Optical scanner
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical device for creating an image on a medium comprising:
- an optical light source providing a writing light beam;
a medium for receiving said writing light beam to create an image; and
an optical scanner for causing said writing light beam from said light source to be scanned on said medium, said optical scanner comprising;
a scanning element;
a support element for freely supporting at one end thereof said scanning element, said support element being a flexure element;
a vibrating element provided on another end of said support element; and
a drive source for inducing oscillation in said vibrating element, whereby vibration of said vibrating element produces deformation of said support element and consequent scanning movement of said scanning element,wherein said support element is a shaft having at least two modes of elastic deformation and said drive source induces oscillations in said vibrating element of a resonant frequency corresponding to each mode of elastic deformation of said shaft, said scanning element being rotated in at least two directions by the elastic vibrations of said shaft, andwherein said vibrating element, shaft and scanning element are integrally formed as a flat plate-like member.
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Abstract
An optical scanner and beam printer using the optical scanner are disclosed in which the optical scanner includes a scanning element supporting a mirror surface, a support element for freely supporting at one end the scanning element and at another end a vibrating element, and a drive source for inducing vibrations in the vibrating element. The support element may be a shaft having two modes of elastic deformation upon vibration or a torsional spring which undergoes deformation upon vibration. Vibrations received by the vibrating element are applied to the scanning element by the support element to cause optical scanning movement by the scanning element.
54 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An optical device for creating an image on a medium comprising:
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an optical light source providing a writing light beam; a medium for receiving said writing light beam to create an image; and an optical scanner for causing said writing light beam from said light source to be scanned on said medium, said optical scanner comprising; a scanning element; a support element for freely supporting at one end thereof said scanning element, said support element being a flexure element; a vibrating element provided on another end of said support element; and a drive source for inducing oscillation in said vibrating element, whereby vibration of said vibrating element produces deformation of said support element and consequent scanning movement of said scanning element, wherein said support element is a shaft having at least two modes of elastic deformation and said drive source induces oscillations in said vibrating element of a resonant frequency corresponding to each mode of elastic deformation of said shaft, said scanning element being rotated in at least two directions by the elastic vibrations of said shaft, and wherein said vibrating element, shaft and scanning element are integrally formed as a flat plate-like member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification