JP2000098191A - Semiconductor laser beam source device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a semiconductor laser beam source device which efficiently makes the laser beams from a two-dimensionally arrayed semiconductor laser array incident on optical fibers and outputs these laser beams. SOLUTION: The semiconductor laser beam source device of high output, which collimates the laser beams emitted from the stack type semiconductor laser array 1 having N0×M0 pieces of light emitting points 1101.1 to 110N0.M0 arrayed to a matrix form by a collimating lens array 3, further, condenses these laser beam with respect to both directions of a perpendicular direction and a horizontal direction by a condensing lens array 4, condenses the laser beam to make the laser beams incident on the incident ends arrayed to the matrix form of an optical fiber array 2 having N×M pieces, where N<N0 and M<M0, of optical fibers 2101.1 to 210N.M and forms the optical fibers as a bundle, thereby efficiently captures the laser beams, may be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser light source device for collimating and condensing light from a semiconductor laser array and outputting the light through an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical fiber is used to efficiently output and transmit a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser. At this time, the coupling efficiency between the semiconductor laser and the optical fiber becomes a problem. In general, the emission parameter of a semiconductor laser is different from the incidence parameter of an optical fiber. To increase the coupling efficiency, a method of installing a lens system between the semiconductor laser and the optical fiber is used. ing.

In particular, for example, when a semiconductor laser is used as an excitation light source for a solid-state laser, it is essential to increase the output of laser light used for excitation. However, in order to achieve higher output, a semiconductor laser array consisting of a plurality of light-emitting points and laser light emitted from each light-emitting point of such a semiconductor laser array are converted into an optical fiber. It is necessary to realize a lens array that efficiently enters the lens.

As one applicable to such a semiconductor laser array, there is, for example, a lens array disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-284401. This lens array is composed of, for example, three vertical and horizontal cylindrical lenses arranged in such a manner that adjacent cylindrical lenses are orthogonal to each other without using a spherical lens for a single semiconductor laser. Is performed. In particular, when a semiconductor laser array is used, it is difficult to efficiently form a spherical lens into an array. On the other hand, a lens system using a cylindrical lens having such a configuration includes three cylindrical lenses each having a semiconductor lens. By using a three-layered cylindrical lens array composed of a plurality of cylindrical lenses with the vertical and horizontal directions of the light emitting point array of the laser array being the array direction, it can be applied similarly to the case of a single semiconductor laser.

Further, there is a lens array used in a solid-state laser device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-104516. In this apparatus, a distributed refractive index lens array for collimating laser light emitted from each light emitting point with respect to an integrated array type semiconductor laser in which a plurality of light emitting points by a multi-stripe are arranged one-dimensionally. When,
A lens array including a condensing lens for collectively condensing laser beams from a plurality of collimated light emitting points on an end face of a solid-state laser element is used. It also describes a method of interposing a single optical fiber as an optical transmission means between the lens array and the solid-state laser element.

[0006]

In order to further increase the output of a semiconductor laser and expand its use and application range, it is necessary to use
A two-dimensionally arranged semiconductor laser array, i.e., one in which a plurality of semiconductor lasers or a plurality of array-type semiconductor lasers are arranged, and laser light emitted from a plurality of light emitting points of such a two-dimensionally arranged semiconductor laser array. A lens array capable of efficiently collimating and condensing light and entering the optical fiber is indispensable.

However, in the lens array disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-284401, the structure of the cylindrical lens array corresponds to the structure of the light emitting points of the semiconductor laser array. The collimator performs collimation and makes the same number of optical fibers as the number of light emitting points of the semiconductor laser array installed for each, and has the function of condensing laser light from multiple light emitting points onto one optical fiber. I do not have. Furthermore, the number of cylindrical lenses used is large, and there is a problem in the assembling process and assembling accuracy.

