JP2011059323A - Condensing module and condensing unit using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A conventional light collecting module has room for improvement with respect to the light collecting efficiency of sunlight, particularly the light collecting efficiency with respect to solar diurnal motion.
A light guide member having a light incident surface portion, a back surface portion located on the opposite side, and a light exit surface portion, so as to face the back surface portion of the light guide member with a gap. The light collecting module 10 according to the present invention including the light reflecting member 12 that is disposed on the back surface 15 and causes the light emitted from the back surface portion 15 to enter the light guide member 11 again from the back surface portion 15 includes the light incident surface portion 14 and the back surface portion. 15 includes a pair of inclined surfaces 15a inclined in directions opposite to each other and a ridge portion 15b defined by the pair of inclined surfaces 15a, and the thickness of the light guide member 11 is set in the first direction. The light emitting surface 16 side is thicker along the second direction, and is thinner as it is away from the ridge 15b along the second direction. The distance between the back surface 15 and the light reflecting member 12 is light along the first direction. The exit surface 16 side It wants to set to.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a light collecting module that collects light energy such as sunlight and a light collecting unit using the light collecting module.

  In a photovoltaic power generation device that converts light energy of sunlight into electric power, it is desirable to increase the conversion efficiency of the photoelectric conversion element as well as to be able to guide the light energy to the photoelectric conversion element as efficiently as possible. . For this reason, using a solar tracking device that follows the diurnal motion of the sun, the light receiving surface is always directed to the sun, or a photoelectric conversion element is disposed on the entire light receiving surface.

  However, using an expensive solar tracking device or arranging an expensive photoelectric conversion element over the entire light receiving surface of sunlight leads to an increase in equipment costs and is one of the factors that hinder the spread of solar power generation devices. Become. Therefore, while fixing the light-receiving surface against the diurnal motion of the sun, by guiding the light energy of sunlight to the photoelectric conversion element in a condensed state, the amount of expensive photoelectric conversion elements can be reduced and the facilities can be simplified. There has been proposed a solar power generation device that is intended to be commercialized. In such a solar power generation apparatus, in order to efficiently condense sunlight and guide it to a photoelectric conversion element, for example, a condensing module as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 has been proposed. Yes.

JP 2007-218540 A JP 2007-27423 A

  Regarding the condensing modules disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is room for further improving the condensing efficiency of sunlight, particularly the condensing efficiency with respect to the diurnal motion of the sun.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a condensing module capable of increasing the condensing efficiency with respect to the diurnal movement of the sun as compared with the conventional one even when arranged in a fixed state, and a condensing unit using the condensing module Is to provide.

  The first aspect of the present invention is located on the opposite side of the light incident surface portion extending along the first direction and the second direction intersecting the first direction. And a back surface portion extending along the first and second directions, and a third portion located on one end side along the first direction and intersecting the first and second directions. A light guide member having a light emitting surface portion extending along the direction of the second light source and the second direction, and the back surface portion of the light guide member so as to face the back surface portion with a gap therebetween. A light reflecting member that causes the light emitted from the light portion to enter the light guide member again from the back surface portion, and at least one of the light incident surface portion and the back surface portion of the light guide member with respect to the first direction. And a pair of inclined surfaces inclined in opposite directions within a plane orthogonal to each other, and the pair of inclined surfaces. And a ridge extending along the first direction, and the thickness of the light guide member is set to be thicker toward the light emitting surface along the first direction, and the first The distance between the rear surface portion of the light guide member and the light reflecting member is increased toward the light emitting surface portion side along the first direction. It is in the light collection module characterized by being set so.

  In the present invention, light that has entered the light guide member from the light incident surface portion propagates through the light guide member while being totally reflected between the back surface portion and the light incident surface portion, and from the light exit end surface portion of the light guide member. Emits outside. When a part of the light propagating in the light guide member is emitted from the back surface portion to the outside of the light guide member, the light is guided again from the back surface portion into the light guide member by the light reflecting member, and again the light incident surface portion and the back surface Total reflection is repeated between the light guide member and the light guide member to propagate toward the light exit end face. All of the light that has entered the light guide member from the light incident surface portion is finally emitted from the light emitting end surface portion to the outside of the light guide member. The pair of inclined surfaces deflects the light totally reflected here toward the ridge, and increases the density of the light energy in the vicinity of the ridge.

