove is provided on a side of the base away from the shell, the top of the mounting groove and one of the adjacent sides are through-connected, a slider slidable along the Y-axis is mounted in the mounting groove, and a first adjustment rod rotatably connected to the slider is screwed on one side of the Y-axis of the mounting groove, and a plurality of return springs connected to the slider are provided, and the avoidance holes on the Y-axis adjustment mechanism are provided on both the mounting groove and the slider.

[0012] Preferably, the X-axis adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment block and a fixing groove provided on the slider, the fixing groove is through-connected on one side corresponding to the X-axis, the adjustment block is assembled in the fixing groove through a linear module, and can slide along the X-axis direction, a notch is provided on the top of the fixing groove, and the optical fiber flange is assembled on the adjustment block through the notch, and the avoidance hole on the X-axis adjustment mechanism is provided on the slider;

[0013] An adjusting spring is connected between the part of the adjusting block away from the through-side of the fixed slot and the side of the fixed slot located on the Y-axis. The part of the adjusting block corresponding to the through-side of the fixed slot is an inclined surface. The slider is located above the through-side of the fixed slot and is screwed with a second adjusting rod that rests on the inclined surface.

[0014] Preferably, the adjustment device also includes a locking plate, which covers the base and the slider respectively and is connected into a whole by bolts. A channel for avoiding the optical fiber flange is provided on the locking plate, and a locking rod is provided on the side close to the shell, passing through the notch and resting on the adjustment block.

[0015] Preferably, an adjustment groove for assembling bolts is provided on the locking plate, and the adjustment groove at the position of the locking plate corresponding to the base is provided along the Y-axis direction.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] 1. The present invention utilizes multiple optical fiber flanges and branching devices to cooperate with each other to form multiple coupling channels, which can simultaneously connect multiple optical probes. By switching different channels, different optical probe signals can enter the spectrometer to achieve the purpose of quickly detecting sample information of different production lines.

[0018] 2. After installation, the optical fiber flange of the present invention can be fine-tuned on the X and Y axes by setting the adjustment device, so that the actual position of the optical fiber flange is calibrated with the theoretical position, effectively avoiding the occurrence of signal attenuation problems.

[0019] 3. The present invention realizes position adjustment of the parabolic mirror by arranging the Z-axis adjustment mechanism, realizes focal length adjustment by adjusting the distance between the parabolic mirror and the optical fiber flange, and thus ensures the transmission quality of the light beam between the optical fiber flange and the parabolic mirror. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the housing of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the optical fiber flange and the adjustment device of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the branching device of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4is an overall schematic diagram of the regulating device of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of the regulating device of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of the Y-axis adjustment mechanism of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of the base of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 8 It is a structural schematic diagram of a slider of the present invention.

[0028] Figure symbols: 1. Shell, 2. Branch device, 21. Z-axis adjustment mechanism, 211. Dovetail slide, 212. Dovetail slider, 213. Handle, 214. Fixed plate, 215. Control rod, 216. Tension spring, 22. Support arm, 23. Rotating shaft, 24. Rotating arm, 25. Driving mechanism, 26. Parabolic mirror, 27. Counterweight, 3. Fiber optic flange, 4. Adjustment device, 41. Y-axis adjustment mechanism, 411. Base, 412. Assembly groove, 413. Slider, 414. First adjustment rod, 415. Return spring, 42. X-axis adjustment mechanism, 421. Adjustment block, 422. Fixed groove, 423. Linear module, 424. Adjustment spring, 425. Second adjustment rod, 43. Avoidance hole, 44. Locking plate, 45. Adjustment groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments and drawings. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their description are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] like Figure 1-4 The fiber optic splitter shown supports three-axis fine adjustment and free selection, including a shell 1 and a splitter 2, as well as multiple adjustment devices 4 and a fiber optic flange 3 connected to the optical fiber. The multiple fiber optic flanges 3 cooperate with the splitter 2 to form multiple coupling channels, and multiple optical probes can be connected at the same time. By switching different channels, different optical probe signals can enter the spectrometer to achieve the purpose of quickly detecting sample information of different production lines.

