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Optical deflector

  • US 4,765,703 A
  • Filed: 08/04/1986
  • Issued: 08/23/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An optical deflector for deflecting a light beam for scanning a surface of a medium over a predetermined angular range, comprising:

  • a substrate having an electro-optical effect;

    a three-dimensional waveguide formed on one of opposite surfaces of said substrate, to guide waves of said light beam therethrough, said waveguide including a main path, and a plurality of branch paths diverging from said main path at respective branching portions of said waveguide, said branching portions being spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to said main path, said branch paths being angled with respect to said main path so as to cover said predetermined angular range, and the number of said branch paths being sufficient to scan the surface of said medium over said predetermined angular range;

    a plurality of deflector electrode means each disposed at a corresponding one of said branching portions of said three-dimensional waveguide, said each deflector electrode means producing an electric field locally at said corresponding branching portion of said waveguide, and thereby deflecting said light beam from said main path into a corresponding one of said plurality of branch paths, due to said electro-optical effect upon selective application of a voltage to said each deflector electrode means; and

    a toroidal lens disposed between an end of said corresponding branch path remote from said corresponding branching portion, and said surface of the medium, for converging the deflected light beam emitted selectively from said end of said corresponding branch path, so as to provide a beam spot at a point on said surface of the medium corresponding to said corresponding branch path.

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