  In the light collecting module according to the first aspect of the present invention, the pair of inclined surfaces and the ridges thereof are formed on the back surface portion of the light guide member, and the distance between the back surface portion of the light guide member and the light reflecting member is set to the second. It is preferable to set so that it is so narrow that it leaves | separates from a ridge part along the direction.

  A filter that covers the light incident surface of the light guide member and has wavelength selective transparency can be further provided.

  The light guide member further includes a light reflecting surface portion that is located on the opposite side of the light emitting surface portion and that extends along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. It's okay.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of light collecting modules according to the first aspect of the present invention described above, and a light guide member disposed so as to surround the plurality of light collecting modules. The light incident surface portions of the individual light guide members constituting the fan have a fan-shaped contour shape and the light emitting surface portions are arcuate surfaces, which are arranged in point symmetry to form a circular shape as a whole. The member is disposed between at least one optical fiber wound in a ring shape along the light emitting surface portion of the light guide member, and between the optical fiber and the light emitting surface portion of the light guide member, and the light guide. And a light guide block for guiding the light emitted from the light emitting surface of the member from the outer periphery of the optical fiber into the optical fiber.

  In the present invention, the light that has entered the light guide member from the light incident surface portion of each light guide member is totally reflected between the back surface portion and the light incident surface portion, and then outwards in the radial direction of the light collecting unit as a whole. It propagates in the light guide member. The light that has entered the light guide member from the light incident surface portion of each light guide member is finally emitted out of the light guide member from the light emission end surface portion of each light guide member located at the outer peripheral edge of the light collecting unit. From there, the light is guided into the optical fiber through the light guiding member.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light guide member having a cylindrical light incident surface portion and a plurality of light collecting modules according to claim 5 arranged so as to surround the light guide member. The contour shapes of the light incident surface portions of the individual light guide members constituting the optical module are each fan-shaped, and the light incident surface portions of the individual light guide members are in close contact with the light incident surface portion of the light guiding member and light. The light collecting unit is characterized in that the reflection surface portion is a circular arc surface, is arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the light guiding member, and has a ring shape as a whole.

  In the present invention, the light that has entered the light guide member from the light incident surface portion of each light guide member is totally reflected between the back surface portion and the light incident surface portion to the inside in the radial direction of the light collecting unit as a whole. It propagates in the light guide member. The light that has entered the light guide member from the light incident surface portion of each light guide member is finally output to the outside of the light guide member from the emission end surface portion of each light guide member located on the inner peripheral side of the light collecting unit. It is emitted and guided from here to the light guide member.

  In the light collecting unit according to the third aspect of the present invention, the light guiding member may have a light reflecting surface that is recessed in a conical shape at one end in the longitudinal direction.

  According to the light collecting module of the present invention, light incident on the light guide member from the light incident surface portion of the light guide member having a relatively large area is directed to the light exit surface portion side having a relatively narrow area along the ridge line portion. And can be propagated in a condensed state. As a result, the light that has entered the light guide member from the light incident surface portion can be efficiently emitted from the light exit surface portion to the outside of the light guide member.

  When a pair of inclined surfaces and a ridge portion thereof are formed on the back surface portion of the light guide member, and the distance between the back surface portion and the light reflecting member is set so as to be narrowed away from the ridge portion along the second direction. The light that enters the light guide member again can be converged to the vicinity of the ridge by the light reflecting member.

  When the light incident surface portion of the light guide member is covered and a filter having wavelength selective transparency is further provided, harmful electromagnetic waves that cause deterioration of the light guide member and the light reflecting member can be blocked.

  In the case where the light guide member further includes a light reflecting surface portion that is located on the opposite side of the light emitting surface portion and extends along the first direction and a second direction that intersects the first direction. It is possible to prevent the light that has propagated through the optical member and reached the light reflecting surface portion from leaking out of the light guide member. As a result, it is possible to efficiently guide the light reflected by the light reflecting surface portion to the light emitting surface portion side.

  According to the light collecting unit of the second aspect of the present invention, the light incident on the light guide member from the light incident surface portion of each light guide member is propagated in the light guide member radially outward of the light collection unit. Can do. As a result, the light propagating through each light guide member is emitted radially from the light emitting end surface of each light guide member located at the outer peripheral edge of the light collecting unit, and the light guide member is emitted from here. Through the optical fiber.

