Electronically controlled optical scanning
View Patent ↗A device for generating light pulses that are separated in terms of time has a light source that emits a sequence of light pulses. A regulation signal is formed within a regulation circuit from a cycle signal and the light pulse sequence of the light sources via a phase detector. The regulation circuit includes a regulator that generates a setting signal that influences the repeat frequency of the light pulse sequence of the light source.
1. A device for generating time-separated light pulses comprising:
(a) a first light source emitting a first light pulse sequence of light pulses at a repeat frequency;
(b) a regulation circuit comprising a regulator generating a setting signal that influences the repeat frequency;
(c) a cycle signal;
(d) a phase detector; and
(e) a regulation signal formed within the regulation circuit from the cycle signal and the first light pulse sequence via the phase detector;
wherein the cycle signal is a second light pulse sequence that is generated via a second light source; and
wherein the light pulse sequences of the first and second light sources have a periodically varying time offset of up to 1 ns.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the regulation circuit comprises an element for forming a regulation deviation signal from the regulation signal and a guide signal.
3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the element for forming the regulation deviation signal is an adder.
4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the guide signal is periodic and has an adjustable amplitude or an adjustable frequency.
5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the guide signal is a sine signal or a triangular signal.
6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second light sources are mode-coupled lasers.
7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second light sources are fiber lasers.
8. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the setting signal controls a mechanical setting element for adjusting the resonator length of the first light source.
9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the setting element is a piezo-translator.
10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the light pulse sequences have repeating frequencies of up to 200 MHz.
11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the light pulses have a pulse duration of up to 1 ps.
12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the pulse duration is up to 200 fs.
13. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the pulse duration is up to 100 fs.
14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-correlation signal is formed from the light pulse sequences via a correlator.
15. A device for generating time-separated light pulses comprising:
(a) a first light source emitting a first light pulse sequence of light pulses at a repeat frequency;
(b) a regulation circuit comprising a regulator generating a setting signal that influences the repeat frequency;
(c) a cycle signal;
(d) a phase detector; and
(e) a regulation signal formed within the regulation circuit from the cycle signal and the first light pulse sequence via the phase detector;
wherein the regulator is a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) regulator.