Abstract: An apparatus for photographing a moving object has a velocity detector that measures a velocity of an object, at least one camera that has an image sensor and is located so as to capture the object, an operating processor that calculates a photograph point in accordance with resolution required for an object image, a camera controller that controls the camera on the basis of a detected velocity so as to photograph the object when the object passes the photograph point, and an image transmitting processor that transmits image data, obtained by the camera, outside. The operating processor calculates the photograph point by using an object-resolution conversion diagram. The object-resolution conversion diagram represents a correspondence relationship between an angle of view, a number of pixels, an object distance, and a resolution.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a 3-D image has a projector, and a projection controller. The projector has a projection optical system, and projects a series of 2-D images on different projected-positions in a depth direction, in order, by using light passing through the projection optical system. Each 2-D image is formed on the basis of section-views of a 3-D object in the depth-direction. The projector repeatedly and successively projects the series of 2-D images so as to cause an afterimage-effect. In the present invention, the projection controller adjusts a projection-timing of the series of 2-D images, and controls the projection optical system in accordance with the projection-timing so as to focus each 2-D image and maintain a magnification of the series of 2-D images constant.

Abstract: A multi-beam color scanning device is provided with a multi-beam light source unit, a first polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams emitted by the multi-beam light source unit to scan in a horizontal scanning direction. The scanning beams pass through an f? optical system and are incident on a second polygonal mirror that deflects the light beams in a vertical scanning direction. The second polygonal mirror deflects the light beams by one line in the horizontal scanning direction at every horizontal scanning thereof. The light beams scan within a predetermined scanning area defined by deflection of the first and second polygonal mirrors. There is provided a light receiving unit that receives the plurality of light beams reflected by an object located within the predetermined scanning area. An operation system obtains a three-dimensional shape and color of the object based on the output of the light receiving unit.

Abstract: A three-dimensional imaging device repeats a process for outputting three-dimensional image signals for displaying first through N-th elemental images that constitute a three-dimensional image. The device includes: an imaging optical system that forms an image of a subject; an illuminating section that repeats an action to irradiate illumination light in several directions in turn to illuminate first through N-th positions on the subject that are different in distance from the imaging optical system; a driving section that repeats an action to drive the imaging optical system so as to focus on one of the first through N-th positions to which the illumination light is irradiated in synchronism with the action of the illuminating section; a capturing section that repeats an action to capture the subject image to generate image signals in synchronism with the action of the illuminating section; and an output section to output the image signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for photographing a moving object has a velocity detector that measures a velocity of an object, at least one camera that has an image sensor and is located so as to capture the object, an operating processor that calculates a photograph point in accordance with resolution required for an object image, a camera controller that controls the camera on the basis of a detected velocity so as to photograph the object when the object passes the photograph point, and an image transmitting processor that transmits image data, obtained by the camera, outside. The operating processor calculates the photograph point by using an object-resolution conversion diagram. The object-resolution conversion diagram represents a correspondence relationship between an angle of view, a number of pixels, an object distance, and a resolution.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device is provided with a light source that emits a plurality of light beams, a polygonal mirror that deflects the light beams to scan, and an optical system that converges the deflected light beams on a plurality of objects to be scanned. The objects are arranged on a side, with respect to the polygonal mirror, in which the light beams scan, from a position closer to the polygonal mirror to a position farther from the polygonal mirror in order. The optical system further includes a plurality of optical path turning systems that turn optical paths of the deflected light beams, respectively. Each of the optical path turning systems includes a plurality of reflection surfaces, the numbers of the reflection surfaces of the optical path turning systems are all even, or odd.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a 3-D image has a projector, and a projection controller. The projector has a projection optical system, and projects a series of 2-D images on different projected-positions in a depth direction, in order, by using light passing through the projection optical system. Each 2-D image is formed on the basis of section-views of a 3-D object in the depth-direction. The projector repeatedly and successively projects the series of 2-D images so as to cause an afterimage-effect. In the present invention, the projection controller adjusts a projection-timing of the series of 2-D images, and controls the projection optical system in accordance with the projection-timing so as to focus each 2-D image and maintain a magnification of the series of 2-D images constant.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device includes a multi-beam light source unit that emits a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths. The light beams are aligned in a main scanning direction. The device further includes first polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams in the main scanning direction, an f? optical system, a second polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams passed through the f? optical system in an auxiliary scanning direction that is perpendicular to the main scanning direction, the second polygonal mirror deflects the plurality of light beams in the auxiliary direction by one line at each main scanning of the plurality of light beams, and a projecting optical system that projects the plurality of light beams deflected by the second polygonal mirror on a screen.

Abstract: A lens unit for a scanning device includes a frame having a hollow cylindrical shape, the frame being defined with a lens contact portion therein, a lens accommodated in the frame contacting the lens contact portion, and a retainer accommodated in the frame to retain the lens in position, the retainer having a hollow cylindrical shape, one end side face of the retainer contacting a peripheral portion of the lens received by the frame, an other end portion of the retainer being secured to the frame so that the retainer presses the lens toward the lens contact portion of the frame to fix the lens to the frame. Deformation of the frame, lens and retainer due to the load generated as the retainer presses the lens absorbs deformation of the frame, lens and retainer due to temperature change at least within a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-beam scanning device including a first, a second and a third light emitting elements which emit a first, a second and a third light beams, respectively, and a prism unit through which the first, second and third light beams respectively emitted by the first, the second and the third light emitting elements pass. The prism unit includes at least two prisms being bonded to each other, a first reflective portion and a second reflective portion being formed on a surface on which said at least two prisms are bonded to each other. Further, the prism unit has a gap formed between the first reflective portion and the second reflective portion, the third beam emitted by the third light emitting element passing through the gap.