  According to the light collecting unit of the present invention, the light that has entered the light guide member from the light incident surface portion of each light guide member can be propagated in the light guide member radially inward of the light collection unit. As a result, the light propagating in each light guide member can be guided from the emission end face portion of each light guide member located on the center side of the light collecting unit to the light guiding member.

  When the light guiding member has a light reflecting surface that is recessed in a conical shape at one end portion in the longitudinal direction, incident light can be reflected by the light guiding member toward the other end portion in the longitudinal direction.

It is a three-dimensional projection figure showing the external appearance of one Embodiment of the condensing module by this invention in a decomposition | disassembly state. It is sectional drawing along the ridge part of the light guide member in embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow III-III in FIG. 2. It is a top view of embodiment shown in FIG. It is a top view showing the external appearance of one Embodiment of the condensing unit by this invention. FIG. 6 is a partially extracted enlarged sectional view along the symmetry axis of the light collecting unit in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. It is a partial extraction enlarged plan view of the condensing unit in the embodiment shown in FIG. It is a top view showing the external appearance of other embodiment of the condensing unit by this invention, and shows the state which removed the light reflection member. It is sectional drawing along the symmetry axis of the condensing unit in embodiment shown in FIG.

  An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a solar light collecting device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and can be further combined as necessary, or can be applied to any other technique belonging to the spirit of the present invention.

  The appearance of an embodiment of the light collecting module according to the present invention is shown in an exploded state in FIG. 1, its planar shape is shown in FIG. 2, its sectional view taken along the line III-III is shown in FIG. IV sectional views are shown in FIG.

  The condensing module 10 in the present embodiment includes an optically transparent light guide member 11, a light reflecting member 12 made from a metal plate such as aluminum, and a photoelectric converter 13. As the light guide member 11, in addition to PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) with a refractive index n of 1.49, COP (cycloolefin polymer) with n = 1.53, PC (polycarbonate) with n = 1.59, Although glass of n = 1.51 or the like can be adopted, it can be said that it is preferable to have excellent light resistance, moldability, or workability.

  The light guide member 11 includes a rectangular flat light incident surface portion 14, a back surface portion 15 located on the opposite side of the light incident surface portion 14, a light emitting surface portion 16, and light located on the opposite side of the light emitting surface portion 16. It has a reflection surface portion 17 and a pair of side end surface portions 18. The light incident surface portion 14 extends along a first direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2) and a second direction (up-down direction in FIG. 2) intersecting the first direction. The back surface portion 15 extends along the first and second directions. The light emitting surface portion 16 is located on one end side along the first direction, and extends in a third direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) intersecting the first and second directions and the second direction. Extending along. The light reflecting surface portion 17 extends along a first direction and a second direction that intersects the first direction. The pair of side end surface portions 18 extend along the first direction and the third direction, and are positioned on opposite sides with respect to the second direction.

  In this embodiment, the light incident end face portion 14 is a flat surface. However, it is also effective to form a microlens array in which the entire surface is convexly curved or a microlens array in which minute convex lenses are aligned is integrally formed. It is. Further, the light reflecting surface portion 17 and the pair of side end surface portions 18 may be omitted, that is, the height dimension of the light reflecting surface portion 17 and the pair of side end surface portions 18 along the third direction may be set to substantially zero. it can. It is also possible to set the height dimension of the pair of side end surface portions 18 along the third direction so as to increase toward the light emitting surface portion 16 side along the first direction.

  The back surface portion 15 of the light guide member 11 in the present embodiment is defined by a pair of inclined surfaces 15a inclined in opposite directions within a plane orthogonal to the first direction, and the pair of inclined surfaces 15a. And a ridge 15b extending along the first direction. The inclination angles α of the pair of inclined surfaces 15a with respect to the light incident surface portion 14 are set to be equal to each other in opposite directions, that is, the thickness of the light guide member 11 along the third direction is along the second direction. As the distance from the edge 15b increases, the thickness is set thinner. Further, the distance from the pair of side end face portions 18 of the light guide member 11 to the ridge portion 15b is set to be equal to each other. When the height dimension of the light reflecting surface portion 17 is set to substantially 0, the inclination angle α of the pair of inclined surfaces 15a with respect to the light incident surface portion 14 is larger toward the light emitting surface portion 16 side along the first direction. In this embodiment, it is continuously changed from 0 degree. For this reason, it should be noted that the inclined surface 15a is a curved surface twisted along the first direction. The pair of inclined surfaces 15 a and ridge portions 15 b can be formed on the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11. In this case, the back surface portion 15 of the light guide member 11 may be a flat surface, or may have a pair of inclined surfaces 15a and ridge portions 15b as described above.

