OPTICAL DEVICE, OPTICAL SCANNER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20100245962A1
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: MIZOGUCHI, Yasushi, YAMAGA, Hirokazu
• Granted Patent: US 7,907,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/221.200
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/141 using dichroic mirrors

Abstract

An optical device includes: a movable plate disposed in a distribution range of light input from outside, and having a light reflecting surface adapted to reflect the light; a shaft member adapted to support the movable plate so that the movable plate can swing around a predetermined axis; a ferromagnetic member provided to the movable plate; and a drive section configured to generate electromagnetic force between the drive section and the ferromagnetic member to thereby swing the movable plate, wherein a portion of the drive section, included in the distribution range of the light, is formed of a surface having a normal vector with which the light is reflected to outside of a predetermined range.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising:

a movable plate disposed in a distribution range of light input from outside, and having a light reflecting surface adapted to reflect the light;

a shaft member adapted to support the movable plate so that the movable plate can swing around a predetermined axis;

a ferromagnetic member provided to the movable plate; and

a drive section configured to generate electromagnetic force between the drive section and the ferromagnetic member to thereby swing the movable plate,

wherein a portion of the drive section, included in the distribution range of the light, is formed of a surface having a normal vector with which the light is reflected to outside of a predetermined range.

2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein

the surface having the normal vector includes a plane having a predetermined angle with the movable plate.

3. The optical device according to claim 2, wherein

the ferromagnetic member is a permanent magnet, and

the drive section includes

a coil disposed at a position opposed to the permanent magnet with a predetermined distance from the permanent magnet, and

an alternating current signal generator adapted to supply the coil with an alternating current signal.

4. The optical device according to claim 3, wherein

the plane having the predetermined angle is tilted in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a magnetic field of the permanent magnet.

5. The optical device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a substrate including a plane having the normal vector,

wherein the coil is mounted on the plane.

6. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein

the predetermined range includes a reflection range of light reflected by the movable plate.

7. An optical scanner comprising:

the optical device according to claim 1.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:

the optical scanner according to claim 7.