Measuring device

Abstract

To provide a measuring device in which there is little possibility of detection accuracy being deteriorated.SOLUTION: A measuring device includes: an optical module including an optical system for executing measurement by radiating or detecting light through the optical system; a light guide member one end of which is opposed to the optical system for emitting light made incident on the one end toward a measurement object part from the other end opposite to the one end whose optical axis is different from that of the one end, and emitting the light radiated from the measurement object part and made incident on the other end toward the optical system from the one end; a nose for holding the light guide member in a predetermined shape; a support member for supporting the nose so that the nose becomes rotatable together with the light guide member in a state that the one end of the light guide member is opposed to the optical system; and measurement control means for making the measurement possible only when a rotation angle with respect to the support member of the nose is a predetermined angle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a measurement device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for a laser handpiece for dental treatment in which the head case is rotated to allow the direction of the tip that emits laser light to be fixed at a predetermined position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Jikko No. 61-39453 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The laser handpiece described in Patent Document 1 may emit laser light even when the head is not attached. If the rotation mechanism described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a measuring device for detecting plaque, excitation light may be emitted even when the head is not attached and the orientation is unstable, resulting in the acquisition of unnecessary measurement data and a decrease in detection accuracy.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a measurement device that suppresses a decrease in detection accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an optical module that includes an optical system and performs measurement by irradiating or detecting light via the optical system; a light-guiding member that has one end facing the optical system and that emits light incident on one end from the other end that is opposite to the one end and has an optical axis different from that of the one end toward a measurement object, and that emits light that is emitted from the measurement object and enters the other end from the one end toward the optical system; a nose that holds the light-guiding member in a predetermined shape; a support member that supports the nose so that the nose can rotate together with the light-guiding member when one end of the light-guiding member faces the optical system; and measurement control means that enables measurement only when the rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is a predetermined angle.

[0007] It is also preferable that the optical system has at least a lens, and that when the rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is a predetermined angle, one end is positioned at a fixed distance from the lens.

[0008] It is also preferable that the measurement control means has a switch that accepts operation by the user, and performs measurement in response to the switch accepting the operation by the user only when the rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is a predetermined angle.

[0009] It is also preferable that the measurement control means further includes a sensor that detects whether the rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is a predetermined angle and outputs a detection signal indicating whether the rotation angle is the predetermined angle, and a control unit that receives the detection signal and, when the detection signal indicates that the rotation angle is the predetermined angle, executes measurement in response to the switch accepting a user operation.

[0010] It is also preferable that the measurement control means further has a pair of cam surfaces formed on the support member and the nose so as to change the positional relationship between one end of the light-guiding member and the optical system depending on whether the rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is a predetermined angle, the sensor detects whether the pair of cam surfaces are engaged, and the control unit performs measurement in response to the switch accepting a user operation when a detection signal indicates that the pair of cam surfaces have engaged.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferable that the measurement control means further has a plurality of permanent magnets arranged on a nose-facing surface, which is a flat surface formed on the nose, and a plurality of ferromagnetic bodies arranged on a support-member-facing surface formed on the support member and arranged opposite the nose-facing surface, the sensor detects whether the plurality of permanent magnets are arranged in positions facing the plurality of ferromagnetic bodies, and the control unit performs measurement in response to the switch receiving a user operation when the detection signal indicates that the plurality of permanent magnets are arranged in positions facing the plurality of ferromagnetic bodies.

[0012] The predetermined shape is preferably a shape in which the other end of the light guide member faces in a direction different from the optical axis of the optical system.

[0013] Furthermore, it is preferable that the support member supports the nose so that the optical axis of the optical system coincides with the optical axis of the light guide member when the rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is a predetermined angle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The measuring device according to the present invention can suppress a decrease in detection accuracy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a measurement device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the measurement device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a nose and a housing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 5A to 5C are schematic side views for explaining the rotational operation of the nose according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a measurement device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the measurement device shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7]6A is a plan view of a through hole formed in a housing of the optical module shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of a protruding portion of a nose of the measuring device shown in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Please note that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but extends to the inventions set forth in the claims and their equivalents.

[0017] 1 is a perspective view of a first measurement device 1. The measurement device 1 irradiates a fluorescent substance, which is an object to be measured, with excitation light and detects the fluorescence emitted from the excited fluorescent substance to detect the object to be measured. The measurement device 1 has an optical module 2 and a nose 3.