  The thickness of the light guide member 11 along the third direction is set to be thicker toward the light emitting surface portion 16 side along the first direction, and the ridge portion 15b is relative to the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11. It is inclined at an angle β. Therefore, the light L propagating through the light guide member 11 and totally reflected by the pair of inclined surfaces 15a is totally reflected toward the light emitting surface portion 16 side more than the light incident here, and at the same time, the light incident surface portion. Total reflection is performed in a direction away from 14.

  On the surface of the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 in the present embodiment, a multilayer film 14a having wavelength selective transparency covering the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 is formed as a filter in the present invention. The multilayer film 14 a only needs to have a function of reflecting ultraviolet rays or infrared rays that accelerate the deterioration of the light guide member 11. It is also possible to arrange an optical filter having a rectangular plate shape so as to cover the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 instead of the multilayer film 14a, and has a selective transmission property for any desired wavelength. Preferably it is.

  The light reflecting member 12 is disposed so as to face the back surface portion 15, the light reflecting surface portion 17, and the side end surface portion 18 of the light guide member 11 with a gap therebetween, and from other than the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11. It has the function of making the emitted light enter the light guide member 11 again. For this reason, it is preferable that the surface 12a of the light reflection member 12 facing the light guide member 11 is a mirror surface serving as an optical reflection surface. The interval along the second direction between the back surface portion 15 of the light guide member 11 and the light reflecting member 12 is set so as to increase toward the light emitting surface portion 16 side along the first direction. In addition, this interval is also set so as to become narrower as it moves away from the ridge 15b along the second direction. The inclination of the surface 12a of the light reflecting member 12 is set to be steep in a range of 10 degrees or less as a whole than the inclination of the inclined surface 15a of the light guide member 11. Therefore, the light reflected by the light reflecting member 12 is basically reflected toward the light exit surface 16 side than the light incident here, and is reflected in a direction away from the light entrance surface 14 at the same time.

  The photoelectric converter 13 is arranged in close contact with the light emitting surface portion 16 of the light guide member 11 so as to close the gap between the light guide member 11 and the light reflecting member 12. In the present embodiment, the surface 13a of the photoelectric converter 13 is rectangular, but has a substantially triangular shape corresponding to the contour shape formed by the light guide member 11 and the light reflecting member 12 on one end side in the first direction. There may be. The photoelectric converter 13 is generally called a solar cell such as silicon, compound or organic, and has a function of converting light energy into electric energy. In order to prevent thermal deterioration of the photoelectric converter 13, a heat dissipation mechanism, a cooling mechanism, and the like can be integrated.

  When sunlight is captured by such a condensing module 10, ideally, on the ground or the building so that the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 faces the south-central position of the sun at the equinox and autumn equinox. On the other hand, it is preferable to install the condensing module 10 in an inclined state. However, in consideration of the situation of surrounding buildings and ease of installation, the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 is installed so as to be horizontal with respect to the ground, or the incident end surface of the light guide member 11 is ground. It is also possible to install it so as to be perpendicular to. When the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 is installed horizontally with respect to the ground, the direction of the light collecting module 10 is set so that the first direction is the north-south direction and the photoelectric converter 13 is located on the north side. It is preferable. Further, when the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 is installed perpendicularly to the ground, the light is condensed so that the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 faces south and the photoelectric converter 13 is on the lower side. It is preferable to set the orientation of the module 10. In any case, the posture and orientation of the light guide member 11 are set so that light that has entered the light guide member 11 from the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 can easily propagate to the light exit surface portion 16. It is effective.

