Abstract: A distance measurement device includes: a mirror disposed so as to be tilted relative to a rotation center axis; a drive unit configured to rotate the mirror about the rotation center axis; a photodetector configured to detect reflected light, of laser light, reflected in a distance measurement region; and a condensing lens disposed on the rotation center axis and configured to condense the reflected light reflected by the mirror, on the photodetector. The mirror has a shape elongated in one direction and is disposed such that a short axis thereof is tilted relative to the rotation center axis in a direction parallel to a plane including the rotation center axis. A width in a short-axis direction of the mirror is smaller than a width of a lens portion of the condensing lens as viewed in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis.

Abstract: There is provided a distance measurement device that can appropriately detect a distance to an object regardless of the distance. The distance measurement device includes a laser light source, a photodetector, and a controller. The controller performs a long-distance routine that detects timing for receiving light when an object is at a long distance, and a short-distance routine that detects the timing for receiving light when the object is at a short distance, based on a detection signal output from the photodetector during one distance measurement operation. The controller then selects one of a detection result of the timing for receiving light by the long-distance routine and a detection result of the timing for receiving light by the short-distance routine, and calculates the distance to the object irradiated with projection light based on the selected detection result.

Abstract: A distance measurement device for measuring a distance to an object that exists in a distance measurement region includes: a light source configured to emit laser light; a lens configured to converge the laser light emitted from the light source, into substantially parallel light; a tubular light blocking member disposed on an optical path of the laser light emitted from the light source and surrounding the optical path; a photodetector configured to detect reflected light, of the laser light, reflected at the distance measurement region; and a condensing lens configured to condense the reflected light passing through the outside of the light blocking member, onto the photodetector.

Abstract: A distance measurement device includes: a mirror disposed so as to be tilted relative to a rotation center axis; a drive unit configured to rotate the mirror about the rotation center axis; a photodetector configured to detect reflected light, of laser light, reflected in a distance measurement region; and a condensing lens disposed on the rotation center axis and configured to condense the reflected light reflected by the mirror, on the photodetector. The mirror has a shape elongated in one direction and is disposed such that a short axis thereof is tilted relative to the rotation center axis in a direction parallel to a plane including the rotation center axis. A width in a short-axis direction of the mirror is smaller than a width of a lens portion of the condensing lens as viewed in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis.

Abstract: There is provided a distance measurement device that can appropriately detect a distance to an object regardless of the distance. The distance measurement device includes a laser light source, a photodetector, and a controller. The controller performs a long-distance routine that detects timing for receiving light when an object is at a long distance, and a short-distance routine that detects the timing for receiving light when the object is at a short distance, based on a detection signal output from the photodetector during one distance measurement operation. The controller then selects one of a detection result of the timing for receiving light by the long-distance routine and a detection result of the timing for receiving light by the short-distance routine, and calculates the distance to the object irradiated with projection light based on the selected detection result.

Abstract: An optical pickup unit comprising: an objective lens that focuses laser light on an optical disc; a lens holder that holds the objective lens; a coil that is fitted on the lens holder and capable of driving the lens holder; and a reinforcement member that is fitted on the lens holder and reinforces strength of the lens holder.

Abstract: An optical disc device comprising: first and second laser diodes to radiate first and second laser beams with different first and second wavelengths, respectively; a first objective lens to irradiate the first laser beam to reflection area to read out image recording control data for controlling record of image recorded in the reflection area on label side of optical disc; a second objective lens to irradiate the second laser beam to image recording area to record image in the image recording area on the label side after reading out the data; a lens holder that the lenses are fixed thereon to be arranged side by side in radial direction, to be displaced in direction toward signal side and the radial direction; and a control unit to obtain distance between the lenses in the radial direction to calibrate recording position of image signal recorded in the image recording area.

Abstract: An optical pickup unit comprising: an objective lens that focuses laser light on an optical disc; a lens holder that holds the objective lens; a coil that is fitted on the lens holder and capable of driving the lens holder; and a reinforcement member that is fitted on the lens holder and reinforces strength of the lens holder.

Abstract: A focus servo apparatus which comprises an optical pickup having a power lens that changes an incidence angle of laser light incident on an objective lens and a power lens actuator that drives the power lens along an optical axis direction. In a focus search operation, the focus servo apparatus controls the power lens actuator to drive the power lens along the optical axis direction and detects having been brought into the focus servo area on the basis of a focus error signal obtained from photo-reception outputs from a photo-detector of the optical pickup, and then allows a focus servo to be in lock and returns the power lens to its initial position with driving the objective lens so as to maintain the lock state.

Abstract: An optical pickup unit is disclosed which comprises: an objective lens that focuses laser light on an optical disc; a lens holder that holds the objective lens; a coil that is fitted on the lens holder and capable of driving the lens holder; and a heat transfer improving member that is fitted on the holder to cause heat to be radiated, wherein the heat is generated in the coil when the coil is energized.

