Abstract: A beam irradiation device includes: a laser light source for emitting laser light; an actuator which scans a targeted area with the laser light; a servo optical system which changes a propagating direction of servo light in response to driving of the actuator; a photodetector which receives the servo light to output a signal depending on a light receiving position of the servo light; an actuator controlling section which controls the actuator based on the signal to be outputted from the photodetector; and a laser controlling section which controls the laser light source based on the signal to be outputted from the photodetector. The laser controlling section controls the laser light source to emit the laser light in a pulse manner at a timing when the light receiving position of the servo light coincides with a predetermined targeted position.

Abstract: A beam irradiation device includes a photodetector which receives servo light and outputs a detection signal depending on a light receiving position of the servo light, and a signal processing section which obtains the light receiving position based on the detection signal. In the above arrangement, the signal processing section has an A/D conversion circuit which converts the detection signal into a digital signal, and an error signal adjusting circuit which converts an error component signal to be outputted from the photodetector when the photodetector is not irradiated by the servo light, into a signal within a processable range of the A/D conversion circuit, and supplies the converted signal to the A/D conversion circuit. A first digital signal derived from the detection signal is corrected with a second digital signal derived from the error component signal.

Abstract: For generation of optical elements, a master prototype, a resin master, a resin molded article or a metal mold is used. In the master prototype, the resin master, the resin molded article or the metal mold, a fine relief structure is formed on a plane through which an object light is transmitted at a pitch smaller than a wavelength band of the object light, an identification pattern region is disposed in a part of a region where fine relief structure is formed, and in the identification pattern region, a state of the fine relief structure is different from that in the other region. An actual manufacturer of the master prototype, the resin master, the resin molded article or the metal mold can be identified by physically verifying the identification pattern region.

Abstract: A laser radar system is provided with a laser light source which emits laser light, a light scanning portion which causes the laser light to scan a target area, an optical filter which removes light of an angle component different from an angle component of reflected light of the laser light from the target area, a photodetector which receives the reflected light transmitted through the optical filter, and a light collecting element which collects the reflected light on the photodetector.

Abstract: A beam irradiation device includes a photodetector which receives servo light; a signal processing section which generates a position detection signal based on a detection signal from the photodetector; and a control section which controls the laser light source and the actuator for beam scanning based on the position detection signal. The signal processing section performs a sampling operation with respect to the detection signal from the photodetector at two consecutive sampling timings. The signal processing section includes an A/D converting section which converts a difference between two sampling values obtained by the sampling operation into a digital signal, and a computing section which computes the position detection signal based on the digital signal from the A/D converting section.

Abstract: A beam irradiation device is provided with a laser light source which emits laser light, a mirror actuator which causes the laser light to scan a targeted area, and an emission window through which laser light reflected on a mirror of the mirror actuator is transmitted. The emission window is formed with an anti-reflection film for suppressing surface reflection. The anti-reflection film has an angle dependence such that a lower limit of a reflectance is maintained in an incident angle range (0 to 20°) of the laser light at least corresponding to a scanning range of the laser light.

Abstract: A laser beam and a servo beam are incident on a mirror and a transparent member, respectively, so that an angle direction A1 from an optical axis of the laser beam to be incident on the mirror to an incidence plane of the mirror and an angle direction A2 from an optical axis of the servo beam to be incident on the transparent member to an incidence plane of the transparent member are opposite to each other. With such layout of an optical system, scan loci of the servo beam corresponding to respective scan lines become closer to parallel. In the incidence plane and the outgoing plane of the servo beam of the transparent member, fine periodic structures tapered from the incidence plane and the outgoing plane are formed at pitches each equal to or less than a wavelength band of the servo beam. By this periodic structure, reflection of the servo beam on the incidence plane and the outgoing plane is suppressed.

Abstract: A beam irradiation apparatus includes: an actuator which scans a target region with a laser beam; a photodetector which receives a servo beam and outputs a signal according to a beam reception position; an optical unit which makes the servo beam displaced on the photodetector in association with driving of the actuator; and a position signal generation circuit that generates a signal according to the reception position of the servo beam based on an output signal from the photodetector. The position signal generation circuit has a signal removal circuit that removes a disturbance signal generated when the laser beam is incident on the photodetector, from an output signal of the photodetector.

Abstract: A laser radar according to an embodiment of the invention includes a beam irradiation head which emits a laser beam and a control circuit which controls the beam irradiation head to perform scan in a two-dimensional direction with the laser beam. In the laser radar, the beam irradiation head includes a laser beam source; a mirror to which the laser beam emitted from the laser beam source is incident; and a driving mechanism which rotates the mirror in first and second directions about a first rotating axis and a second rotating axis perpendicular to the first rotating axis respectively. The control circuit controls the rotation of the mirror in the first direction and the second direction such that a scan region of the laser beam becomes a rectangular shape.

Abstract: A beam irradiation device includes a photodetector which receives servo light and outputs a detection signal depending on a light receiving position of the servo light, and a signal processing section which obtains the light receiving position based on the detection signal. In the above arrangement, the signal processing section has an A/D conversion circuit which converts the detection signal into a digital signal, and an error signal adjusting circuit which converts an error component signal to be outputted from the photodetector when the photodetector is not irradiated by the servo light, into a signal within a processable range of the A/D conversion circuit, and supplies the converted signal to the A/D conversion circuit. A first digital signal derived from the detection signal is corrected with a second digital signal derived from the error component signal.

