JPH028665B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a tracking device for a moving object using a light beam, and is particularly applicable when the moving object performs rotational motion or when the moving object moves over a wide range. The present invention relates to a rotary receiver of an optical beam tracking device suitable for various cases.

(b) Prior Art Conventionally, in a moving object tracking device using a light beam, a corner cube of a receiver, a beam splitter, a condensing lens, and a light receiving detector were each individually mounted on the moving object. For example, patent application No. 58-242673
See the specification of JP-A-60-134309.

For example, when tracking a moving object by scanning a light beam from the lateral direction, the scanned light beam may be placed in a corner cube in a place where the direction of the moving object changes significantly when rotating the moving object. A problem arises in that it is not possible to irradiate the area within the effective range of the mirror, making tracking impossible. Similarly, if the moving object is moved over a wide angle range, the light beam will be scanning outside the effective range of the corner cube. Therefore, a problem arises in that the range of movement of the moving body is restricted.

(c) Purpose The purpose of the present invention is to provide a rotary receiver for a light beam tracking device, which allows a scanning light beam to always illuminate within the effective range of a corner cube, and can track a moving object over a wide range. It is said that

(d) Structure The rotary receiver of the optical beam tracking device according to the present invention is characterized by the fact that a corner cube, a beam splitter, a condensing lens, and a receiving sensor are appropriately arranged in a predetermined frame to receive signals. In addition to configuring the machine,
The present invention includes an incident direction determining means for receiving a signal from the receiving sensor and rotating the receiver in an appropriate direction using a driving means such as a motor.

(E) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a rotary receiver of a light beam tracking device according to the present invention, in which a is a front view thereof and b is a sectional view taken along line A-A of a. It shows.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a receiver, which is constructed by housing and holding a corner cube prism 7, a beam splitter 8, a condensing lens 9, and a receiving sensor 10 in a frame 5, respectively.

Specifically, a DC motor, for example, is fixed to the base plate 2 (moving body) of the base 4 as a drive means such as a motor, and the receiver 1 is fixed to the output shaft 31 of the DC motor 3 to perform a rotary type reception. machine is being formed.

More specifically, the DC motor 3 is vertically installed on the base plate 2, and the top plate 41 of the base 4 has a predetermined distance from the base plate 2 with the output shaft 31 of the DC motor 3 protruding. hanging walls 42 are fixed to the opposite ends of the top plate 41 so as to be perpendicular thereto,
This hanging wall 42 is fixed to the base plate 2. The top plate 41 and the hanging wall 42 together form a base 4.

A rectangular box-shaped frame body 5 is erected at the tip of a bottom plate 51 of the frame body 5, and a predetermined portion of the bottom plate 51 is fixed to the output shaft 31. A dustproof glass 6 is disposed in a window 52 formed by opening the lower half of the front plate of the frame 5 main body, and a window 52 formed by opening in the vicinity of the lower end of the rear plate of the frame 5 in a circular shape. A corner cube prism 7 is disposed at 53 so as to protrude rearward. A beam splitter 8 having a predetermined inclination is fixed to a mounting member 54 fixed to the inner surface of the lower end of the front plate of the frame 5 main body and a mounting member 55 fixed to the inner surface near the center of the rear plate of the frame 5 main body. has been
It is arranged between the dustproof glass 6 and the corner cube prism 7. A condensing lens 9 is fixed to the mounting member 55 and a mounting member 56 fixed to the inner surface of the front plate opposite thereto, and is disposed above the beam splitter 8 in parallel to the base plate 2. ing. Furthermore, the frame body 5 which becomes the focal point of the condensing lens 9
A receiving sensor 10 is fixedly installed on the inner surface of the upper plate of the main body. The receiving sensor 10 is formed by arranging a plurality of light receiving elements in parallel, and here five light receiving elements 11 to 15 (not shown) are employed. For example, the light receiving element 1 of the receiving sensor 10
The area from 2 to 14 is the effective range of the corner cube prism 7, and the receiver 1 is set not to rotate even if a light beam enters this range.

The incident direction determining means shown in FIG. 2 will be described as an example. In FIG. 2, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

Light receiving elements 11, 12, 13 of the receiving sensor 10,
The output signals of 14 and 15 are given to individual sensor circuits 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and 15a, respectively, and the output signals of each sensor circuit are ORed respectively.
It is applied to the communication circuit 70 via the gate circuit 60. The set terminal S of the flip-flop 20 is supplied with an output signal from the sensor circuit 11a, and the reset terminal R is supplied with an output signal from the sensor circuit 14a. A signal from the output terminal Q of the flip-flop 20 is applied to a switch circuit 40 and an OR gate circuit 80, respectively. Further, the reset terminal R of the flip-flop 30 is connected to the sensor circuit 12a.
The output signal of the sensor circuit 15 is sent to the set terminal S.
A signal from the output terminal Q of the flip-flop 30 is applied to the switch circuit 50 via the OR gate circuit 80.
The relay coils 40a, 50a are excited by the operation signals of the switch circuits 40, 50, and the switch groups S1 to S5 are actuated to instruct the direction of rotation of the DC motor 3. However, if the switch circuit 40 is not operating, the switch S
1, the contact pieces a1, a2 of S2 are in contact with the terminals b1, b2 side, the contact pieces a3, of switches S3, S4,
It is assumed that a4 is set so as to maintain contact with the terminals C3 and C4, and the switch groups S1 to S4 are interlocked and connected.