[0032] Specifically, Figure 1 As shown, an output hole for optical signal output is provided at the center point of one end of the housing 1, and multiple input holes for optical signal input are evenly provided near the circumference of the output hole. Figure 2As shown, each output hole and input hole is equipped with an adjustment device 4 outside the housing 1, and the structure of the adjustment device 4 is as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, it includes a Y-axis adjustment mechanism 41, an X-axis adjustment mechanism 42 is provided on the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 41, the optical fiber flange 3 is provided on the X-axis adjustment mechanism 42, and both the X-axis adjustment mechanism 42 and the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 41 have a avoidance hole 43 for the optical signal to enter the output hole or the input hole; the structure of the branching device 2 is as shown Figure 3 As shown, it includes a Z-axis adjustment mechanism 21 arranged inside the shell 1, and a support arm 22 is provided on the Z-axis adjustment mechanism 21. A rotating shaft 23 is rotatably mounted on the support arm 22. One end of the rotating shaft 23 corresponding to the optical fiber flange 3 is connected to a rotating arm 24, and the other end is connected to a driving mechanism 25 mounted on the support arm 22. Parabolic mirrors 26 are provided at both ends of the rotating arm 24, and one of the parabolic mirrors 26 is always in the same straight line with the output hole, and the other parabolic mirror 26 is always in the same straight line with one of the input holes.

[0033] During specific implementation, multiple optical probes for collecting different sample information are connected one by one to multiple fiber optic flanges 3 located at the input hole through optical fibers. After being branched by the branching device 2, the sample information of one of the optical probes is transmitted from the fiber optic flange 3 located at the output hole to the spectrometer for detection by the optical fiber. Specifically, the light beam emitted by the optical fiber connected to the optical probe is irradiated on the parabolic mirror 26 that is always in the same line with the input hole through the avoidance hole 43, and is refracted onto the parabolic mirror 26 that is always in the same line with the output hole, and then the optical signal is input into the spectrometer for detection through the optical fiber through the output hole; the optical probe corresponding to the parabolic mirror 26 that is always in the same line with the input hole can be changed by driving the rotating arm 24 to rotate by the driving mechanism 25, and then the sample information collected by different optical probes can be selectively fed back to the spectrometer for detection, thereby achieving the purpose of quickly detecting sample information of different production lines.

[0034] In a specific application process, after the position of the optical fiber flange 3 is installed and fixed, the installation position of the optical fiber flange 3 can be fine-tuned through the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 41 and the X-axis adjustment mechanism 42 to calibrate the actual position of the optical fiber flange 3 with the theoretical position, thereby ensuring that the position of the received light beam coincides with the theoretical position, avoiding deviation of the light beam during transmission between the optical fiber flange 3 and the parabolic mirror 26, ensuring the coupling efficiency between different optical probes and the spectrometer, and preventing the occurrence of light signal attenuation due to coupling efficiency.

[0035] like Figure 4-8As shown, the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 41 includes a base 411 assembled on the shell 1, and a mounting groove 412 is provided on a side of the base 411 away from the shell 1, and the top of the mounting groove 412 and one of the adjacent sides are all through, and a slider 413 that can slide along the Y-axis is mounted in the mounting groove 412, and the mounting groove 412 is located on one side of the Y-axis and is screwed with a first adjustment rod 414 that is rotatably connected to the slider 413, and a plurality of return springs 415 connected to the slider 413 are provided, and the avoidance hole 43 on the Y-axis adjustment mechanism 41 is simultaneously provided on the mounting groove 412 and the slider 413, and the first adjustment rod 414 is rotated to push the slider 413 to move in a direction away from the return spring 415, and the return spring 415 is stretched in the process, and when the first adjustment rod 414 is rotated in the opposite direction, the force pushing the slider 413 disappears, and at this time the return spring 415 contracts to reset the first adjustment rod 414, thereby realizing the adjustment of the position of the slider 413 on the Y-axis.

[0036] The X-axis adjustment mechanism 42 includes an adjustment block 421 and a fixed groove 422 provided on the slider 413. The fixed groove 422 is through-connected on one side of the X-axis. The adjustment block 421 is assembled in the fixed groove 422 through a linear module 423 and can slide along the X-axis direction. A notch is provided on the top of the fixed groove 422, and the optical fiber flange 3 is assembled on the adjustment block 421 through the notch. The avoidance hole 43 on the X-axis adjustment mechanism 42 is provided on the slider 413. An adjustment spring 424 is connected between the portion of the adjustment block 421 away from the through-connected side of the fixed groove 422 and the side of the fixed groove 422 located on the Y-axis. The portion of the adjustment block 421 corresponding to the through-connected side of the fixed groove 422 is an inclined surface. The slider 413 is located on the through-connected side of the fixed groove 422. A second adjusting rod 425 is screwed on the top and rests on the inclined surface. The second adjusting rod 425 is rotated to move toward the bottom of the fixed groove 422. At this time, the second adjusting rod 425 is pressed against the inclined surface of the adjusting block 421. The second adjusting rod 425 continues to move toward the bottom of the fixed groove 422 to push the adjusting block 421 to move in the direction close to the adjusting spring 424. During this process, the adjusting spring 424 is compressed. When the second adjusting rod 425 is rotated in the opposite direction, the second adjusting rod 425 moves in the direction away from the bottom of the fixed groove 422. At this time, the compressed adjusting spring 424 pushes the adjusting block 421 to move in the direction of the principle adjusting spring 424 to achieve reset, thereby realizing the position adjustment of the adjusting block 421 on the X-axis.