[0018] 2 is a functional block diagram of the measurement device 1. The optical module 2 has a sensor 22, an optical system 23, an optical splitter 24, a light source 25, a photodetector 26, a switch 27, and a control unit 28. The sensor 22, the optical system 23, the optical splitter 24, the light source 25, the photodetector 26, and the control unit 28 are housed in a housing 21, and the switch 27 is disposed on the outer surface of the housing 21.

[0019] 2, the light guide member 37 is bent along the nose 3 and held by the nose 3 in a shape such that the other end 37b faces in a different direction from the one end 37a. The nose 3 is bent at a bending portion 38 at a substantially right angle, and has a curved shape on the optical module 2 side relative to the bending portion 38, and is connected to and supported by the optical module 2.

[0020] The sensor 22 is a position sensor that detects changes in an object that the sensor 22 faces, and examples thereof include a pressure sensor, a pressure sensor, a contact sensor, an air pressure sensor, an illuminance sensor, and a displacement sensor. In the first embodiment, the sensor 22 is a pressure sensor that is disposed on the end face of the housing 21 so as to face the facing surface 34 of the nose 3, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the position of the facing surface 34 of the nose 3 to the control unit 28.

[0021] When the rotation angle of the nose 3 relative to the housing 21 is a predetermined angle and the opposing surface 34 of the nose 3 presses against the sensor 22, the sensor 22 outputs a detection signal indicating that the rotation angle is the predetermined angle. When the rotation angle of the nose 3 relative to the housing 21 is not the predetermined angle and the opposing surface 34 of the nose 3 does not press against the sensor 22, the sensor 22 outputs a detection signal indicating that the rotation angle is not the predetermined angle.

[0022] The optical system 23 is disposed between the optical splitter 24 and the nose 3, and optically connects the optical splitter 24 and the light-guiding member 37 of the nose 3. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the optical system 23 includes one lens. The optical system 23 may include multiple lenses and other optical members. The optical axis of the lens in the optical system 23 is disposed to coincide with the axis AX of the housing 21 and coincides with the optical axis of the light-guiding member 37.

[0023] The optical splitter 24 guides the excitation light to the optical system 23, and also guides the fluorescence received via the optical system 23 to the photodetector 26. For example, the optical splitter 24 is a dichroic mirror or a beam splitter.

[0024] Light source 25 is an excitation light source of a specific wavelength that emits excitation light for causing fluorescence in an object that is a measurement target of measurement device 1. For example, light source 25 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or an LD (Laser Diode).

[0025] The photodetector 26 detects light received from the outside and outputs a signal corresponding to the wavelength and intensity of the light. In this embodiment, the photodetector 26 detects fluorescent light incident via the light-guiding member 37. For example, the photodetector 26 is a photodiode.

[0026] Switch 27 outputs a signal according to a user's operation to control unit 28. For example, switch 27 is a button switch that accepts a press operation. Switch 27 may also be another type of switch, such as a rocker switch or a slide switch.

[0027] The control unit 28 controls the operation of the optical module 2. For example, the control unit 28 includes a control circuit such as a memory and an MCU (Micro Controller Unit). The control circuit operates according to a program stored in the memory. When the control unit 28 determines, based on a detection signal from the sensor 22, that the rotation angle of the nose 3 is a predetermined angle with respect to the housing 21 and, based on an output signal from the switch 27, that a measurement operation is being performed by the user, the control unit 28 drives the light source 25 and the photodetector 26 to perform measurement.

[0028] The light-guiding member 37 is disposed such that one end 37a on the protrusion 33 side faces the optical system 23 and the optical axis at the one end 37a overlaps the optical axis of the optical system 23, and guides the excitation light and fluorescence between the optical system 23 and the measurement object. The light-guiding member 37 emits the excitation light incident on the one end 37a from the other end 37b on the tip 31 side toward the measurement object, and emits the fluorescence emitted from the measurement object and incident on the other end 37b from the one end 37a toward the optical system 23. The light-guiding member 37 is, for example, an optical fiber such as a POF (Plastic Optical Fiber).

