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: There is provided a distance measurement device that can successfully take in reflected light from a distance measurement area, and at the same time, can achieve compactness of the distance measurement device. The distance measurement device includes a fixed part, a rotating part that is rotatably disposed on the fixed part, a laser light source that is disposed in the fixed part, and a photodetector that is disposed in the fixed part. The distance measurement device further includes a beam splitter that is disposed in the fixed part and separates an optical path of projection light emitted from the laser light source from an optical path of reflected light reflected by a distance measurement area and an imaging lens that is disposed in a common optical path of projection light and reflected light and is used for taking in reflected light reflected by the distance measurement area.

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: There is provided a distance measurement device that can successfully take in reflected light from a distance measurement area, and at the same time, can achieve compactness of the distance measurement device. The distance measurement device includes a fixed part, a rotating part that is rotatably disposed on the fixed part, a laser light source that is disposed in the fixed part, and a photodetector that is disposed in the fixed part. The distance measurement device further includes a beam splitter that is disposed in the fixed part and separates an optical path of projection light emitted from the laser light source from an optical path of reflected light reflected by a distance measurement area and an imaging lens that is disposed in a common optical path of projection light and reflected light and is used for taking in reflected light reflected by the distance measurement area.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes a pressure chamber, a main flow path, an actuator, a nozzle, a first communication flow path, and a filter. The pressure chamber is filled with an ink. The main flow path supplies the ink to the pressure chamber. The actuator changes the pressure of the ink filled in the pressure chamber. The nozzle is connected to the pressure chamber and ejects the ink filled in the pressure chamber by driving of the actuator. The first communication flow path connects the pressure chamber to the main flow path. The filter is disposed at a predetermined position between the nozzle and the vicinity of a first boundary of the main flow path and the first communication flow path, and the filter captures an impurity in the ink which has a size larger than the diameter of the nozzle.

Abstract: In a camera module, a lens for forming an image on an imaging element having a rectangular light receiving surface is formed in a shape obtained by removing a peripheral portion of a circular lens, such as a generally oval shape, and a cylindrical lens barrel coaxially holding the lens is formed in a shape conforming to that of the lens. A part of a focal adjustment actuator is disposed in a space created on a side of the lens barrel in correspondence with the removed portion of the lens, whereby reduction in size of the entirety of the camera module is promoted.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes: a carriage moveably supported on an upper surface of a mount base and holding a light source, a light condensing member and optical components guiding the laser light from the light source to the light condensing member; a wiring member connected to the light source to supply electric power thereto; and a protection cover covering the upper surface of the mount base and a part of the wiring member and is provided with an opening through which the laser light passing through the light condensing member is irradiated onto the optical disk. The light source, light condensing member and optical components are located within a region obtained by projecting the opening in a direction perpendicular to a disk surface of the optical disk, and at least one of the light source, light condensing member and optical components protrudes into the opening in the protection cover.

Abstract: In a camera module, a lens for forming an image on an imaging element having a rectangular light receiving surface is formed in a shape obtained by removing a peripheral portion of a circular lens, such as a generally oval shape, and a cylindrical lens barrel coaxially holding the lens is formed in a shape conforming to that of the lens. A part of a focal adjustment actuator is disposed in a space created on a side of the lens barrel in correspondence with the removed portion of the lens, whereby reduction in size of the entirety of the camera module is promoted.