Abstract: A multibeam scanning device includes a deflecting system that deflects a plurality of beams, which are emitted by a light source, in a main scanning direction. On a first imaging optical system, the dynamically deflected beams are incident. A plurality of optical path deflection units deflect the optical paths of the optical beams passed through the first imaging optical system, respectively. Each of the plurality of optical path deflection units is capable of varying the deflection direction of the beam in the auxiliary scanning direction. A plurality of second imaging optical systems converge the beams deflected by the deflection units on target surfaces, respectively. A position adjusting system is provided to adjust a position of each of the second imaging optical systems so that the positional relationship of the second imaging optical system with respect to the beam incident thereon is maintained.

Abstract: A scanning optical system deflects a light beam by a reflection surface of a polygon mirror toward an object surface through an image forming optical system so that the light beam scans on the object surface to form an image thereon. A light shielding member is disposed between the polygon mirror and the image forming optical system. The shielding member is an opaque plate disposed perpendicular to the optical axis of the image forming optical system. The light shielding member prevents a ghost light that is reflected by another reflection surface of the polygon mirror located adjacent to the reflection surface deflecting the light beam from entering the image forming optical system and impinging onto the object surface.

Abstract: A multibeam scanning device includes a deflecting system that deflects a plurality of beams, which are emitted by a light source, in a main scanning direction. On a first imaging optical system, the dynamically deflected beams are incident. A plurality of optical path deflection units deflect the optical paths of the optical beams passed through the first imaging optical system, respectively. Each of the plurality of optical path deflection units is capable of varying the deflection direction of the beam in the auxiliary scanning direction. A plurality of second imaging optical systems converge the beams deflected by the deflection units on target surfaces, respectively. A position adjusting system is provided to adjust a position of each of the second imaging optical systems so that the positional relationship of the second imaging optical system with respect to the beam incident thereon is maintained.

Abstract: A lens unit for a scanning device includes a frame having a hollow cylindrical shape, the frame being defined with a lens contact portion therein, a lens accommodated in the frame with contacting the lens contact portion defined in the frame, and a retainer accommodated in the frame to retain the lens in position, the retainer having a hollow cylindrical shape, one end side face of the retainer contacting a peripheral portion of the lens received by the frame, an other end portion of the retainer being secured to the frame so that the retainer presses the lens toward the lens contact portion of the frame to fix the lens to the frame.

Abstract: A multi-beam color scanning device is provided with a multi-beam light source unit, a first polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams emitted by the multi-beam light source unit to scan in a horizontal scanning direction. The scanning beams pass through an f&thgr; optical system and are incident on a second polygonal mirror that deflects the light beams in a vertical scanning direction. The second polygonal mirror deflects the light beams by one line in the horizontal scanning direction at every horizontal scanning thereof. The light beams scan within a predetermined scanning area defined by deflection of the first and second polygonal mirrors. There is provided a light receiving unit that receives the plurality of light beams reflected by an object located within the predetermined scanning area. An operation system obtains a three-dimensional shape and color of the object based on the output of the light receiving unit.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device is provided with a light source that emits a plurality of light beams, a polygonal mirror that deflects the light beams emitted by the light source to scan, and an optical system that converges the deflected light beams on a plurality of objects to be scanned. The optical system includes an optical path turning system that turns optical paths of the deflected light beams, respectively. The optical path turning system is constructed such that optical path lengths of the optical path of the deflected light beams are the same, and one of the optical paths directed to an object located farthest from the polygonal mirror consists of two linear paths and one turning portion at which a beam is deflected.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device includes a multi-beam light source unit that emits a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths. The light beams are aligned in a main scanning direction. The device further includes first polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams in the main scanning direction, an f&thgr; optical system, a second polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams passed through the f&thgr; optical system in an auxiliary scanning direction that is perpendicular to the main scanning direction, the second polygonal mirror deflects the plurality of light beams in the auxiliary direction by one line at each main scanning of the plurality of light beams, and a projecting optical system that projects the plurality of light beams deflected by the second polygonal mirror on a screen.

Abstract: A scanning optical system deflects a light beam by a reflection surface of a polygon mirror toward an object surface through an image forming optical system so that the light beam scans on the object surface to form an image thereon. A light shielding member is disposed between the polygon mirror and the image forming optical system. The shielding member is an opaque plate disposed perpendicular to the optical axis of the image forming optical system. The light shielding member prevents a ghost light that is reflected by another reflection surface of the polygon mirror located adjacent to the reflection surface deflecting the light beam from entering the image forming optical system and impinging onto the object surface.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device is provided with a light source that emits a plurality of light beams, a polygonal mirror that deflects the light beams emitted by the light source to scan, and an optical system that converges the deflected light beams on a plurality of objects to be scanned. The optical system includes an optical path turning system that turns optical paths of the deflected light beams, respectively. The optical path turning system is constructed such that optical path lengths of the optical path of the deflected light beams are the same, and one of the optical paths directed to an object located farthest from the polygonal mirror consists of two linear paths and one turning portion at which a beam is deflected.

Abstract: The multi-beam scanning device includes first and second light emitting elements that emit first and second light beams, respectively, a polygon mirror that deflects the first and second light beams to simultaneously scan the first and second light beams across an object. A prism having a light entrance portion and a light exit portion is located between the light emitting elements and the polygon mirror such that the first light beam enters the first prism through the light entrance portion and exits from the first prism through the light exit portion toward the polygon mirror. The light exit portion is inserted into the optical path of the second light beam to prevent a part of the second light beam from proceeding toward the polygon mirror.