Patent attributes
A light collecting device is disclosed that is able to couple light from a light emission structure to an optical fiber at low loss. The light collecting device includes an excitation light source for emitting excitation light to an optical fiber; a light condensing optical system which condenses the excitation light from the optical fiber to a light emission structure, and directs light reflected in the light emission structure and light generated in the light emission structure back to the optical fiber; a reflecting light detector for detecting intensity of the reflected light; a first optical divider for dividing the emission light and the reflected light based on their wavelengths, directing the emission light to the optical fiber, and propagating the reflected light to the excitation light source; a second optical divider arranged close to the excitation light source for propagating the excitation light to the first optical divider, and propagating the reflected light to the reflecting light detector; a position controller for controlling a light condensing position of the excitation light to be irradiated to the light emission structure; a unit for scanning the light condensing position of the excitation light, and acquiring a relationship of intensity of the reflected light and the light condensing position of the excitation light; and a unit for optimizing the light condensing position based on the intensity of the reflected light and the light condensing position of the excitation light.