Scanning Optical System and Projector Provided with the Same

• US 20120113397A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta OPTO Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta OPTO Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Okumura, Sueyoshi, Konno, Kenji, Hirao, Yusuke
• Application Number:
  US13/265,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20120113397A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/37
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0858 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/00 Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor devices for changing pictures G03B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129

Abstract

Provided is a scanning optical system having reduced dimensions. The scanning optical system (10) is provided with a laser light source section (1), lens optical systems (11, 17, 19) which make laser beams parallel to each other, and a scanning section (2) which performs laser beam scanning by changing the tilt of a scanning mirror (3). The laser beams made parallel to each other travel toward the scanning mirror (3) by being reflected by means of a plurality of optical members, and a plane including at least two optical paths intersects the normal line direction of the reflecting surface (3a) of the scanning mirror (3) in the non-driven state.

Claims

1. A scanning optical system, comprising:

a laser light source portion that outputs a plurality of laser light beams;

a lens optical system that collimates each of the plurality of laser light beams; and

a s

canning portion that has a scanning mirror for reflecting the plurality of laser light beams toward a projection surface and performs scanning with the plurality of laser light beams through varying an inclination of the scanning mirror,

wherein the scanning optical system is configured so that;

the plurality of laser light beams after being collimated are reflected by a plurality of optical components to travel toward the scanning mirror; and

where an optical path between any two of the optical components different from each other is defined to form one optical path, a plane including at least two optical paths intersects a normal direction of a reflection surface of the scanning mirror in a non-driven state.

2. The scanning optical system according to claim 1, wherein

the scanning optical system is configured so that at least one of the plurality of laser light beams is reflected three or more times in a plane orthogonal to the normal direction of the reflection surface of the scanning mirror in the non-driven state and then enters the scanning mirror.

3. The scanning optical system according to claim 1, wherein

the scanning portion is constituted of micro-electro-mechanical systems into which the scanning mirror is incorporated, and the scanning mirror incorporated into the micro-electro-mechanical systems is rotatable around two axes orthogonal to each other.

4. The scanning optical system according to claim 3, wherein

the scanning mirror is driven using a piezoelectric element.

5. The scanning optical system according to claim 1, wherein a light output direction of the laser light source portion is parallel to the reflection surface of the scanning mirror in the non-driven state.

6. The scanning optical system according to claim 1, wherein

at least one of the plurality of laser light beams is generated by a semiconductor laser.

7. A projector, comprising:

a casing; and

a scanning optical system housed in the casing,

wherein the scanning optical system comprises;

a laser light source portion that outputs a plurality of laser light beams;

a lens optical system that collimates each of the plurality of laser light beams; and

a scanning portion that has a scanning mirror for reflecting the plurality of laser light beams toward a projection surface and performs scanning with the plurality of laser light beams through varying an inclination of the scanning mirror,

wherein the scanning optical system is configured so that;

the plurality of laser light beams after being collimated are reflected by a plurality of optical components to travel toward the scanning mirror; and

where an optical path between any two of the optical components different from each other is defined to form one optical path, a plane including at least two optical paths intersects a normal direction of a reflection surface of the scanning mirror in a non-driven state.

8. The projector according to claim 7, wherein

the projector is configured so that, in the casing, at least one of the plurality of laser light beams is reflected three or more times in a plane orthogonal to the normal direction of the reflection surface of the scanning mirror in the non-driven state and then enters the scanning mirror.

9. The projector according to claim 7, wherein

the projector is configured so that, in the casing, at least one of the plurality of laser light beams is reflected three or more times in a plane parallel to the reflection surface of the scanning mirror to travel along at least three sides of the casing and then enters the scanning mirror.