[0037] In specific implementation, the position of the adjusting block 421 on the Y axis is changed by adjusting the position of the slider 413 on the Y axis, and the position of the optical fiber flange 3 on the X and Y axes can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the adjusting block 421 on the X axis.

[0038] As a preferred solution of the above embodiment, Figure 4As shown, the above-mentioned adjusting device 4 also includes a locking plate 44, which covers the base 411 and the slider 413 respectively and is connected into a whole by bolts. A channel for avoiding the optical fiber flange 3 is opened on the locking plate 44, and a locking rod passing through the notch and resting on the adjusting block 421 is provided on the side close to the shell 1, so as to realize the position locking of the slider 413 on the Y axis and the position locking of the adjusting block 421 on the X axis; in specific implementation, tightening the bolts can make the locking plate 44 press against the slider 413, and the locking rod presses against the adjusting block 421 so that the positions of the slider 413 and the adjusting block 421 are fixed and cannot be adjusted. When the positions of the slider 413 and the adjusting block 421 need to be adjusted, loosening the bolts can loosen the locking plate 44 and the slider 413, and the locking rod and the adjusting block 421 can be loosened.

[0039] Specifically, the locking plate 44 is provided with an adjustment groove 45 for assembling bolts, and the adjustment groove 45 of the locking plate 44 corresponding to the base 411 is opened along the Y-axis direction. When the slider 413 is adjusted on the Y-axis, the adjustment groove 45 opened along the Y-axis direction allows the locking plate 44 to be adjusted along the Y-axis, so that the position of the locking rod can also move with the movement of the adjustment block 421, so that the bolt corresponding to the adjustment block 421 always corresponds to the adjustment block 421.

[0040] As a preferred solution of the above embodiment, the driving mechanism 25 has a power output shaft, and the power output shaft is detachably connected to the rotating shaft 23 via a coupling.

[0041] As a preferred solution of the above embodiment, Figure 3As shown, the Z-axis adjustment mechanism 21 includes a dovetail groove 211 which is mounted on the housing 1 and is through, and a dovetail slider 212 which can be moved along the Z-axis direction is slidably connected to the dovetail groove 211, and the support arm 22 is fixed to the dovetail slider 212; the Z-axis adjustment mechanism 21 also includes a handle 213 and a fixing plate 214 which is mounted on the housing 1 near the through end of the dovetail groove 211, and a control rod 215 which is screwed on the fixing plate 214 and abuts against the dovetail slider 212, the handle 213 is arranged on the fixing plate 214 and is connected to the control rod 215, and along the movable direction of the dovetail slider 212, the groove wall of the dovetail groove 211 and the dovetail slider 212 are in contact with each other. A tensioning spring 216 is connected between them, and the control rod 215 can be driven to approach or move away from the dovetail slider 212 by rotating the handle 213. When the control rod 215 continues to approach the dovetail slider 212, it will push the dovetail slider 212 to move and thus compress the tensioning spring 216. When the control rod 215 moves away from the dovetail slider 212, the compressed tensioning spring 216 is reset, thereby pushing the dovetail slider 212 to reset. During the movement of the dovetail slider 212, it drives the support arm 22 to move, thereby changing the distance between the parabolic mirror 26 and the optical fiber flange 3, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the focal length of the parabolic mirror 26, thereby ensuring the transmission quality of the light beam between the optical fiber flange 3 and the parabolic mirror 26.

[0042] As a preferred solution of the above embodiment, a counterweight 27 is provided at one end of the rotating arm 24 for assembling a parabolic mirror 26 which is in the same straight line as the output hole, so as to balance the mass of the rotating arm 24 at both ends during the rotation process, so that the rotating arm 24 rotates smoothly.