Abstract: An optical disc device comprising: first and second laser diodes to radiate first and second laser beams with different first and second wavelengths, respectively; a first objective lens to irradiate the first laser beam to reflection area to read out image recording control data for controlling record of image recorded in the reflection area on label side of optical disc; a second objective lens to irradiate the second laser beam to image recording area to record image in the image recording area on the label side after reading out the data; a lens holder that the lenses are fixed thereon to be arranged side by side in radial direction, to be displaced in direction toward signal side and the radial direction; and a control unit to obtain distance between the lenses in the radial direction to calibrate recording position of image signal recorded in the image recording area.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical disk device comprising an optical pick-up being structured to irradiate light beams onto an optical disk through an objective lens unit, receive the light beams reflected from the optical disk by a two-divided light-receiving element, convert amounts of light received by each segment of the light-receiving element into electrical outputs, and detect differential signals between the electrical outputs, a spherical aberration adjustment device for changing spherical aberration of light emitted from the objective lens, a detection device for detecting control signals for the adjustment device to minimize asymmetry of the deterioration degree of the differential signal amplitude detected when a light beam is defocused at any desired position on the radius of the optical disk, and a memory device for storing the control signals corresponding to the positions on the radius.

Abstract: An optical pickup unit is disclosed which comprises: an objective lens that focuses laser light on an optical disc; a lens holder that holds the objective lens; a coil that is fitted on the lens holder and capable of driving the lens holder; and a heat transfer improving member that is fitted on the holder to cause heat to be radiated, wherein the heat is generated in the coil when the coil is energized.

Abstract: A focus servo apparatus which comprises an optical pickup having a power lens that changes an incidence angle of laser light incident on an objective lens and a power lens actuator that drives the power lens along an optical axis direction. In a focus search operation, the focus servo apparatus controls the power lens actuator to drive the power lens along the optical axis direction and detects having been brought into the focus servo area on the basis of a focus error signal obtained from photo-reception outputs from a photo-detector of the optical pickup, and then allows a focus servo to be in lock and returns the power lens to its initial position with driving the objective lens so as to maintain the lock state.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a laser diode, and a light from the laser diode becomes a parallel light by a collimator lens, which is reflected toward an object lens by a reflection mirror. The parallel light transmitted through a through-hole provided on an object lens holder is reflected by a disk, and a reflected light is incident upon a light-receiving sensor via the collimator lens, a polarizing beam splitter and a prism. The parallel light reflected by the reflection mirror is reflected by a mirror integrated with the object lens holder, and incident upon the light-receiving sensor via the collimator lens, the polarizing beam splitter and the prism. A disk tilt and/or an object lens tilt are/is detected from output signals of divided light-receiving sensors of the light-receiving sensor.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical disk device comprising an optical pick-up being structured to irradiate light beams onto an optical disk through an objective lens unit, receive the light beams reflected from the optical disk by a two-divided light-receiving element, convert amounts of light received by each segment of the light-receiving element into electrical outputs, and detect differential signals between the electrical outputs, a spherical aberration adjustment device for changing spherical aberration of light emitted from the objective lens, a detection device for detecting control signals for the adjustment device to minimize asymmetry of the deterioration degree of the differential signal amplitude detected when a light beam is defocused at any desired position on the radius of the optical disk, and a memory device for storing the control signals corresponding to the positions on the radius.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a laser diode, and a light from the laser diode becomes a parallel light by a collimator lens, which is reflected toward an object lens by a reflection mirror, and focused on a disk through the object lens. A reflected light from the disk is incident on a light-receiving sensor via the collimator lens and a polarization beam splitter. A disk tilt or a lens tilt that renders an amplitude of a push-pull signal of the light-receiving sensor maximum at an arbitrary radial location of the disk is detected. Furthermore, in recording or reproducing the signal, a tilt amount of the disk or the lens (inclination angle) in accordance with the radial location as of that time is set.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a laser diode, and a light from the laser diode becomes a parallel light by a collimator lens, which is reflected toward an object lens by a reflection mirror. The parallel light transmitted through a through-hole provided on an object lens holder is reflected by a disk, and a reflected light is incident upon a light-receiving sensor via the collimator lens, a polarizing beam splitter and a prism. The parallel light reflected by the reflection mirror is reflected by a mirror integrated with the object lens holder, and incident upon the light-receiving sensor via the collimator lens, the polarizing beam splitter and the prism. A disk tilt and/or an object lens tilt are/is detected from output signals of divided light-receiving sensors of the light-receiving sensor.

Abstract: A number-of-pulses correction value corresponding to non-uniformity in conveyance appearing during one circulation of a conveying roller is held in a number-of-pulses correction value storing section 32. A control section 33 produces the target number of pulses (a real number) in the printing position at the destination of one line feed on the basis of the number-of-pulses correction value, and the target number of pulses (a real number) in the printing position at the destination of the line feed is changed into an integer, and the pulses whose number is an integer are fed to a pulse motor 11, to control the amount of rotation of the pulse motor 11. Further, the control section 33 corrects the target number of pulses in the printing position at the current time point in correspondence to the fact that the pulses whose number is not a real number but an integer are fed to the motor. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of non-uniformity in a pitch between lines.

Abstract: A UV-fixable thermal recording apparatus uses UV-fixable color thermal recording paper, uniformity of light intensity distribution, high efficiency and miniaturization of a fixing lamp to prevent degradation of the print quality this apparatus has at least one fixing lamp, and a row of heating resistors in the form of a plurality of heating resistors arranged parallel to the direction of paper delivery. The width in the direction of paper delivery of an area of the paper exposed by the fixing lamp is made larger than the length of the row of heating. resistors. The fixing lamp and the row of heating resistors are so arranged that the position of an (end on the upstream side in the forward direction of paper delivery) of the exposed area of the fixing lamp is on the downstream side of the position of an end (on the upstream side in this direction) of the row of heating resistors.