  When the refractive index of the material constituting the light guide member 11 is n, the back surface portion 15, the light reflection surface portion 17, and the side end surface portion of the sunlight rays L that enter the light guide member 11 from the flat light incident surface portion 14. The light traveling within the total reflection critical angle with respect to 18 causes total reflection and propagates in the light guide member 11. The light incident on the light incident surface portion 14 within the total reflection critical angle similarly causes total reflection here and propagates again in the light guide member 11. On the other hand, of the light exceeding the total reflection critical angle, light other than that emitted from the light incident surface portion 14 to the outside of the light guide member 11 is emitted to the light reflecting member 12 to the outside of the light guide member 11, The light is reflected by the front surface 12 a of the light reflecting member 12 and enters the light guide member 11 again from the back surface portion 15, the light reflecting surface portion 17, and the side end surface portion 18. In this way, most of the light incident on the inside of the light guide member 11 from the light incident surface portion 14 is finally emitted from the light exit surface portion 16 to the outside of the light guide member 11, that is, to the photoelectric converter 13. Is converted into electrical energy and used as electric power. Here, it should be noted that the area of the surface 13 a of the photoelectric converter 13 is sufficiently smaller than the area of the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11. That is, the light guide member 11 guides the light incident into the light guide member 11 from the light incident surface portion 14 to the light emitting surface portion 16 in a condensed state, and reduces the amount of use of the expensive photoelectric converter 13. Manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  It is also possible to prepare a large number of light collecting modules 10 as described above, arrange them in an aligned state, and use them as a light collecting unit in which individual photoelectric converters 13 are electrically connected.

  The outline shape of the light incident surface portion 14 of the light guide member 11 is not limited to a rectangle, and can be any shape. For example, an isosceles triangle or a sector shape obtained by cutting out a part of a circle can be used, and these can be combined to form a circular condensing unit as a whole. FIG. 5 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the light collecting unit according to the present invention, and a part of the plan view is shown in FIG. Elements having the same functions as those of the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The light collecting unit 20 in the present embodiment includes a plurality of light collecting modules 10 and a light guide member 21 disposed so as to surround the plurality of light collecting modules 10. The contour shape of the light incident surface portion 14 of each light guide member 11 constituting the light collecting module 10 has a fan shape in which the light reflecting surface portion 17 converges linearly and the light emitting surface portion 16 becomes an arc surface. The pair of side end surface portions 18 of the light guide member 11 having a fan shape are joined to each other to form a circular shape as a whole. That is, the individual light guide members 11 are arranged in point symmetry with respect to the planar shape of the light collecting unit 20 with respect to the light reflection surface portion 17. In this embodiment, the individual light guide members 11 are arranged. These are formed into a circular shape by integral molding without bonding. The ridge portion 15b formed on the back surface portion 15 extends from the center of the condensing module 10, that is, the light reflecting surface portion 17 serving as a symmetric axis toward the light emitting surface portion 16 that forms an arc shape on the radially outer side. The surface portion 16 defines the outer peripheral surface of the light collecting module 10.

  The light guiding member 21 includes at least one optical fiber 22 wound in an annular shape so as to surround the light emitting surface portion 16 of the light guide member 11, and light emission of the optical fiber 22 and the light guide member 11. A light guide block 23 disposed between the surface portion 16 and the light guide block 23. The light guide block 23 is for guiding light emitted from the light emitting surface portion 16 of the light guide member 11 from the outer periphery of the optical fiber 22 into the optical fiber 22. The optical fiber 22 may be a general one having a core portion 22a and a clad portion 22b having a refractive index lower than that of the core portion 22a. The entire cross section is formed into a substantially rectangular shape. An end portion of the optical fiber 22 (not shown) is drawn from the condensing unit 20 and connected to an energy recovery means (not shown) such as a photoelectric converter or a laser oscillator. In this case, the optical fiber 22 can be used as an optical amplifier or a laser resonator. When used as an optical amplifier, it is possible to extract a high-power energy beam from the other end side by introducing weak seed light from the one end side. Details thereof are well known in JP-A-10-135548. When used as a laser resonator, both ends of the optical fiber 22 have a predetermined reflectivity so that the whole functions as a resonator, or FBG (fiber Bragg) is provided at both ends of the optical fiber to lower the oscillation threshold. A configuration in which resonators called “gratings” are connected can be employed. A technique relating to such an optical fiber laser is well known, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-238928.