Abstract: A beam irradiation apparatus includes a light source which outputs a laser beam, a convergent lens into which the laser beam output from the light source is entered, and a scanning portion which makes the laser beam transmitted through the convergent lens scan on a target region. In the beam irradiation apparatus, the laser light source is arranged such that a pn junction surface of a laser chip is parallel with the vertical direction. Further, length of the laser beam in the vertical direction on the target region is set by length of a light emitting portion of the laser light source in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A beam irradiation device includes: a first light source for emitting laser light; an actuator for moving a scanning section for receiving the laser light to scan a target area with the laser light; a second light source movable with the scanning section and adapted for emitting diffused light; a light receiving position detecting device for receiving the diffused light to output a signal depending on a position of receiving the diffused light; and a light projecting element, disposed at a position closer to the light receiving position detecting device with respect to an intermediate position between the second light source and the light receiving position detecting device, for projecting an emission position to be defined by the second light source on the light receiving position detecting device via a predetermined projection area.

Abstract: A mirror actuator includes a base block; a first pivot shaft fixedly attached to the base block; a first pivot portion pivotally supported on the first pivot shaft; a second pivot shaft fixedly attached to the first pivot portion and perpendicularly intersecting with the first pivot shaft; a second pivot portion pivotally supported on the second pivot shaft; and a mirror attached to the second pivot portion. In the above arrangement, the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion respectively have a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion for bearing the first pivot shaft and the second pivot shaft at one position.

Abstract: A beam irradiation device includes a photodetector which receives servo light; a signal processing section which generates a position detection signal based on a detection signal from the photodetector; and a control section which controls the laser light source and the actuator for beam scanning based on the position detection signal. The signal processing section performs a sampling operation with respect to the detection signal from the photodetector at two consecutive sampling timings. The signal processing section includes an A/D converting section which converts a difference between two sampling values obtained by the sampling operation into a digital signal, and a computing section which computes the position detection signal based on the digital signal from the A/D converting section.

Abstract: In a beam irradiation device, laser light emitted from a laser light source is entered into a mirror. An actuator pivotally moves the mirror into which laser light is entered, whereby a targeted area is scanned with the laser light. Servo light emitted from a semiconductor laser is entered into a hologram element. The hologram element is pivotally moved with the pivotal movement of the mirror. A diffraction pattern is formed on an exit surface of the hologram element. A photodetector receives servo light transmitted through the hologram element to output a signal depending on a light receiving position of the servo light. The scan width of servo light on the photodetector is increased by a diffraction function of the hologram element.

Abstract: An optical disc 10 includes a substrate. The substrate is formed by mixing polymethyl methacrylate and a polylactic acid-based resin composition. The polylactic acid-based resin composition contains polylactic acid-based resin in which the content of lactide is reduced to 1,000 ppm or less, and a mold release agent of 0.16 to 0.32 phr. The weight ratio of the polylactic acid-based resin to the polymethyl methacrylate is 70:30 to 50:50.

Abstract: A light refracting element formed in parallel plate shape is attached to a support shaft of a mirror holder, a semiconductor laser and a PSD are disposed at positions between which the light refracting element is sandwiched. The light refracting element is rotated by rotation of the mirror holder, and whereby a laser beam irradiation position is changed on a light acceptance surface of PSD. The laser beam irradiation position on a light acceptance surface corresponds to the mirror rotation position, so that the mirror rotation position and a laser beam scanning position in a target area can be detected based on an output from the PSD.

Abstract: A beam irradiation apparatus includes: an optical element which changes a travel direction of a laser beam by being rotated in a predetermined direction; an actuator which rotates the optical element in the direction; a refractive element which is disposed in the actuator and rotates in association with rotation of the optical element; a servo beam source which emits a servo beam to the refractive element; a photodetector which receives the servo beam refracted by the refractive element and outputs a signal according to a position where the servo beam is received; and a power adjustment circuit which adjusts emission power of the servo beam source. The power adjustment circuit adjusts the emission power so that a reception amount of the servo beam in the photodetector becomes constant based on an output signal from the photodetector.

Abstract: A beam irradiation device includes: a laser light source for emitting laser light; an actuator which scans a targeted area with the laser light; a servo optical system which changes a propagating direction of servo light in response to driving of the actuator; a photodetector which receives the servo light to output a signal depending on a light receiving position of the servo light; an actuator controlling section which controls the actuator based on the signal to be outputted from the photodetector; and a laser controlling section which controls the laser light source based on the signal to be outputted from the photodetector. The laser controlling section controls the laser light source to emit the laser light in a pulse manner at a timing when the light receiving position of the servo light coincides with a predetermined targeted position.

Abstract: A beam irradiation device includes an actuator that scans a target region with laser light in a two-dimensional direction, and a servo optical system that changes a traveling direction of servo light along with driving of the actuator. The servo optical system includes a splitting element that splits the servo light, a first position sensing device that receives a first beam split by the splitting element and outputs a signal at a light-receiving position in a first direction, and a second position sensing device that receives a second beam split by the splitting element and outputs a signal at a light-receiving position in a second direction different from the first direction.