Next, the operation of the rotary receiver 1 of the optical beam tracking device of the above-described embodiment will be explained.

For example, if the light beam is a corner cube prism 7
When the light enters the light receiving element 11 which is outside the effective range of The switch circuit 40 is operated by the "HIGH" signal from the output terminal Q to excite the relay coil 40a, and the "HIGH" output signal from the output terminal Q of the flip-flop 20 is sent through the OR gate circuit 80. is applied to the switch circuit 50, thereby energizing the relay coil 50a. That is, the relay coil 50a brings the switch S5 into a conductive state, and the relay coil 40a connects the contacts a1, S2 of the switches S1, S2.
a2 is brought into contact with the terminals C1 and C2, and the contact pieces a3 and a4 of the switches S3 and S4 are brought into contact with the terminals b3 and
DC from power supply Vcc by contacting b4 side
Current flows through the motor 3 and rotates the receiver 1 in a set direction. When the receiver 1 rotates, the light beam enters the light receiving element 14 within the effective range of the corner cube prism 7, and the light beam is transmitted from the light receiving element 14 to the reset terminal R of the flip-flop 20 via the sensor circuit 14a. Since the "HIGH" output signal is input, "LOW" is input from the output terminal Q.
The signal is applied to the switch circuit 40 to de-energize the relay coil 40a, and
Since the above-mentioned "LOW" output signal is given to the switch circuit 50 via the OR gate circuit 80, the excitation of the relay coil 50a is released and the switch S5 is turned off.
By making it non-conductive, the flow of current to the DC motor 3 is stopped. This allows receiver 1
Stop the rotation and end. In addition, Switch S
The contact pieces a1 and a2 of switches 1 and S2 are returned to the terminals b1 and b2, and the contact pieces a3 and a4 of switches S3 and S4 are returned to the terminals C3 and C4, respectively.

Furthermore, if the light beam enters the light receiving element 15 outside the effective range of the corner cube prism 7,
When an input signal is given from the light receiving element 15 to the sensor circuit 15a, and a "HIGH" signal is input from the sensor circuit 15a to the set terminal S of the flip-flop 30, a "HIGH" signal is output from the output terminal Q.
The signal is applied to the switch circuit 50 via the OR gate circuit 80, excites the relay coil 50a, turns on the switch S5, and causes current to flow from the power supply Vcc to the DC motor 3. Here, the switch circuit 40
is not operating, the contact pieces a1 and a2 of switches S1 and S2 are on the terminal b1 and b2 side, and the switch S
3, the contact pieces a3 and a4 of S4 are in contact with the terminals C3 and C4. That is, since the DC motor 3 rotates in the opposite direction to that in the above example, the receiver 1 also rotates in the opposite direction to that in the above example. Then, as the receiver 1 rotates, the light beam enters the light receiving element 12 within the effective range of the corner cube prism 7, and from the light receiving element 12 the sensor circuit 1
Since the "HIGH" output signal is input to the reset terminal R of the flip-flop 30 via the flip-flop 2a,
When a "LOW" signal is applied from the output terminal Q to the switch circuit 50 via the OR gate circuit 80, the excitation of the relay coil 50a is canceled and the switch S5 is brought into a non-conducting state, thereby causing the DC
The flow of current to the motor 3 is stopped. This stops the rotation of the receiver 1 and ends the process.

Further, when the light beam is incident on the light receiving element 13 within the effective range of the corner cube prism 7, the output signal from the light receiving element 13 is transmitted to the sensor circuit 1.
After being applied to the OR gate circuit 60 via 3a, it is input to the communication circuit 70. Note that no current flows through the DC motor 3 and the receiver 1 does not rotate.

When the light beam enters the light receiving elements 12 and 14 within the effective range of the corner cube prism 7, a "HIGH" signal is input to the reset terminals R of the flip-flops 20 and 30, respectively, and the output terminals Since a "LOW" signal is input from Q, each switch circuit 40, 50 does not operate.

In the above embodiment, the number of light receiving elements of the receiving sensor 10 is five, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of light receiving elements may be increased to accurately obtain the incident position of the light beam. This makes it possible to rotate the receiver 1 in the scanning direction of the light beam with higher precision than described above.

(f) Effects According to the present invention, the incident position of the light beam incident on the reception sensor of the receiver is determined by the incident direction determining means, and the receiver is rotated in an appropriate direction by a driving means such as a motor. Therefore, the scanned light beam always falls within the effective range of the corner cube. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for use in a light beam tracking device that tracks a moving object that performs rotational motion or a moving object that moves over a wide angle range.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a rotary receiver of an optical beam tracking device according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of the incident direction determining means. 1... Receiver, 3... DC motor, 5... Frame,
6... Dust-proof glass, 7... Corner cube prism, 8... Beam splitter, 9... Condensing lens, 10... Receiving sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A corner cube that receives a light beam scanned by a scanning device emitted from a light beam generator and returns a reflected light beam in parallel to the incident direction of the light beam, and an optical path of a part of the incident light beam. A receiver is constructed by housing a beam splitter for changing the optical path, a condensing lens for condensing the light beam whose optical path has been changed, and a receiving sensor disposed at the focal point of the condensed light beam in a frame. constitutes,
Further, the incident direction of the light beam is determined by an incident direction determining means based on the irradiation position of the receiving sensor irradiated with the light beam, and the receiver is rotated in an appropriate direction by a driving means such as a motor. Features a rotating receiver for the optical beam tracking device.