The light guide block 23 has a symmetric shape with respect to a surface including the light reflection surface portion 17 (symmetric axis) and the ridge portion 15 b of the light guide member 11. The light guide block 23 is formed of an optically transparent material, has the same refractive index as that of the light guide member 11, and may have the same refractive index as that of the molding material 24. The light guide block 23 in the present embodiment includes a light introduction surface portion 23a, a light guide surface portion 23b, and an inclined surface portion 23c. The light introduction surface portion 23 a is bonded to the light emitting surface portion 16 of the light guide member 11 at the inner peripheral side, and the light guide surface portion 23 b is bonded to the inner peripheral surface of the molding material 24 of the optical fiber 22. The inclined surface portion 23c has a function for totally reflecting light propagating in the light guide block 23 in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, a gap 25 having a substantially triangular prism shape is formed between the adjacent inclined surface portion 23c and the inner peripheral surface of the molding material 24 of the optical fiber 22, and this is used as an air layer in this embodiment. When the refractive index of the light guide block 23 is n, in the present embodiment, it is effective to set the angle γ formed by the adjacent inclined surface portion 23c to be smaller than π−2sin ⁻¹ (1 / n).

  In addition, it is also possible to employ | adopt the cyclic | annular photoelectric converter surrounding it instead of the light guide member 21 as mentioned above so that the outer peripheral surface of the condensing module 10 may be covered.

  The light reflecting member 12 in the present embodiment has an inner flange portion 12 b that surrounds the optical fiber 22 on the outer peripheral side and covers the upper surface side of the light guide block 23. As a result, light leaking to the outside from the light guide block 23 and the mold material 24 can be returned to the light guide block 23 and the mold material 24 and finally guided to the optical fiber 22 so that the loss of light is reduced. Consideration.

  Since the circular condensing unit 20 as in this embodiment has omnidirectionality in which the ridges 15b are radial, it is necessary to be more nervous in the direction of installation than in the previous embodiment. Absent. However, it can be said that it is basically preferable to arrange the light incident surface portion 14 so that the state in which the light incident surface portion 14 is perpendicular to the sunlight is the longest. Accordingly, the light incident on the light guide member 11 from the light incident surface portion 14 enters the light guide block 23 of the light guiding member 21 from the light emitting surface portion 16, and from here through the light guiding surface portion 23 b and the molding material 24, the optical fiber. It is led to 22 core portions 22a.

  In the present embodiment described above, incident light is guided to the radially outer side of the light guide member 11, but it is also possible to guide incident light to the radially inner side of the light guide member 11. FIG. 8 shows a plan view of another embodiment of the light collecting unit 20 according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional structure taken along the line IX-IX. Elements having the same functions as those of the previous embodiment are shown in FIG. The same reference numerals are used to omit the duplicated description.

  The light collecting unit 20 in the present embodiment includes a light guiding member 21 having a cylindrical light introduction surface portion 21 a and a plurality of light collecting modules 10 arranged so as to surround the light guiding member 21. The contours of the light incident surface portions 14 of the individual light guide members 11 constituting these light collecting modules 10 each have a fan shape, and a concave arc-shaped light emitting surface portion 16 that is in close contact with the light introducing surface portion 21a of the light guiding member 21. And a light reflecting surface portion 17 having a convex arc shape on the opposite side. A pair of adjacent side end surface portions 18 of the plurality of light guide members 11 are joined to each other to form a ring shape as a whole, and the ridge portions 15b are radially formed around the light guide member 21. Accordingly, the individual light guide members 11 are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the light guide member 21 and are annular as a whole. Also in the present embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, these are formed in an annular shape by integral molding without joining the individual light guide members 11.

The light guide member 21 has a light reflection surface portion 21b that is recessed in a conical shape at one end in the longitudinal direction, and a conical light reflection member 26 that covers the light reflection surface portion 21b has a gap 27 between the light reflection surface portion 21b. Is arranged to form. The surface (inner side surface) 26a of the light reflecting member 26 facing the light reflecting surface portion 21b reflects the light emitted from the light reflecting surface portion 21b again without being totally reflected from the light reflecting surface portion 21b into the light guiding member 21. It is formed on a mirror surface and has the same function as the light reflecting member 12 described above. The central angle δ of the light reflecting surface portion 21b of the light guide member 21 is preferably larger than 2sin ⁻¹ (1 / n), where n is the refractive index of the light guide member 21. It is effective to make the central angle of the inner side surface 26a of the light reflecting member 26 larger than this. The light reflecting surface portion 21 b has a function of totally reflecting light incident from the light introducing surface portion 21 a toward the other end in the longitudinal direction of the light guiding member 21.

  A laser oscillator 28 is integrally joined to the other longitudinal end of the light guide member 21. The laser oscillator 28 has a laser medium 28a and a pair of reflection films 28b formed on both end faces of the laser medium 28a, and repeats reflection in the laser medium 28a between the pair of reflection films 28b. Light energy can be amplified.

