Abstract: A driving mechanism configured to turn a plate member with respect to a frame member around a predetermined turning axis includes a pair of supporting members supporting the plate member, a pair of actuators provided on both sides with respect to the turning axis and on the same surface side of the plate member. Each of the actuators includes a fixed electrode unit fixed to the frame member and a movable electrode unit fixed to the plate member. The fixed electrode unit includes a substrate, a pair of fixed comb electrodes provided on both surface sides of the substrate. The movable electrode unit includes a pair of movable comb electrodes, each of which engages with the corresponding fixed comb electrode with a gap therebetween. Both pairs of the fixed comb electrode and the corresponding movable comb electrode are configured such that a voltage can be applied therebetween independently.

Abstract: A hinge structure includes a rotatable plate member, a frame member, a spring member that connects the rotatable plate member with the frame member at each of two opposite positions along a rotation axis. The spring member includes a first axial section, a second axial section. An end of the first axial section is connected to the frame member, and an end of the second axial section is connected to the rotatable plate member. The spring member includes a first zigzag section and a second zigzag section formed on opposite sides with respect to the rotation axis, each of the first and second zigzag sections including parallel portions which are parallel with each other and with the rotation axis and bent portions each connecting adjacent parallel portions. A predetermined gap between the first and second axial section is smaller than a length of the parallel portions.

Abstract: An endoscope probe system includes an endoscope probe to be inserted into a body cavity to observe tissue of a living body. The endoscope probe system further includes a laser source that emits multiple laser beams, a light detector having multiple light receiving elements each of which detects intensity of light incident thereon, and a plurality of confocal optical systems arranged to focus the laser beams emitted from the laser source to small spots arranged in a matrix pattern on the target and selectively transmit the laser beams reflected by the target at the spots to respective ones of the light receiving elements of the light detector.

Abstract: A confocal probe emits a scanning beam to a target and receives light returned therefrom to obtain an image thereof. The confocal probe has a chamber accommodating an optical system. The optical system includes an optical fiber through which a light beam is introduced to the optical system, a converging lens that converges the light beam introduced by the optical fiber, an optical element having a light incident surface, a first surface and a light emerging surface which statically define an optical path of the light beam, and a deflecting device mounted on the first surface of the optical element. The light beam enters the optical element through the light incident surface, enters the deflecting device through the first surface, and is dynamically deflected by the deflecting device. The deflected beam is output through the light emerging surface, as the scanning beam, toward the target.

Abstract: There is provided a micromirror device, which is provided with a mirror layer including a mirror surface which is supported to be rotatable around a first axis passing through a center of the mirror surface, and an upper substrate having transparency including a first upper electrode part and a second upper electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first upper boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis, and a lower substrate including a first lower electrode part and a second lower electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first lower boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A hinge structure, for rotatably supporting a mirror surface of a micromirror device which rotates the mirror surface around at least an axis for scanning a beam, includes a linear body with one end joined to a surface which is rotated around the axis and the other end joined to a surface which does not rotate around the axis. The linear body includes a linear central part situated on the axis and a pair of extension parts extending from both ends of the central part to both ends of the linear body respectively to surround the central part in the same direction. The extension parts are formed so that space between them will be substantially constant. By the above composition, the hinge structure delivers high spring performance while being small-sized.

Abstract: A confocal probe is provided with an optical fiber introducing light having wavelengths within a predetermined wavelength range in the confocal probe, a collimating lens that collimates light emerged from an end surface of the optical fiber, a dispersing prism that receives the light collimated by the collimating lens and disperses the received light in a predetermined direction, light emerged from the dispersing prism and having the same wavelength being kept collimated, and a light converging optical system that converges the light emerged from the dispersing prism on a target (i.e., region of interest).

Abstract: There is provided a micromirror device, which is provided with a mirror layer including a mirror surface which is supported to be rotatable around a first axis passing through a center of the mirror surface, and an upper substrate having transparency including a first upper electrode part and a second upper electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first upper boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis, and a lower substrate including a first lower electrode part and a second lower electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first lower boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A confocal probe emits a scanning beam to a target and receives light returned therefrom to obtain an image thereof. The confocal probe has a chamber accommodating an optical system. The optical system includes an optical fiber through which a light beam is introduced to the optical system, a converging lens that converges the light beam introduced by the optical fiber, an optical element having a light incident surface, a first surface and a light emerging surface which statically define an optical path of the light beam, and a deflecting device mounted on the first surface of the optical element. The light beam enters the optical element through the light incident surface, enters the deflecting device through the first surface, and is dynamically deflected by the deflecting device. The deflected beam is output through the light emerging surface, as the scanning beam, toward the target.

Abstract: A confocal probe is provided with an optical fiber introducing light having wavelengths within a predetermined wavelength range in the confocal probe, a collimating lens that collimates light emerged from an end surface of the optical fiber, a dispersing prism that receives the light collimated by the collimating lens and disperses the received light in a predetermined direction, light emerged from the dispersing prism and having the same wavelength being kept collimated, and a light converging optical system that converges the light emerged from the dispersing prism on a target (i.e., region of interest).

Abstract: An endoscope probe system includes an endoscope probe to be inserted into a body cavity to observe tissue of a living body. The endoscope probe system further includes a laser source that emits multiple laser beams, a light detector having multiple light receiving elements each of which detects intensity of light incident thereon, and a plurality of confocal optical systems arranged to focus the laser beams emitted from the laser source to small spots arranged in a matrix pattern on the target and selectively transmit the laser beams reflected by the target at the spots to respective ones of the light receiving elements of the light detector.

Abstract: A confocal probe unit is provided with a scanning type confocal probe, which includes at least one scanning mirror, and a transparent substrate on which the at least one scanning mirror is mounted. The transparent substrate is inserted in an optical path of the confocal probe such that a light beam proceeding along the optical path is deflected by the scanning mirror.