In the lens array disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-104516, laser light from all light-emitting points is condensed and incident on a single optical fiber for a one-dimensionally arranged semiconductor laser array. However, if the semiconductor laser array is made two-dimensional, it is extremely difficult to efficiently converge and enter the laser light from all of the light emitting points into a single optical fiber, and the lens array and the like are also complicated. It becomes something.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described problems. An optical fiber for efficiently collimating and condensing laser light from a semiconductor laser array having a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged light emitting points. It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-output semiconductor laser light source device which can be incident on a laser beam and output to the outside.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a semiconductor laser light source device according to the present invention comprises a semiconductor laser array having a plurality of light emitting points and light emitted from each light emitting point of the semiconductor laser array. A semiconductor laser light source device comprising: an optical fiber array comprising an optical fiber through which laser light is incident and output to the outside; and a lens array for collimating or condensing the laser light onto the optical fiber of the optical fiber array, Semiconductor laser arrays
A plurality of semiconductor lasers or a plurality of array-type semiconductor lasers are stacked and arranged to form a stacked semiconductor laser array having a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged light emitting points. The optical fiber array has a plurality of light emitting points. Composed of a smaller number of optical fibers,
Each of the incident ends is composed of an incident portion in which a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array is arranged, and a bundle portion in which a plurality of optical fibers are bundled. The lens array has a two-dimensional array of a plurality of light emitting points.
For at least one direction, vertical or horizontal,
A collimating lens array configured to collimate laser light, and a condensing lens configured to collect laser light in both vertical and horizontal directions of a two-dimensional array of a plurality of light emitting points. And an array.

A stacked semiconductor laser array is
N0 rows (N0 is an integer of 2 or more) of light emitting points in the vertical direction,
A plurality of N0 × M0 light-emitting points are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix having light-emitting point arrays of M0 rows (M0 is an integer of 2 or more) in the horizontal direction. <N0 and M <M0 where N rows (N is an integer of 1 or more) in the vertical direction and M columns (M is an integer of 1 or more, where at least one of N or M is 2 or more) (Integer), a plurality of N × M optical fibers, each of which is one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally arranged at the incident part, in a matrix having an incident end row of (integer). N0 of stack type semiconductor laser array
The plurality of × M0 light emitting points are divided into N × M light emitting areas two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix having N light emitting area rows in the vertical direction and M light emitting area columns in the horizontal direction. , A laser beam from a light emitting point included in each light emitting region,
It is characterized in that it is configured to condense light to the incident end of the corresponding optical fiber among the N × M optical fibers.

A stacked semiconductor laser array formed by stacking a plurality of semiconductor lasers having a single light emitting point or an array type semiconductor laser having a plurality of light emitting points and two-dimensionally arranging the semiconductor laser. Using an optical fiber array consisting of a smaller number of optical fibers than the number of light emitting points of the stacked semiconductor laser array, the collimating lens array and the condensing raise array are used to collimate the laser light toward the entrance of the optical fiber array.
A high-power semiconductor laser light source device capable of efficiently outputting laser light from a two-dimensional array of light emitting points by condensing and bundling an optical fiber on which laser light is incident in a bundle unit. be able to.

In particular, light is condensed by a converging lens array in both vertical and horizontal directions from a two-dimensional array of light emitting points of a stacked semiconductor laser array to a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of optical fiber arrays. ,
The efficiency of the light collection is increased, and the number of components such as the lens and the optical fiber of the light source device is reduced, so that the manufacturing can be facilitated. Note that condensing here means converging laser beams from a plurality of light emitting points to one point.

In such a light source device, for example, each light-emitting point of a stacked semiconductor laser array and the incident end of each optical fiber of an optical fiber array are arranged in a matrix, and a condensing lens corresponding to the arrangement. This can be achieved by configuring an array.

A stacked semiconductor laser array having a plurality of light emitting points in a matrix used in the above-mentioned apparatus is, for example, an array type semiconductor laser having M0 light emitting points in the horizontal direction and N0 in the vertical direction. It is preferable to configure them in a stack and arrangement. Also, N1 in the vertical direction
A semiconductor laser or an array type semiconductor laser having N1 × M1 light emitting points two-dimensionally arranged in rows (N1 is an integer of 1 or more) and M1 columns (M1 is an integer of 1 or more) in the horizontal direction is vertically aligned. N2 where N1 × N2 = N0 (N2 is an integer of 1 or more), M in the horizontal direction where M1 × M2 = M0
Two (M2 is an integer of 1 or more; however, at least one of N2 and M2 is an integer of 2 or more) stacks and arrangements may be adopted.

