Abstract: A spray device includes a holding part, a spray part, and a detection part. The holding part is capable of holding a liquid therein. The spray part atomizes and sprays the liquid held in the holding part. The detection part detects a liquid level of the liquid held in the holding part. The detection part includes a first electrode and a second electrode provided inside the holding part, and an application part. The application part applies a first voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode with the first electrode as an anode and the second electrode as a cathode, and then applies a second voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode with the first electrode as the cathode and the second electrode as the anode.

Abstract: A light projection method for a moving body which is performed by a processor of the moving body is provided. The method comprises: irradiating light from a light source of the moving body; scanning the light irradiated from the light source with an angle range that is formed by swing a mirror portion of an optical scanner of the moving body; acquiring change information of the angle range at which the mirror portion swings; changing the angle range at which the mirror portion swings based on the acquired change information; and changing an irradiation range of the light irradiated from the light source.

Abstract: A mirror drive portion which causes a mirror portion to swing around a predetermined swing axis; a single optical sensor including a single light emission portion and a single light reception portion which receives light emitted from the light emission portion; a light blocking portion which is arranged in the mirror portion to swing together with the swing of the mirror portion and periodically blocks the light emitted from the light emission portion along with the swing; and a mirror control portion which controls the swing of the mirror portion based on an alternating voltage and a detection signal of the optical sensor, wherein the mirror control portion acquires a state of the swing of the mirror portion based on a light reception state of the light reception portion and a zero-cross timing of the alternating voltage, and controls the swing of the mirror portion.

Abstract: A light projection method for a moving body which is performed by a processor of the moving body is provided. The method comprises: irradiating light from a light source of the moving body; scanning the light irradiated from the light source with an angle range that is formed by swing a mirror portion of an optical scanner of the moving body; acquiring change information of the angle range at which the mirror portion swings; changing the angle range at which the mirror portion swings based on the acquired change information; and changing an irradiation range of the light irradiated from the light source.

Abstract: A light projection device for a moving body is provided on the moving body and includes: a light source for irradiating light; an optical scanner which has a mirror portion for reflecting the light irradiated from the light source and a drive source for swinging the mirror portion, and scans the light irradiated from the light source; and a control portion which controls to acquire change information of an angle range at which the mirror portion swings, change the angle range at which the mirror portion swings by controlling the drive source based on the acquired change information, and change an irradiation range of the light irradiated from the light source.

Abstract: The optical scanning device includes a swingable reflector; a blocking unit that is provided in the reflector to move in linkage with the reflector; and a sensor unit that includes at least a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit, wherein each of the first and second sensor units includes an output unit, which is a light generator or an electromagnetic wave generator configured to output a detection target and a detection unit, which is a light receiver or an electromagnetic wave receiver configured to detect the detection target. The output unit is at a position that faces the detection unit. When the reflector is in a predetermined swing angle range, the blocking plate blocks a path of the detection target between the output unit and the detection unit.

Abstract: Provided is a light projection device, and includes: a light source having plural light emission portions arranged side by side in a predetermined direction; a projection lens; and an optical scanner having a mirror portion which scans light passed through the projection lens in a direction that the light emission portions are aligned, and a drive source swinging the mirror portion. The mirror portion scans a scanning light, which is irradiated from each light emission portion and scanned by the mirror portion, to form an intensity distribution having a central valley part and peaks located on both sides of the valley part. The optical scanner scans the light irradiated from the light emission portions in a manner that at least a peak of an intensity distribution of scanning light of other light emission portion is located in the valley part of the intensity distribution.

Abstract: A light projection device for a moving body is provided on the moving body and includes: a light source for irradiating light; an optical scanner which has a mirror portion for reflecting the light irradiated from the light source and a drive source for swinging the mirror portion, and scans the light irradiated from the light source; and a control portion which controls to acquire change information of an angle range at which the mirror portion swings, change the angle range at which the mirror portion swings by controlling the drive source based on the acquired change information, and change an irradiation range of the light irradiated from the light source.

Abstract: A mirror drive portion which causes a mirror portion to swing around a predetermined swing axis; a single optical sensor including a single light emission portion and a single light reception portion which receives light emitted from the light emission portion; a light blocking portion which is arranged in the mirror portion to swing together with the swing of the mirror portion and periodically blocks the light emitted from the light emission portion along with the swing; and a mirror control portion which controls the swing of the mirror portion based on an alternating voltage and a detection signal of the optical sensor, wherein the mirror control portion acquires a state of the swing of the mirror portion based on a light reception state of the light reception portion and a zero-cross timing of the alternating voltage, and controls the swing of the mirror portion.

Abstract: The optical scanning device includes a swingable reflector; a blocking unit that is provided in the reflector to move in linkage with the reflector; and a sensor unit that includes at least a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit, wherein each of the first and second sensor units includes an output unit, which is a light generator or an electromagnetic wave generator configured to output a detection target and a detection unit, which is a light receiver or an electromagnetic wave receiver configured to detect the detection target. The output unit is at a position that faces the detection unit. When the reflector is in a predetermined swing angle range, the blocking plate blocks a path of the detection target between the output unit and the detection unit.

Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning device. The optical scanning device includes a swingable reflection unit; a blocking unit that is provided in the reflection unit to move in linkage with the reflection unit; and a sensor unit that includes an output unit configured to output a detection target and a detection unit configured to detect the detection target, wherein, when the reflection unit is in a predetermined swing angle range, the blocking unit blocks a path of the detection target between the output unit and the detection unit.

Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning device. The optical scanning device includes a swingable reflection unit; a blocking unit that is provided in the reflection unit to move in linkage with the reflection unit; and a sensor unit that includes an output unit configured to output a detection target and a detection unit configured to detect the detection target, wherein, when the reflection unit is in a predetermined swing angle range, the blocking unit blocks a path of the detection target between the output unit and the detection unit.

Abstract: An optical pickup is configured such that light split by a light-splitting element is received by light-receiving elements provided on a light-receiving surface of a light-receiving unit, has on the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving unit quartered light-receiving portions that detect position-adjustment light and configured by equal quartering so as to be arranged in two dimensions, and in which the position of the light-splitting element is adjusted based on the position-adjustment light received by each of the quartered light-receiving portions.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a plurality of light sources, an objective lens, a diffractive optical element, and a light-detecting unit. The various light sources emit light of wavelengths that are different from each other. The objective lens focuses light on an optical disc. The diffractive optical element includes a diffracting portion and a light-blocking portion. The diffracting portion diffracts return light reflected from a first recording layer of the optical disc where information is being read or written. The light-blocking portion blocks stray light reflected from a second recording layer of the optical disc that is different from the first recording layer. The light-detecting unit receives the diffracted light of the diffractive optical element and generates an output signal to generate a tracking error signal based on this diffracted light. Furthermore, the light-blocking portion includes a plurality of light-blocking patterns which block light of wavelengths that are different from each other.

Abstract: The liquid crystal element includes a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal arranged between the substrates, a diffraction pattern including concentric diffraction electrodes formed on one substrate, and a phase shift pattern including concentric phase shift electrodes formed on the other substrate. The diffraction pattern includes a first region being of a constant range in a radial direction from a center and having a wide electrode interval, a second region being arranged on the outer side of the first region and having a narrow electrode interval, and a third region being arranged on the outer side of the second region and including a single diffraction electrode. An additional electrode facing the phase shift electrode is arranged in a gap between the diffraction electrodes in the first region.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes: a light source; an objective lens which condenses a light beam that is emitted from the light source on a recording layer of an optical recording medium; and a photo detector which receives reflected light that is reflected by the optical recording medium. Further on an optical path between the light source and the objective lens, a liquid lens which performs correction of spherical aberration by changing state of convergence or divergence of the input light beam and a liquid crystal element on which a plurality of phase shift regions are formed to adjust phase of the input light beam, and which performs correction of the spherical aberration by phase adjustment of the phase shift regions are arranged.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes: a light source; an objective lens which condenses a light beam that is emitted from the light source on a recording layer of an optical recording medium; and a photo detector which receives reflected light that is reflected by the optical recording medium. Further on an optical path between the light source and the objective lens, a liquid lens which performs correction of spherical aberration by changing state of convergence or divergence of the input light beam and a liquid crystal element on which a plurality of phase shift regions are formed to adjust phase of the input light beam, and which performs correction of the spherical aberration by phase adjustment of the phase shift regions are arranged.

Abstract: The liquid crystal element includes a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal arranged between the substrates, a diffraction pattern including concentric diffraction electrodes formed on one substrate, and a phase shift pattern including concentric phase shift electrodes formed on the other substrate. The diffraction pattern includes a first region being of a constant range in a radial direction from a center and having a wide electrode interval, a second region being arranged on the outer side of the first region and having a narrow electrode interval, and a third region being arranged on the outer side of the second region and including a single diffraction electrode. An additional electrode facing the phase shift electrode is arranged in a gap between the diffraction electrodes in the first region.

Abstract: The present invention aims to correct the spherical aberration and ensure the working distance and furthermore to obtain satisfactory recording and reproducing property by shaping the optical spot formed on the disc surface. A liquid crystal element for correcting spherical aberration includes diffraction electrodes for converting the light beam to a divergent light when reproducing a CD, and phase shift electrodes for providing a phase difference to the light beam when reproducing a BD. When reproducing a BD, voltage is applied to the diffraction electrodes as well as the phase shift electrodes to diverge the light beam and lower the light intensity of the central portion, thereby shaping the optical spot formed on the disc.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a beam shaping mirror. The mirror has a first optical surface on which a wavelength selection film and a diffraction grating are formed, and a second optical surface that is composed of a reflecting surface. The wavelength selection film passes a first laser beam and reflects a second laser beam. A light intensity distribution of the first laser beam is converted from an elliptic shape to a circular shape by operation in which the first laser beam which passes the wavelength selection film and is input to the beam shaping mirror, is reflected on the second optical surface, passes the wavelength selection film and is output from the mirror. The second laser beam is diverged by the diffraction grating. Directions of the first and second laser beams which are output from the mirror are made the same by diffraction of the second laser beam.