Abstract: An image projection device includes: a light source for emitting a light beam; a mirror unit that includes a mirror for reflecting the beam and projects an image onto a surface by rotating the mirror about a rotational axis to scan the beam; and a controller for determining, according to a function representing a relationship between a shift amount, an emitting time of the beam, a position on the surface irradiated by the beam emitted at the emitting time, and a shift angle of the mirror from its position when it is not driven, the emitting time corresponding to a target position. The shift amount is a shift amount of a position of the beam incident on the mirror or a shift amount of a position of the source relative to an optical axis of light incident on the mirror without the shift amount and perpendicularly intersecting the rotational axis.

Abstract: On/off digital drive signals are used to create arbitrary spatial and temporal ribbon movement patterns in MEMS ribbon arrays.

Abstract: Disclosed is a diffraction microscopy capable of reducing influence of an increase in the incident angle range of a beam. Specifically disclosed is a diffraction microscopy in which a beam is incident on a sample, in which the intensity of a diffraction pattern from the sample is measured, and in which an image of an object is rebuilt using Fourier interactive phase retrieval on the basis of the measured intensity of the diffraction pattern. In this method, Fourier interactive phase retrieval is performed using deconvolution on the diffraction pattern subjected to convolution by the increase in the incident angle range of the beam.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of actuation devices with each individual actuation device configured to be manipulatable, a control panel, a plurality of diffraction gratings located on a back side of the control panel, each respective diffraction grating is configured to be in communication with at least one actuation device so that the respective diffraction grating is moved from a first position to at least one other position when the at least one actuation device is manipulated, a lighting device configured to illuminate the plurality of diffraction gratings, an imaging device configured to capture an image of the plurality of diffraction gratings, and a processor configured to convert the image into a discrete value, the discrete value being evaluated to determine which of the at least one actuation device is manipulated, how the manipulation reflects operation of the control panel, or to provide a response indicative of the manipulation.

Abstract: In a scanning optical apparatus, an illumination optical system has a diffractive power ?dM in a main scanning direction, a diffractive power ?dS in a sub-scanning direction, a refractive power ?nM in the main scanning direction, and a refractive power ?nS in the sub-scanning direction. A ratio ?nM/?dM in the main scanning direction for a focal length fi in a range of 10-30 mm satisfies: g2(fi)??nM/?dM?g1(fi), where A(Z)=(3.532×107)Z2+3023Z+0.7010, B(Z)=(5.719×107)Z2+4169Z+0.7678, C(Z)=(1.727×107)Z2+3244Z+0.4217, D(Z)=(1.373×108)Z2+3232Z+1.224, g1(fi)=fi{D(Z)?B(Z)}/20?0.5D(Z)+1.5B(Z), g2(fi)=fi{C(Z)?D(Z)}/20?0.5C(Z)+1.5A(Z), and a ratio ?nS/?dS in the sub-scanning direction satisfies: ?nS/?dS<1.3.

Abstract: An optical scanner is configured such that an anamorphic condensing lens in an incident optical system has a diffractive lens structure at least in one lens surface thereof, and a length of an optical path increased by the diffractive lens structure ? [rad] is defined by an equation below by a function of height h from an optical axis: ?(h)=M(P2·h2+P4·h4+ . . . ), where Pn is a coefficient of an nth-order term of the height h (n is an even number), and M is a diffraction order, that the lens satisfies the following relations: ?216?P2??49, 1100?P4·(hm max)4/(fm·NAm4)?3800, and 10?fm?35, where hmmax [mm] is an effective diameter in the main scanning direction, fm [mm] is a focal length in the main scanning direction, and NAm is a numerical aperture in the main scanning direction, and that a wavefront aberration WFE1 [?rms] in a first wavelength ?1 [nm] satisfies the following relation: WFE1?0.01.

Abstract: A light scanning unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same. The light scanning unit uses a reduced number of optical components by forming an optical unit disposed between a light source and an optical deflector by using only a single lens and ensures optical and mechanical properties by having an appropriate main/sub scanning magnification ratio.

Abstract: The invention relates to a beam-forming array for projecting a divergent isotropic cloud of light points. The array comprises a source (4) for emitting electromagnetic radiation, a receiving or connecting possibility for a power source (2), an electrical or electronic subassembly (5), and an optical unit (6) that is arranged in a housing (1) along with the radiation source (4). The radiation source (4) is a semiconductor diode laser or a light emitting diode (LED) while the optical unit (6) is composed of at least two superimposed and grid-shaped spectral films that are offset relative to each other or a diffractive optical element. The optical unit (6) limits the intensity of the emitted radiation and the distance of the light point beams relative to one another to a value that does not pose any risk to a human eye.