  Therefore, the light that has entered the light guide member 11 from the light incident surface portion 14 is guided from the light emitting surface portion 16 of the light guide member 11 to the light guiding member 21. Then, the laser light amplified by the laser oscillator 28 is emitted through the reflection film 28b on the tip end side, and this can be used industrially.

  It should be noted that the present invention should be construed only from the matters described in the claims, and in the above-described embodiment, all the changes and modifications included in the concept of the present invention are other than those described. Is possible. That is, all matters in the above-described embodiment are not intended to limit the present invention, and include any configuration not directly related to the present invention. To get.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Condensing module 11 Light guide member 12 Light reflection member 12a Surface 12b Inner flange part 13 Photoelectric converter 13a Surface 14 Light incident surface part 14a Multilayer film 15 Back surface part 15a Inclined surface 15b Ridge part 16 Light-emitting surface part 17 Light reflection surface part 18 side End surface portion 20 Condensing unit 21 Light guiding member 21a Light introducing surface portion 21b Light reflecting surface portion 22 Optical fiber 22a Core portion 22b Clad portion 23 Light guide block 23a Light introducing surface portion 23b Light guiding surface portion 23c Inclined surface portion 24 Mold material 25 Air gap 26 Light reflecting Member 26a inner surface 27 gap 28 laser oscillator 28a laser medium 28b reflection film L light α inclination angle of inclined surface with respect to light incident surface portion β angle formed by ridge portion with respect to light incident surface portion γ angle formed between adjacent inclined surface portions δ of light reflecting surface portion Central angle

Claims (7)

A light incident surface portion extending along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction; and located on the opposite side of the light incident surface portion, and the first and second A back surface portion extending along the direction, a third direction located on one end side along the first direction and intersecting the first and second directions, and the second direction. A light guide member having a light exit surface extending along
A light reflecting member that is disposed so as to face the back surface portion of the light guide member with a gap, and that allows light emitted from the back surface portion to enter the light guide member again from the back surface portion; At least one of the light incident surface portion and the back surface portion of the light guide member is defined by a pair of inclined surfaces inclined in opposite directions within a plane orthogonal to the first direction, and the pair of inclined surfaces. And a ridge extending along the first direction,
The thickness of the light guide member is set to be thicker toward the light emitting surface side along the first direction, and is set to be thinner toward the ridge portion along the second direction,
The condensing module, wherein an interval between a back surface portion of the light guide member and the light reflecting member is set so as to extend toward the light emitting surface portion side along the first direction.   The pair of inclined surfaces and the ridge portion thereof are formed on the back surface portion of the light guide member, and an interval between the back surface portion of the light guide member and the light reflecting member is the ridge along the second direction. The condensing module according to claim 1, wherein the condensing module is set so as to be narrowed away from the portion.   The light collecting module according to claim 1, further comprising a filter that covers a light incident surface portion of the light guide member and has wavelength selective transparency.   The light guide member further includes a light reflecting surface portion that is located on the opposite side of the light emitting surface portion and extends along a first direction and a second direction that intersects the first direction. The condensing module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein A plurality of light collecting modules according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A light guide member disposed so as to surround the plurality of light collecting modules, and the light incident surface portion of each light guide member constituting the light collecting module has a fan shape and the light emitting surface portion. Becomes a circular arc surface, these are arranged point-symmetrically and circular as a whole,
The light guiding member is disposed between at least one optical fiber wound in an annular shape along the light emitting surface portion of the light guide member, and between the optical fiber and the light emitting surface portion of the light guide member. And a light guide block for guiding light emitted from a light emitting surface portion of the light guide member from the outer periphery of the optical fiber into the optical fiber. A light guide member having a cylindrical light incident surface portion;
A plurality of light collecting modules according to claim 4 arranged so as to surround the light guiding member, and the contour shapes of the light incident surface portions of the individual light guide members constituting the light collecting modules are each fan-shaped. The light incident surface portion of each light guide member is in close contact with the light incident surface portion of the light guiding member and the light reflecting surface portion is an arc surface, and is arranged symmetrically with respect to the light guiding member as a whole. A condensing unit characterized by being annular.   The light condensing unit according to claim 6, wherein the light guiding member has a light reflecting surface that is recessed in a conical shape at one end in a longitudinal direction thereof.

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