Abstract: An optical head 200 comprises: a light source 101 that emits a light beam; an objective lens 105 that condenses, in the form of converging light, the light beam emitted by the light source 101, onto an information recording medium; a cylindrical lens 115 onto which a reflected light beam that is reflected by the information recording medium is incident, and which generates astigmatism for forming a focus error signal; a light detector 120 that receives the reflected light beam passing through the cylindrical lens 115; and a holder 130 that holds the cylindrical lens 115 and the light detector 120. The holder 130 has a first main face and a second main face that extend in directions that intersect the optical axis of the reflected light beam. The cylindrical lens 115 is bonded to the first main face and the light detector 120 is bonded to the second main face.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes light sources for respectively emitting a plurality of different wavelengths of light, a unit structured for causing at least a part of the light emitted from the light sources to pass a same optical path; and a focusing unit for focusing the light. The focusing unit includes at least first and second focusing parts, the first focusing part being to focus mainly a wavelength of light different from a wavelength of light to be mainly focused by the second focusing part. The optical pickup device and optical disk device are capable of realizing at least one of thickness reduction, size reduction and suppression against characteristic deterioration even where coping with various wavelengths of laser including a blue laser.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes light sources for respectively emitting a plurality of different wavelengths of light, a unit structured for causing at least a part of the light emitted from the light sources to pass a same optical path; and a focusing unit for focusing the light. The focusing unit includes at least first and second focusing parts, the first focusing part being to focus mainly a wavelength of light different from a wavelength of light to be mainly focused by the second focusing part. The optical pickup device and optical disk device are capable of realizing at least one of thickness reduction, size reduction and suppression against characteristic deterioration even where coping with various wavelengths of laser including a blue laser.

Abstract: An optical head comprises: a light source that emits a light beam; an objective lens that condenses, in the form of converging light, the light beam emitted by the light source, onto an information recording medium; a cylindrical lens onto which a reflected light beam that is reflected by the information recording medium is incident, and which generates astigmatism for forming a focus error signal; a light detector that receives the reflected light beam passing through the cylindrical lens; and a holder that holds the cylindrical lens and the light detector. The holder has a first main face and a second main face that extend in directions that intersect the optical axis of the reflected light beam. The cylindrical lens is bonded to the first main face and the light detector is bonded to the second main face.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes light sources for respectively emitting a plurality of different wavelengths of light, a unit structured for causing at least a part of the light emitted from the light sources to pass a same optical path; and a focusing unit for focusing the light. The focusing unit includes at least first and second focusing parts, the first focusing part being to focus mainly a wavelength of light different from a wavelength of light to be mainly focused by the second focusing part. The optical pickup device and optical disk device are capable of realizing at least one of thickness reduction, size reduction and suppression against characteristic deterioration even where coping with various wavelengths of laser including a blue laser.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes light sources for respectively emitting a plurality of different wavelengths of light, a unit structured for causing at least a part of the light emitted from the light sources to pass a same optical path; and a focusing unit for focusing the light. The focusing unit includes at least first and second focusing parts, the first focusing part being to focus mainly a wavelength of light different from a wavelength of light to be mainly focused by the second focusing part. The optical pickup device and optical disk device are capable of realizing at least one of thickness reduction, size reduction and suppression against characteristic deterioration even where coping with various wavelengths of laser including a blue laser.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes light sources for respectively emitting a plurality of different wavelengths of light, a unit structured for causing at least a part of the light emitted from the light sources to pass a same optical path; and a focusing unit for focusing the light. The focusing unit includes at least first and second focusing parts, the first focusing part being to focus mainly a wavelength of light different from a wavelength of light to be mainly focused by the second focusing part. The optical pickup device and optical disk device are capable of realizing at least one of thickness reduction, size reduction and suppression against characteristic deterioration even where coping with various wavelengths of laser including a blue laser.

Abstract: To reduce the size or thickness of an optical pickup device and an optical disk drive, an optical pickup device includes a light source that radiates laser light; a condensing member that condenses the laser light onto a recording medium; an optical member that reflects some of the laser light radiated from the light source into the condensing member and transmits the rest of the radiated laser light; and a light receiving sensor that receives the rest of the laser light transmitted through the optical member so as to detect an amount of laser light.

Abstract: A camera module 100 includes a movable section 10 that includes a lens 11, a fixed section 30 having a hollow space extending in the optical axis direction of the lens 11, and an elastic body 40 that elastically supports the movable section 10 and the fixed section 30, an imaging element 3 that is fixed to the fixed section 30 and has a light-receiving surface perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens 11, a plurality of magnets 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d arranged along the fixed section 30, and a coil section 22 provided in the movable section 10. The elastic body 40 includes an upper spring 41a and a lower spring 41b, which support the fixed section 30 between adjacent ones of the magnets 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d along the arrangement direction of these magnets on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens 11. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a camera module with an automatic focusing control function, whose thickness can be reduced remarkably.