The condensing lens array condenses, for example, single or plural laser beams from the light emitting points included in the N light emitting region rows arranged in the vertical direction to the N incident end rows. A vertical condenser lens array comprising a condenser lens,
A horizontal condensing lens array comprising a single or a plurality of condensing lenses for condensing laser light from the light emitting points included in the M light emitting region rows arranged in the horizontal direction to the M light incident end rows, respectively; , And two arrays. Further, laser beams from the light emitting points included in the N rows of light emitting regions arranged in the vertical direction are condensed to the N incident end rows, respectively, and the M light emitting regions arranged in the horizontal direction are arranged. It may be configured to have one array of a two-way condensing lens array composed of a plurality of condensing lenses for condensing the laser beams from the light emitting points included in the rows to the M rows of incident end rows. .

As described above, by forming the condensing lens array from the vertical condensing lens array and the horizontal condensing lens array, or the two-way condensing lens array, the light condensing in the above two directions can be realized. Can be.

The collimating lens array is a vertical collimating lens array comprising a plurality of collimating lenses for vertically collimating the laser light from the light emitting points included in the N0 light emitting points arranged in the vertical direction. It can be configured to have.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a semiconductor laser light source device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings do not always match those described.

In the coordinate system of the light source device described below, the vertical direction, which is the direction in which the laser light is emitted, is defined as the z-axis / z-direction, and in the other two directions, the vertical direction is defined as the x-axis / x-axis. Direction and horizontal direction are defined as the y-axis and y-direction.
Here, in the embodiment described below, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in the coordinate system of the light source device coincide with the vertical direction and the parallel direction with respect to the bonding surface of the stripe, which is each light emitting point of the semiconductor laser. .

As for the rows and columns in the two-dimensional array of the light emitting points and the like, the vertical direction is divided and the horizontal direction is set as the longitudinal direction, and the horizontal direction is divided. A column having a vertical direction as a longitudinal direction is referred to as a row.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a semiconductor laser light source device according to the present invention. In this figure, all the elements installed close to each other are also shown at a distance.
In the present embodiment, the stacked semiconductor laser array 1, which is a light source from which a laser beam is emitted, has NO in the vertical direction.
It has N0 × M0 light emitting points which are two-dimensionally arranged with light emitting point rows V _{1 to} V _N0 and M0 light emitting point rows H _{1 to} H _M0 in the horizontal direction. The optical fiber array 2 to which laser light is incident and outputs to the outside is configured to have M optical fibers in which respective incident ends are arranged one-dimensionally in the horizontal direction.

The stack type semiconductor laser array 1 has N0
Number of array semiconductor laser 11 ₁ to 11 _N0 is constituted by stack arranged vertically. Each array type semiconductor laser 11 _i (i = 1 to N0) has M0 light emitting points 110 _{i, 1} to ₁ arranged at equal intervals in the horizontal direction.
10 _{i, M0} are formed. Array type semiconductor laser 11
_{1 to} 11 _N0 are light emitting points 11 corresponding to the respective vertical directions.
0 _{1, j to} 110 _{N0, j} are arranged so that the horizontal positions thereof coincide with each other, whereby the stacked semiconductor laser array 1 vertically moves the M0 light emitting points 110 _{i, 1 to} 11.
The emission point rows V _i (i = 1 to N) of N0 rows having 0 _{i, M0}
0), N0 emission points 110 _{1, j to} 110 in the horizontal direction
_It has N0 × M0 light emitting points 110 _{1,1 to} 110 _{N0, M0} arranged in a matrix composed of M0 light emitting point arrays H _j (j = 1 to M0) having _{N0, j.} It is configured.

The optical fiber array 2, 1 × M present (where, M <M0) is composed of the optical fiber 210 _{1, 1} to 210 _{1, M,} its entrance end to the optical fiber of the M are arranged respectively And a bundle 22 in which M optical fibers are bundled. In the incident portion 21 of the present embodiment, the vertical direction of the entrance end line one line (i.e. N = 1), the incident end column in the horizontal direction is M rows, M optical fibers 210 _1,1 to 210 _{1 , M} are arranged one-dimensionally in the horizontal direction.

N0 × of stack type semiconductor laser array 1
In order to make the laser light emitted from each of _{the M0} light emitting points 110 _{1,1 to} 110 _{N 0, M0} incident on 1 × M optical fibers 210 _{1,1 to} 210 _{1 , M} of the optical fiber array 2 ,
A lens array including a collimating lens array 3 and a condensing lens array 4 is provided.

The collimating lens array 3 collimates the laser light emitted from each light emitting point of the stack type semiconductor laser array 1 and generates a divergence angle, that is, z, of the laser light.
It has a function to reduce the tilt angle with respect to the direction.
Will be installed.

