Light source apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016306163-A1
Application number	US-201615196756-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Apr 17, 2014
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A light source apparatus includes first and second light sources having different maximum light amounts used, a first light amount detection section detecting a light amount of first light of the first light source, a second light amount detection section detecting a light amount of second light of the second light source, a light amount limiting section limiting a light amount of light incident upon the second light amount detection section so that light amounts detected in the first light amount detection section and the second light amount detection section match a predetermined value within a detection range when light with the maximum light amounts used are emitted from the first light source and the second light source, and a control section controlling amounts of light emission of the first light source and the second light source based on detection results of the first and second light amount detection sections.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A light source apparatus comprising:
a first light source that emits first light with a first light amount as a maximum light amount used; a second light source that emits second light with a second light amount higher than the first light amount as a maximum light amount used; a first light amount detection section provided on an optical path of the first light and configured to detect a light amount of the incident first light; a second light amount detection section having a detection range identical to a detection range of the first light amount detection section, provided on an optical path of the second light, and configured to detect a light amount of the incident second light; a light amount limiting section that limits a light amount of light incident upon the second light amount detection section so that the light amounts detected in the first light amount detection section and the second light amount detection section match a predetermined value within the detection range when light with the first light amount and light with the second light amount are emitted from the first light source and the second light source; and a control section that controls amounts of light emission of the first light source and the second light source based on detection results of the first and second light amount detection sections.

2 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light amount limiting section determines an attenuation factor of light based on a relationship between a first light emission ratio which is a ratio of an amount of light emission of the first light source to a reference light amount and a spectral sensitivity characteristic of the first light amount detection section and a relationship between a second light emission ratio which is a ratio of an amount of light emission of the second light source to the reference light amount and a spectral sensitivity characteristic of the second light amount detection section.

3 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light amount limiting section comprises a neutral density filter.

4 . The light source apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the light amount limiting section comprises a wavelength filter that allows the second light amount detection section to pass only light of a color to be detected.

5 . The light source apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the light amount limiting section comprises a slit in which an opening in a size based on the light emission ratio is formed.

6 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light amount limiting section comprises a light guide member that transmits light to be detected to the second light amount detection section, a light transmission characteristic of the light guide member being adjusted so that light amounts detected in the first light amount detection section and the second light amount detection section match a predetermined value within the detection range when light of the first light amount and light of the second light amount are emitted from the first light source and the second light source.

7 . The light source apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the light guide member is a light guide fiber and at least one of a diameter and a length of the light guide fiber is adjusted as the light transmission characteristic.

8 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second light amount detection sections comprise color sensors capable of detecting light amounts of a plurality of light beams.

9 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control section controls amounts of light emission of the first light source and the second light source based on detection results of the first light amount detection section and the second light amount detection section, a light amount of which is limited by the light amount limiting section.

Assignees

• Olympus Corp

Inventors

• Sakai Aiko
• Machida Ryo
• Yabe Yusuke
• Takahashi Tomoya

Classifications

• G02B23/2469

  using optical fibres · CPC title

• G02B27/141

  using dichroic mirrors · CPC title

• G01J1/0488

  with spectral filtering · CPC title

• G01J1/0418

  using attenuators · CPC title

• G01J1/0437

  using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators, spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters · CPC title