[0029] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the measurement device 1, with an enlarged view of the connection portion between the optical module 2 and the nose 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 21 of the optical module 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The nose 3 is provided with a flange 32 and a protruding portion 33 that protrudes from the flange 32 toward the housing 21. The protruding portion 33 is inserted into the housing 21 and connected to an elastic body that is arranged inside the housing 21 at a position such as a position where it contacts the bottom surface of the protruding portion 33. The protruding portion 33 is biased by an elastic body (not shown) in the direction D1 of the housing 21, whereby the nose 3 is connected to and supported by the housing 21. The housing 21 is an example of a support member.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the end face 211 of the housing 21 on the nose 3 side is formed in a stepped shape by alternating inclined surfaces 212 whose height (referring to the vertical position in FIG. 2) changes continuously along the periphery and stepped surfaces 213, which are flat surfaces that stand upright in the height direction and connect adjacent inclined surfaces 212. In the example shown in FIG. 3, four stepped surfaces 213 are provided at 90-degree intervals as viewed from the axis AX of the housing 21, each having a predetermined height h from the lowest point 212a of the inclined surface 212. The end face 211 of the housing 21 and the opposing surface 34 of the nose 3 form a pair of cam surfaces that can engage with each other. The opposing surface 34 of the flange 32 of the nose 3, which faces the housing 21, is formed in a shape complementary to the end face 211 by alternating inclined surfaces 35 whose height changes continuously along the periphery and stepped surfaces 36 that extend in the height direction. This allows the nose 3 to be rotatably supported in direction D2 around the axis AX of the housing 21.

[0031] The sensor 22 is disposed at a position where the angle θ formed between the direction of the sensor 22 and the direction of the lowest point 212a of the inclined surface 212 as viewed from the axis AX is smaller than the angle formed between the directions of two adjacent step surfaces 213 as viewed from the axis AX (90 degrees in the example shown in FIG. 2). It is desirable that the angle θ be equal to or smaller than half the angle formed between the directions of the two adjacent step surfaces 213. In other words, the sensor 22 is disposed at a low position on the inclined surface 212.

[0032] 4(A) to 4(C) are schematic side views for explaining the rotational movement of the nose 3. In Fig. 4(A) to 4(C), symbols (Arabic numerals "1," "2," and "3") are attached to predetermined positions on the flange 32 to make it easy to distinguish the rotation angle of the nose 3.

[0033] 4(A) is a diagram showing a state in which the housing 21 and the nose 3 are engaged. The state in which the housing 21 and the nose 3 are engaged refers to a state in which the step surface 213 of the housing 21 and the step surface 36 of the nose 3 are in contact with each other. As described above, the nose 3 is biased in the direction D1 of the housing 21, and therefore, when the housing 21 and the nose 3 are engaged, the sensor 22 is pressed down by the inclined surface 35 of the nose 3.

[0034] 4(B) is a diagram showing a state in which the nose 3 has been rotated 45 degrees in direction D2 from the state shown in FIG. 4(A). In the state shown in FIG. 4(B), the rotation angle of the nose 3 relative to the housing 21, 45 degrees, is greater than the angle θ (see FIG. 3), and therefore the sensor 22 is not pressed down. Furthermore, the nose 3 is pushed up as it rotates in direction D2, thereby changing its height relative to the housing 21. In the example shown in FIG. 4(B), the height of the nose 3 is increased by half the height h (see FIG. 3) of the step surface 213. In other words, the positional relationship between the nose 3 and the housing 21 changes depending on the rotation angle of the nose 3.

[0035] Fig. 4(C) is a diagram showing a state in which nose 3 is rotated another 45 degrees in direction D2 from the state shown in Fig. 4(B). In the state shown in Fig. 4(C), similar to the state shown in Fig. 3(A), housing 21 and nose 3 are engaged, and sensor 22 is pressed down by inclined surface 35 of nose 3.

[0036] Sensor 22 is pressed down by nose 3 only when housing 21 and nose 3 are engaged, or when the rotation angle of nose 3 from the state in which housing 21 and nose 3 are engaged is equal to or less than angle θ (see FIG. 3 ), and therefore can detect whether the rotation angle of nose 3 relative to housing 21 is a predetermined angle. When the pair of cam surfaces are engaged, sensor 22 outputs a detection signal indicating that the rotation angle is the predetermined angle to control unit 28. Sensor 22, together with end surface 211, switch 27, and control unit 28, forms measurement control means that enables measurement only when the rotation angle of nose 3 relative to housing 21 is the predetermined angle and one end of light-guiding member 37 is located at a certain distance from the focal point of the lens in optical system 23.