Here, a semiconductor laser generally has a different diffusion angle in the vertical and horizontal directions. In the vertical direction (x direction), the diffusion angle θ _x
Is large, about 40 °. Horizontal direction (y-direction) thereof spreading angle theta _y is small for contrast, 5 to 1
It is about 2 °.

Further, in the configuration of the stacked semiconductor laser array 1 as in the present embodiment, the light emitting point rows V which are divided in the vertical direction and arranged in the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction.
_i Each of the vertical position of the emission point 110 i, ₁ to 110 i, _M0 of is accurately matched to are formed on the same array semiconductor laser 11 _i. On the other hand,
The horizontal position of each of the light emitting points 110 _{1, j to} 110 _{N0, j} of the light emitting point array H _j arranged by dividing the horizontal direction and setting the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction is the array type semiconductor laser 11.
_{Since it} depends on the accuracy of stacking and arranging _{1 to} 11 _N0 , the accuracy is relatively low.

[0029] Thus, the collimating lens array 3 in the present embodiment is composed of a vertical collimating lens array 31 for collimating only vertical diffusion angle theta _x, not subjected to collimated in the horizontal direction. However, if necessary, may be configured to further set up a horizontal collimating lens array to perform collimation in the horizontal direction of the diffusion angle theta _y.

The vertical collimating lens array 31 is configured to horizontally from the longitudinal and cross section is a circle N0 amino cylindrical lenses 310 ₁ to 310 _N0. The position of the central axis of each cylindrical lens is set corresponding to the position of the light emitting point. That is, the vertical position of the central axis of the cylindrical lens 310 _i is
Each to match the vertical position of the corresponding light emitting point line V _i a light emitting point 110 i, ₁ ~110 i, _M0 is installed. Thus N0 amino cylindrical lens 310 _i, to the M0 or light emitting points 110 i, ₁ to 110 i, _M0 laser beam emitted from each performs collimation of the vertical diffusion angle theta _x. The diffusion angle θ _x after collimation is about 1 °.

The condensing lens array 4 has a function of condensing the laser beam collimated by the collimating lens array 3 on the incident end of each optical fiber of the optical fiber array 2 and is installed. Here, condensing means converging laser beams from a plurality of light emitting points to one point.

The condenser lens array 4 in the present embodiment
Is composed of a vertical condenser lens array 41 for condensing light in the vertical direction and a horizontal condenser lens array 42 for condensing light in the horizontal direction. Here, the stacked semiconductor laser array 1 has N0 × M0 light emitting points 110 _1,1
１１０110 _{N0, M0} , while the optical fiber array 2 is composed of N × M optical fibers (N = 1 in this embodiment). The lens array 4 converts the laser light emitted from the N0 × M0 light emitting points 110 _{1,1 to} 110 _{N0, M0} into
A laser beam from a light emitting point included in each of the divided light emitting regions is divided into N × M light emitting regions having N light emitting region rows in the vertical direction and M light emitting region columns in the horizontal direction. Are configured and installed so as to be respectively incident on the corresponding optical fibers.

That is, the light is condensed in the vertical direction when the incident end row of the optical fiber array 2 in this embodiment is one row (N =
Since 1), a vertical condenser lens array 41 to the condenser is constituted of the laser light from the light emitting point line V _i of N0 rows the entrance end line of one row. On the other hand, the condensing of the horizontal direction, the incident end column of the optical fiber array 2 is in M columns, to split and focuses the laser beam on the incident end column of M columns from the light emitting point sequence H _j of M0 columns The horizontal condenser lens array 42 is formed.

The vertical condenser lens array 41 is composed of a single cylindrical lens 410 whose longitudinal direction is the horizontal direction and whose section is elliptical. The position of the central axis of the cylindrical lens 410 is determined by the light emitting points 110 _{1,1 to} 110
It is installed so as to coincide with the vertical center position of _{N0 and M0} .

The horizontal focusing lens array 42 is a cross-sectional and vertical to the longitudinal direction is composed of M cylindrical lens 420 ₁ to 420 _M is a circle. The position of the central axis of each cylindrical lens is set corresponding to the position of the light emitting region. That is, the horizontal position of the central axis of the cylindrical lens 420 _j is set so as to coincide with the horizontal center position of the corresponding j-th light emitting region row.

