OPTICAL SCANNING ELEMENT AND IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS

• US 20090073526A1
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: UCHIKAWA, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,948,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/202.100
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11

Abstract

An optical scanning element includes: a movable member which has a reflection surface for reflecting light and rotatable around a rotation axis; and a transmitting member which has a first surface on the side opposite to the side facing the movable member and a second surface on the side facing the movable member, and transmits light entering the first surface and light entering the second surface from the reflection surface. The first surface is not parallel with the reflection surface when the movable member is in a neutral condition.

Claims

1. An optical scanning element comprising:

a movable member which has a reflection surface for reflecting light and rotatable around a rotation axis; and

a transmitting member which has a first surface on the side opposite to the side facing the movable member and a second surface on the side facing the movable member, and transmits light entering the first surface and light entering the second surface from the reflection surface,

wherein the first surface is not parallel with the reflection surface when the movable member is in a neutral condition.

2. The optical scanning element according to claim 1, wherein:

when an axis substantially parallel with the reflection surface and substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis in the neutral condition of the movable member is a neutral axis, the first surface is inclined to the neutral axis.

3. The optical scanning element according to claim 2, wherein the inclination angle of the first surface with respect to the neutral axis is the maximum inclination angle of the reflection surface with respect to the neutral axis at the time of rotation of the movable member or a larger angle.

4. The optical scanning element according to claim 1, wherein the first surface is inclined to the rotation axis.

5. The optical scanning element according to claim 1, wherein:

the movable member is rotatable around a first rotation axis and rotatable around a second rotation axis substantially orthogonal to the first rotation axis; and

the first surface is inclined to at least either the first rotation axis or the second rotation axis.

6. The optical scanning element according to claim 1, further comprising a package which accommodates the movable member,

wherein the package has a contact portion contacting the transmitting member.

7. The optical scanning element according to claim 1, further comprising a support member which supports the movable member,

wherein the support member is disposed on a surface not parallel with the first surface.

8. The optical scanning element according to claim 1, wherein the first surface and the second surface are not parallel with each other.

10. An image display apparatus comprising the optical scanning element according to claim 1 to be employed for scanning by using light modulated according to an image signal.

12. The image display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the optical scanning element has an absorbing member which absorbs light reflected by the first surface.

14. The image display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the optical scanning element is a first optical scanning element which scans in a first scanning direction by using light modulated according to an image signal;

a second optical scanning element which scans in a second scanning direction orthogonal to the first scanning direction by using light coming from the first optical scanning element; and

the first optical scanning element directs light reflected by the first surface toward a position different from that of the second optical scanning element.

16. The image display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

the optical scanning element is a first optical scanning element which scans in a first scanning direction by using light modulated according to an image signal;

a second optical scanning element which scans in a second scanning direction orthogonal to the first scanning direction by using light coming from the first optical scanning element; and

the first optical scanning element directs light reflected by the first surface toward a position different from that of the second optical scanning element.

9. An optical scanning element comprising:

a movable member which has a reflection surface for reflecting light and rotatable around a rotation axis; and

a transmitting member which has a first surface on the side opposite to the side facing the movable member and a second surface on the side facing the movable member, and transmits light entering the first surface and light entering the second surface from the reflection surface,

wherein light reflected by the first surface is directed toward a region different from a scanning area to be scanned by using light reflected by the reflection surface by rotation of the movable member.

11. An image display apparatus comprising the optical scanning element according to claim 9 to be employed for scanning by using light modulated according to an image signal.

13. The image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the optical scanning element has an absorbing member which absorbs light reflected by the first surface.

15. The image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the optical scanning element is a first optical scanning element which scans in a first scanning direction by using light modulated according to an image signal;

a second optical scanning element which scans in a second scanning direction orthogonal to the first scanning direction by using light coming from the first optical scanning element; and

the first optical scanning element directs light reflected by the first surface toward a position different from that of the second optical scanning element.

17. The image display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

the optical scanning element is a first optical scanning element which scans in a first scanning direction by using light modulated according to an image signal;

a second optical scanning element which scans in a second scanning direction orthogonal to the first scanning direction by using light coming from the first optical scanning element; and

the first optical scanning element directs light reflected by the first surface toward a position different from that of the second optical scanning element.