[0037] When the housing 21 and the nose 3 are engaged, the light-guiding member 37 is positioned so that one end 37a facing the optical system 23 is located at a fixed distance from the focal point of the lens of the optical system 23, making it possible to collect the excitation light and the fluorescence from the object to be measured without any leakage, thereby preventing a decrease in measurement accuracy.

[0038] Furthermore, when the housing 21 and the nose 3 are not engaged with each other, the sensor 22 outputs to the control unit 28 a detection signal indicating that the rotation angle is not the predetermined angle.

[0039] In the measurement device 1, measurement is performed while the sensor 22 detects the pressing force from the nose 3 and the switch 27 is operated. However, this is not a limitation, and the switch 27 may accept an operation only while the sensor 22 detects the pressing force from the nose 3. For example, the switch 27 may be configured to be pressable only while the sensor 22 detects the pressing force from the nose 3. This allows the user to easily understand that the rotation angle of the nose 3 with respect to the housing 21 is not a predetermined angle, enabling more stable measurement. Furthermore, the optical module 2 may have a notification unit that notifies the user by light or sound that the sensor 22 is detecting the pressing force from the nose 3.

[0040] In the measuring device 1, the end surface 211 of the housing 21 and the opposing surface 34 of the nose 3 are cam surfaces. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the end surface 211 and the opposing surface 34 may have other shapes that engage with each other depending on the rotation angle of the nose 3 relative to the housing 21. In this case, the end surface 211 and the opposing surface 34 do not need to change the positional relationship between the light guiding member 37 and the optical system 23 depending on the rotation angle of the nose 3.

[0041] 5 is a perspective view of a measurement device 1a according to a second embodiment. Similar to the measurement device 1, the measurement device 1a irradiates excitation light onto a fluorescent substance, which is an object to be measured, via a tip 31, and detects fluorescence emitted from the excited fluorescent substance to sense the object to be measured. The measurement device 1a has an optical module 2a and a nose 3a that have the same functions as the optical module 2 and the nose 3, respectively.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of measurement device 1a, FIG. 7(A) is a plan view of a through hole formed in housing 2a, and FIG. 7(B) is a plan view of protrusion 33 of nose 3a. Optical module 2a differs from optical module 2 in that it has four ferromagnetic bodies 21a. Optical module 2a also differs from optical module 2 in that it has sensor 22a and controller 28a instead of sensor 22 and controller 28. Nose 3a differs from nose 3 in that it has permanent magnet 35a. The configurations and functions of the components of optical module 2a and nose 3a other than ferromagnetic bodies 21a, sensor 22a, controller 28a, and four permanent magnets 35a are the same as the configurations and functions of the components of optical module 2 and nose 3 with the same reference numerals, and therefore will not be described in detail here. In the measurement device 1a, the module-facing surface 21b of the optical module 2a and the nose-facing surface 34a of the nose 3a are joined together, thereby engaging the housing 21a with the nose 3a.

[0043] When the magnetic field corresponding to the detection signal input from the sensor 22a is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 28a determines that the four permanent magnets 35a are arranged to face the four ferromagnetic bodies 21a and that the rotation angle is a predetermined angle. On the other hand, when the magnetic field corresponding to the detection signal input from the sensor 22a is less than the predetermined threshold, the control unit 28a determines that the four permanent magnets 35a are not arranged to face the four ferromagnetic bodies 21a and that the rotation angle is not a predetermined angle.

[0044] The control unit 28a drives the light source 25 and the photodetector 26 to perform measurement while the magnetic field corresponding to the detection signal input from the sensor 22a is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold and the switch 27 is operated.

[0045] In FIG. 7A, the four ferromagnetic bodies 21a are made of a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, or cobalt, and are rectangular planar plates. The four ferromagnetic bodies 21a are arranged on the flat module-facing surface 21b so as to be shifted by 90 degrees around the axis AX. The four ferromagnetic bodies 21a are arranged so as to form the same plane as the module-facing surface 21b, which is arranged to face the nose-facing surface 34a. The four permanent magnets 35a are arranged on the flat nose-facing surface 34a so as to be shifted by 90 degrees around the axis AX. The four permanent magnets 35a are arranged so as to form the same plane as the nose-facing surface 34a. In the measurement device 1a, the module-facing surface 21b of the optical module 2a and the nose-facing surface 34a of the nose 3a are joined together by the attractive forces between the four ferromagnetic bodies 21a and the four permanent magnets 35a.