In the lens array according to the present embodiment,
The collimation and focusing of laser light will be described. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the semiconductor laser light source device shown in FIG. 1, that is, a diagram viewed from a y direction, in which collimation and focusing of laser light in an x direction (vertical direction) are illustrated by dotted lines. FIG. 3 is a top view of the semiconductor laser light source device shown in FIG. 1, that is, a diagram viewed from the x direction, and the focusing of laser light in the y direction (horizontal direction) is illustrated by a dotted line.

In the vertical direction, the diffusion angle θ _x is 40 °
The laser beam is collimated by the vertical collimating lens array 31 into a laser beam having a small diffusion angle (about 1 °).
The light is condensed on the corresponding optical fiber incident end of the incident part 21 of the optical fiber array 2 by 1. As for the horizontal direction, the diffusion angle theta _y is a small order of 5 to 12 °, collimation is not performed, the incident portion 21 of the optical fiber array 2 by a horizontal condenser lens array 42, the corresponding optical fiber entrance end It is collected.

The focal lengths and the like of the respective lenses constituting these lens arrays are all selected so as to realize the collimation and light collection shown in FIGS.

In particular, the distance from the vertical condenser lens array 41 to the optical fiber entrance end (the focal length of the lens of the vertical condenser lens array 41) is f _x , and the horizontal condenser lens array 42
Assuming that the distance from the optical fiber to the optical fiber input end (focal length of each lens of the horizontal condensing lens array 42) is f _y , the light condensing width d _x in the x and y directions at the input end of the optical fiber.
And d _y is approximately _{d x = f x × θ x} , a _{d y = f y × θ y} . Here, the diffusion angle theta _x and theta _y after passing through the collimator lens array 3, the direction of the theta _x as described above is small, in order to perform efficient condensing light incident to the optical fiber, respectively The vertical condensing lens array 41 and the horizontal condensing lens array 42 are arranged such that the focal length of the light condensing lens has a predetermined value of _fx > _fy , in which the light condensing widths d _x and _dy are substantially the same. Each is installed. Further, in order to make incident efficiency in the x direction and the y direction substantially the same with respect to an optical fiber having a constant numerical aperture, a vertical condenser lens array 41 is provided.
It is preferable that the width of each lens constituting the horizontal condenser lens array 42 is smaller than that of the horizontal condenser lens array 42. Depending on conditions such as the size of the optical fiber incident end and the size of light collection, a configuration that does not satisfy these conditions regarding the focal length, the lens width, and the like may be employed.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are specifically drawn as a configuration satisfying the above conditions of N0 = 8, M0 = 12, N = 1 and M = 6. The selection of the number and the number is only an example, and other configurations may be used. In particular, for N, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which optical fibers are two-dimensionally arranged as an integer of 2 or more. In this case, the vertical condenser lens array 41 is, for example, N
It can be constituted by a plurality of cylindrical lenses.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the semiconductor laser light source device according to the present invention, which is developed similarly to FIG. 1 and shows the configuration of each element. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the stacked semiconductor laser array 1, which is a light source from which laser light is emitted, is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG.

The optical fiber array 2 is composed of 2 × M (where M <M0) optical fibers 210 _{1, 1 to} 210 _{2, M.} These 2 × M optical fibers and their incident ends are respectively Included are an incidence part 21 arranged and a bundle part 22 in which 2 × M optical fibers are bundled. In the incidence unit 21 of the present embodiment, the number of rows of incidence ends in the vertical direction is two (that is, N = 2), and the number of rows of incidence ends in the horizontal direction is M, and 2 × M optical fibers 210 _1,1 . 210 _{2, M} is 2
They are arranged in dimensions.

N0 × of stack type semiconductor laser array 1
In order to make the laser light emitted from _{the M0} light emitting points 110 _{1,1 to} 110 _{N 0, M0} incident on 2 × M optical fibers 210 _{1,1 to} 210 _{2, M} of the optical fiber array 2, A lens array including a collimating lens array 3 and a condensing lens array 4 is provided. The configuration of the vertical collimating lens array 31 of the collimating lens array 3 is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG.