[0043] Of course, the present invention may have many other embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, technicians familiar with the field may make various corresponding changes and modifications based on the present invention, but these corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the scope of protection of the claims attached to the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating, characterized in that: It comprises a housing (1) and a branching device (2), as well as a plurality of adjustment devices (4) and an optical fiber flange (3) connected to the optical fiber; An output hole for optical signal output is provided at the center point of one end of the housing (1), and a plurality of input holes for optical signal input are evenly provided at a position close to the circumference of the output hole, and each of the output hole and the input hole is equipped with the adjustment device (4) located outside the housing (1), the adjustment device (4) comprises a Y-axis adjustment mechanism (41), the Y-axis adjustment mechanism (41) is provided with an X-axis adjustment mechanism (42), the optical fiber flange (3) is provided on the X-axis adjustment mechanism (42), and both the X-axis adjustment mechanism (42) and the Y-axis adjustment mechanism (41) have avoidance holes (43) for optical signals to enter the output hole or the input hole; The branching device (2) comprises a Z-axis adjustment mechanism (21) arranged inside the housing (1); a support arm (22) is provided on the Z-axis adjustment mechanism (21); a rotating shaft (23) is rotatably mounted on the support arm (22); one end of the rotating shaft (23) corresponding to the optical fiber flange (3) is connected to a rotating arm (24), and the other end is connected to a driving mechanism (25) mounted on the support arm (22); both ends of the rotating arm (24) are provided with parabolic mirrors (26), and one of the parabolic mirrors (26) is always in the same straight line with the output hole, and the other parabolic mirror (26) is always in the same straight line with one of the input holes.

2. The optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving mechanism (25) has a power output shaft, and the power output shaft is detachably connected to the rotating shaft (23) via a coupling.

3. The optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Z-axis adjustment mechanism (21) comprises a dovetail slide groove (211) which is mounted on the housing (1) and is through-connected, a dovetail slider (212) which is slidably connected to the dovetail slide groove (211) and is movable along the Z-axis direction, and the support arm (22) is fixed on the dovetail slider (212); The Z-axis adjustment mechanism (21) further comprises a handle (213) and a fixing plate (214) mounted on the housing (1) near the through end of the dovetail slide groove (211); a control rod (215) is screwed onto the fixing plate (214) and abuts against the dovetail slide block (212); the handle (213) is arranged on the fixing plate (214) and connected to the control rod (215).

4. The optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating according to claim 3, characterized in that: Along the movable direction of the dovetail slider (212), a tension spring (216) is connected between the groove wall of the dovetail sliding groove (211) and the dovetail slider (212).

5. The optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating arm (24) is used to assemble a parabolic mirror (26) which is in the same straight line as the output hole, and one end of the rotating arm (24) is provided with a counterweight (27).

6. The optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Y-axis adjustment mechanism (41) comprises a base (411) mounted on the shell (1); a mounting groove (412) is provided on a side of the base (411) away from the shell (1); the top of the mounting groove (412) and one of the adjacent sides are through-connected; a slider (413) slidable along the Y-axis is mounted in the mounting groove (412); a first adjustment rod (414) rotatably connected to the slider (413) is screwed on one side of the mounting groove (412) located on the Y-axis; and a plurality of return springs (415) connected to the slider (413) are provided; and the avoidance hole (43) on the Y-axis adjustment mechanism (41) is simultaneously provided on the mounting groove (412) and the slider (413).

7. The optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating according to claim 6, characterized in that: The X-axis adjustment mechanism (42) comprises an adjustment block (421) and a fixing groove (422) provided on the slider (413); the fixing groove (422) is through-connected on one side corresponding to the X-axis; the adjustment block (421) is assembled in the fixing groove (422) through a linear module (423) and is slidable along the X-axis direction; a notch is provided at the top of the fixing groove (422), and the optical fiber flange (3) is assembled on the adjustment block (421) through the notch; and the avoidance hole (43) on the X-axis adjustment mechanism (42) is provided on the slider (413); An adjusting spring (424) is connected between a portion of the adjusting block (421) away from the through-side of the fixing slot (422) and a side of the fixing slot (422) located on the Y-axis; a portion of the adjusting block (421) corresponding to the through-side of the fixing slot (422) is an inclined surface; and a second adjusting rod (425) is screwed on the upper side of the through-side of the fixing slot (422) and rests against the inclined surface.

8. The optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating according to claim 7, characterized in that: The adjusting device (4) further comprises a locking plate (44), wherein the locking plate (44) covers the base (411) and the slider (413) respectively and is connected into a whole by bolts, wherein the locking plate (44) is provided with a passage for avoiding the optical fiber flange (3), and a locking rod is provided on a side close to the housing (1) and passes through the notch and abuts against the adjusting block (421).

9. The optical fiber splitter supporting three-axis fine adjustment and free gating according to claim 8, characterized in that: The locking plate (44) is provided with an adjustment groove (45) for assembling the bolt, and the adjustment groove (45) at the position of the locking plate (44) corresponding to the base (411) is provided along the Y-axis direction.

Images