[0046] The sensor 22a is a magnetic sensor such as a Hall element, and is a single element embedded in the module-facing surface 21b so as to be covered by one of the four ferromagnetic bodies 21a. The sensor 22a detects the applied magnetic field and outputs a detection signal indicating the detected magnetic field to the control unit 28a.

[0047] As described above, the housings 21 of the measuring devices 1 and 2 support the nose 3 so that the nose 3 can rotate together with the light-guiding member 37, and perform measurement in response to user operation only when the rotation angle of the nose 3 relative to the housing 21 is a predetermined angle. This reduces the risk of a decrease in detection accuracy and enables stable measurement.

[0048] In the above-described embodiments, the optical modules 2 and 2a have both the light source 25 and the photodetector 26, but they may have only one of the light source 25 and the photodetector 26. In this case, the optical module 2 does not need to have the optical splitter 24.

[0049] In the above-described embodiment, the measuring devices 1 and 1a have the control units 28 and 28a inside the housing 21, but the control units 28 and 28a do not have to be inside the housing 21. For example, the control units 28 and 28a may be external information processing devices.

[0050] In the above-described embodiment, the measurement devices 1 and 1a2 irradiate a fluorescent substance with excitation light and detect fluorescence emitted from the excited fluorescent substance. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the measurement devices 1 and 1a may be used to irradiate or detect light for other purposes.

[0051] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the above-described embodiments and modifications may be appropriately combined within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1, 1a Measuring equipment 2, 2a Optical Module 21. Cabinet 22, 22a Sensor 23 Optical system 27 Switch 28, 28a Control section 3, 3a Nose 37 Light guide member

Claims

1. an optical module that transmits and receives light via an optical system and performs measurement to detect a measurement object; a light guiding member having one end facing the optical system, emitting light incident on the one end from the other end opposite the one end and having an optical axis different from that of the one end toward the measurement object, and emitting light emitted from the measurement object and incident on the other end from the one end toward the optical system; a nose for holding the light guide member in a predetermined shape; a support member that supports the nose so that the nose can rotate together with the light guiding member in a state where one end of the light guiding member faces the lens; a measurement control means for enabling the measurement only when the rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is a predetermined angle; A measuring device having:

2. The optical system includes at least a lens, The measuring device according to claim 1 , wherein the one end is positioned at a constant distance from the lens when the rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is a predetermined angle.

3. the measurement control means has a switch that accepts operation by a user, and performing the measurement in response to the switch accepting an operation by a user only when the rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is the predetermined angle. The measuring device according to claim 1 .

4. The measurement control means a sensor that detects whether a rotation angle of the nose relative to the support member is the predetermined angle and outputs a detection signal indicating whether the rotation angle is the predetermined angle; a control unit that executes the measurement in response to the switch accepting an operation by a user when the detection signal is input and the detection signal indicates that the rotation angle is the predetermined angle; The measurement device of claim 3 further comprising:

5. the measurement control means further has a pair of cam surfaces formed on the support member and the nose so as to change a positional relationship between one end of the light guiding member and the optical system depending on whether a rotation angle of the nose with respect to the support member is the predetermined angle, the sensor detects whether the pair of cam surfaces are engaged; The measuring device according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit performs the measurement in response to the switch accepting an operation by a user when the detection signal indicates that the pair of cam surfaces have engaged.

6. The measurement control means a plurality of permanent magnets arranged on a nose-opposing surface, which is a flat surface formed on the nose; a plurality of ferromagnetic bodies formed on the support member and arranged on a support member opposing surface that is arranged to face the nose opposing surface, the sensor detects whether the plurality of permanent magnets are disposed at positions facing the plurality of ferromagnetic bodies; the control unit performs the measurement in response to a user's operation being received by the switch when the detection signal indicates that the plurality of permanent magnets have been placed at positions facing the plurality of ferromagnetic bodies.

5. The measuring device according to claim 4.

7. The predetermined shape is a shape in which the other end of the light guiding member is oriented in a direction different from the optical axis of the optical system. The measuring device according to claim 1 .

8. the support member supports the nose such that an optical axis of the optical system coincides with an optical axis of the light guide member when a rotation angle of the nose with respect to the support member is a predetermined angle. The measuring device according to claim 1 .

Images