The condenser lens array 4 in the present embodiment
Is composed of a two-way condenser lens array 40 that collects light in two directions, a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. The two-way condensing lens array 40 has a center position of 2
2 × M rectangular spherical lenses 400 _{1,1 to} 400 ₂ installed corresponding to the positions of × M optical fibers 210 _{1,1 to} 210 _{2, M and} the positions of the corresponding light emitting areas. _{, M}
It is composed of Thereby, the laser light from the light emitting point included in each of the divided light emitting regions is respectively incident on the corresponding optical fiber.

In the lens array according to the present embodiment,
The collimation and focusing of laser light will be described. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the semiconductor laser light source device shown in FIG. 4, that is, a diagram viewed from the y direction, in which collimation and focusing of laser light in the x direction (vertical direction) are illustrated by dotted lines. FIG. 6 is a top view of the semiconductor laser light source device shown in FIG. 4, that is, a diagram viewed from the x direction, and the focusing of laser light in the y direction (horizontal direction) is illustrated by a dotted line.

The laser light collimated by the vertical collimating lens array 31 in the vertical direction is transmitted to the incident portion 21 of the optical fiber array 2 in both the vertical and horizontal directions by the two-way condensing lens array 40.
The light is focused on the corresponding optical fiber input end.

Incidentally, the focal lengths and the like of the respective lenses constituting these lens arrays are all selected so as to realize the collimation and the light collection shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 specifically show N
It is plotted as 0 = 8, M0 = 12, N = 2, M = 6.

The semiconductor laser light source device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be variously modified. For example, for the light source part,
As shown in FIG. 7, an array-type semiconductor laser is divided in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. In FIG. 7, four array-type semiconductor lasers 11 _{1,1 to} 11 _2,2 are stacked and arranged. The semiconductor laser array 1 may be configured. Instead of an array-type semiconductor laser, a stack-type semiconductor laser array can be configured by stacking and arranging semiconductor lasers having a single light emitting point in a matrix. The same lens array is also applied to the case where the arrangement of the light emitting points is not a complete matrix as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the case where the light emitting points are alternately arranged as shown in FIG. It is possible to be configured to.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of stacked semiconductor laser arrays may be used. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 9, the stacked semiconductor laser arrays 1a and 1a
b is arranged such that the vertical positions of the respective light emitting points are alternately arranged. A light transmitting film is provided on the stripe-shaped optical plate 1c at a position corresponding to the light emitting point of the stacked semiconductor laser array 1a. A light reflecting film is formed at a position corresponding to the light emitting point of the stacked semiconductor laser array 1b with the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction. As a result, all the laser beams from the two stacked semiconductor laser arrays 1a and 1b are made incident on the respective optical fibers of the optical fiber array 2 to provide a light source device with further enhanced intensity.

The shape and configuration of each lens used in the lens array may be other shapes and configurations as needed as long as they have a collimating or condensing function. It is also possible to use a distributed index lens or the like.

[0051]

The semiconductor laser light source device according to the present invention has the following features.
As described in detail above, the following effects are obtained. That is, a laser beam emitted from a stacked semiconductor laser array having N0 × M0 light emitting points arranged in a matrix is collimated in a required direction by a collimating lens array, and further collimated in a vertical direction by a condensing lens array. Light is condensed in both horizontal directions, and the light is condensed and made incident on the input end arranged in a matrix of an optical fiber array having N × M optical fibers in which N <N0 and M <M0. By making the fiber a bundle, the laser light was efficiently captured,
A high-output semiconductor laser light source device can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a semiconductor laser light source device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the semiconductor laser light source device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the semiconductor laser light source device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the semiconductor laser light source device according to the present invention.

5 is a side view of the semiconductor laser light source device shown in FIG.

6 is a top view of the semiconductor laser light source device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a stacked semiconductor laser array.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a stacked semiconductor laser array.

FIG. 9 is a top view showing another embodiment of the semiconductor laser light source device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a, 1b ... stack type semiconductor laser array, 1c
... Striped optical plate, 11 _{1 to} 11 _N0 , 11 _{1,1 to} 11
_2,2 ... array type semiconductor laser, 110 _{1,1 to} 110 _{N0, M0}
... Emission point, 2 ... Optical fiber array, 21 ... Injection part, 22
... Bundle section, 210 _{1,1 to} 210 _{2, M} ... Optical fiber, 3
... collimating lens array, 31 ... vertical collimating lens array, 310 _{1 to} 310 _N0 ... cylindrical lens, 4 ... condensing lens array, 40 ... bidirectional condensing lens array, 400 _{1,1 to} 400 _{2 , M} ... rectangular spherical lens , 41
… Vertical condenser lens array, 410… cylindrical lens, 42… horizontal condenser lens array, 420 _{1 to} 420 _M …
Cylindrical lens.

