Light source and optical coherence tomography apparatus using the same

摘要

A light source includes a control unit that controls currents injected into at least one light emitting region and a light emission spectrum conversion region. The at least one light emitting region includes a first light emitting region and a second light emitting region different from the first light emitting region, light that is emitted from the first light emitting region and passes through the light emission spectrum conversion region is combined with the light that is emitted from the first or second light emitting region and does not pass through the light emission spectrum conversion region. The control unit controls the currents injected into the light emission spectrum conversion region and the first light emitting region so that the current density of the light emission spectrum conversion region is smaller than the current density of the first light emitting region.

主权项

1. A light source comprising:
a superluminescent diode that includes
a first light emitting region and a second light emitting region different from the first light emitting region, anda light emission spectrum conversion region interposed between the first light emitting region and the second light emitting region; and a control unit that controls currents injected into the first light emitting region, the second light emitting region and the light emission spectrum conversion region, wherein, light that is emitted from the first light emitting region and passes through the light emission spectrum conversion region changes wavelength and intensity and is combined with the light that is emitted from the first light emitting region or the second light emitting region and does not pass through the light emission spectrum conversion region, wherein the control unit controls the currents injected into the light emission spectrum conversion region and the first light emitting region so that a current density of the light emission spectrum conversion region is smaller than a current density of the first light emitting region, wherein the control unit controls the current injected into the light emission spectrum conversion region independently from the currents injected into the first light emitting region and the second light emitting region so that the current density of the light emission spectrum conversion region is in a range from 0 to 2 kA/cm2 or a reverse bias is applied to the light emission spectrum conversion region so that the current thereof flows in a direction opposite to a direction in which a current injected into the first light emitting region flows, and wherein the superluminescent diode has a ridge waveguide structure inclined to a line perpendicular to end surfaces of the superluminescent diode, such that a direction of propagation of light emitted by the superluminescent diode is inclined relative to the line perpendicular to the end surfaces.