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hideo Suzuki 1126, Nomachi, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside of Hamamatsu Photonics Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2H037 AA01 BA03 BA05 CA15 CA17 5F073 AB04 AB15 BA09 EA24

Claims (7)

[Claims] An optical fiber array comprising: a semiconductor laser array having a plurality of light emitting points; an optical fiber into which laser light emitted from each of the light emitting points of the semiconductor laser array is incident and output to the outside; A lens array that collimates or condenses the laser light onto the optical fiber of the optical fiber array, wherein the semiconductor laser array includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers or a plurality of array-type semiconductor lasers. A stack type semiconductor laser array having the plurality of light emitting points arranged two-dimensionally and arranged by stacking and arranging, wherein the optical fiber array has a smaller number of optical fibers than the plurality of light emitting points And an incidence part in which each incidence end is one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally arranged. Wherein the lens array is configured to perform collimation of the laser light in at least one of a two-dimensional array of the plurality of light emitting points in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction. A collimating lens array, and a condensing lens array configured to collect the laser light in both the vertical and horizontal directions of the two-dimensional array of the plurality of light emitting points. A semiconductor laser light source device. 2. The stacked semiconductor laser array according to claim 1,
N0 rows (N0 is an integer of 2 or more) of light emitting points in the vertical direction,
The optical fiber array includes N0 × M0 light emitting points arranged two-dimensionally in a matrix having light emitting point rows of M0 rows (M0 is an integer of 2 or more) in the horizontal direction. , N <N0 and M <M0, N rows (N is an integer of 1 or more) in the vertical direction, and M columns (M is an integer of 1 or more, where at least one of N or M is 2 Each of the incident ends includes N × M optical fibers arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally in the incident part in a matrix having an incident end row of (the above integer). The condensing lens array is formed by combining N0 × M0 light emitting points of the stacked semiconductor laser array in a matrix having N light emitting region rows in the vertical direction and M light emitting region columns in the horizontal direction. N × M light-emitting areas arranged in a dimension The laser light from the light-emitting point included in each of the light-emitting regions is divided and focused on the incident end of the corresponding one of the N × M optical fibers. 2. The semiconductor laser light source device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The stacked semiconductor laser array according to claim 1,
3. The semiconductor laser light source device according to claim 2, wherein said array type semiconductor lasers having M0 light emitting points in a horizontal direction are stacked and arranged in a vertical direction. 4. The stacked semiconductor laser array according to claim 1,
N1 two-dimensionally arranged in N1 rows (N1 is an integer of 1 or more) in the vertical direction and M1 columns (M1 is an integer of 1 or more) in the horizontal direction
The semiconductor laser or the array type semiconductor laser having × M1 light emitting points is vertically shifted by N1 × N2 =
N2 N2 (N2 is an integer of 1 or more), M2 M1 × M2 = M0 in the horizontal direction (M2 is an integer of 1 or more,
3. The semiconductor laser light source device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of N2 and M2 is an integer of 2 or more). 5. The condensing lens array condenses the laser light from the light emitting points included in the N light emitting region rows arranged in the vertical direction to the N light incident end rows, respectively. A vertical condenser lens array composed of a single or a plurality of condenser lenses, and the laser light from the light-emitting points included in the M light-emitting region rows arranged in the horizontal direction, the M light-incident end rows 5. The semiconductor laser light source device according to claim 2, further comprising: a horizontal condensing lens array including a single or a plurality of condensing lenses for condensing light. 6. The condensing lens array condenses the laser light from the light emitting points included in the N light emitting region rows arranged in the vertical direction to the N light incident end rows, respectively. And the M arranged in a horizontal direction
A bidirectional condenser lens array comprising a plurality of condenser lenses for condensing the laser light from the light-emitting points included in the light-emitting region rows of the row into the M rows of incident end rows, respectively. The semiconductor laser light source device according to claim 2. 7. The collimating lens array includes a plurality of collimating lenses that vertically collimate the laser light from the light emitting points included in the N0 light emitting point rows arranged in the vertical direction. The semiconductor laser light source device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising a collimating lens array.