Abstract: An optical scanning device, which scans a surface to be scanned by light, includes a light source, a coupling optical system, which changes light from the light source into approximately parallel light, a light control reflection member which is disposed in an optical path of the light from the coupling optical system, the light control reflection member defining a diameter of a beam of the light which scans the surface to be scanned, and reflecting a part of the light which is not used for the scanning toward the coupling optical system, and a light detector which receives the light reflected by the light control reflection member via the coupling optical system.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a diffractive optical element. The diffractive optical element is a hybrid lens in which a resin layer is joined to a glass-lens base material, and a diffractive surface is provided in the resin layer. The diffractive surface has a multi-step structure including a plurality of zonal surfaces and a plurality of step surfaces.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source; a scanning unit to deflect/scan a laser beam from the light source; an imaging optical system to focus the deflected and scanned laser beam to a scan-target surface; an electro-optic element to electrically change a refractive index thereof; a controller to control the refractive index of the electro-optic element to adjust deflection amount of the laser beam; and a positional shift detecting unit, disposed away from the light path, to detect a positional shift of the incident laser beam from an ideal position in a sub-scanning direction. The device further includes a beam splitting element, and the controller adjusts a deflection amount of the laser beam from the electro-optic element based on a detection result by the positional shift detecting unit and corrects a positional shift in the sub-scanning direction of the laser beam on the scan-target surface.

Abstract: At least one of a coupling lens and a cylindrical lens has a diffraction lens surface having a ring-band structure with a height h between adjacent ring-bands. The diffraction lens surface has an area A having a shape similar to that of the ring-band structure with a height h?, where h?h?. The ring-band structure has a function of correcting a fluctuation in focal position of the scanning beam on the scanning surface, and the area A has a function of expanding a focal depth of a light spot on the scanning surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a deflection optical element, which makes it possible to deflect an incident light so as to couple the incident light to an optical element disposed in the later stage without deteriorating the optical efficiency. The deflection optical element, which deflects an incident light coming along a first optical axis at a deflection surface and emits an emission light propagating along a second optical axis so as to couple the emission light to either a diffraction grating or a refracting optical system, comprises at least one diffracting surface and at least one reflecting surface, wherein the angle ?n, an angle ?t derived as a total diffraction angle caused by the at least one diffracting surface, and an angle ?a, which is formed at a second intersection of the first optical axis and the second optical axis, fulfill a conditional relationship of: 0??n<?a<?t.

Abstract: A method for rapidly performing laser irradiation in a desired position as laser irradiation patterns are switched is proposed. A laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator is entered into a deflector, and a laser beam which has passed through the deflector is entered into a diffractive optical element to be diverged into a plurality of laser beams. Then, a photoresist formed over an insulating film is irradiated with the laser beam which is made to diverge into the plurality of laser beams, and the photoresist irradiated with the laser beam is developed so as to selectively etch the insulating film.

Abstract: A multibeam deflector includes a plurality of optical deflection devices formed on a single substrate and an output optical system. Each of the optical deflection devices includes a slab optical waveguide formed by a material having an electro-optic effect. The output optical system is configured to separate beams output from the optical deflection devices from each other.

Abstract: A portable projector is disclosed. The portable projector comprises a light transmission member having first and second surfaces, a multi-type laser light source including a plurality of sub laser light sources for emitting light beams onto the first surface of the member based on an external image signal, so as to allow the light beams to be transmitted into the member, one or more optical elements supported on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the member for diffracting and reflecting the light beams incident from the multi-type laser light source into the member, and at least one multi-type scan mirror supported on one of the first and second surfaces of the member for scanning the light beams diffracted and reflected from the optical elements onto an external screen located at the outside of the member, based on an external control signal.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device is disclosed that is able to realize a stable and small beam spot and realize stable scanning line intervals between plural light beams. The multi-beam optical scanning device includes a first optical system which has a first lens for coupling the light beams from the light sources, and a second lens which is an anamorphic element having power at least in a sub scanning direction and for guiding the light beams from the first lens to the deflection unit; and a second optical system. At least the second lens includes a diffracting surface having power.

Abstract: A method of operating a laser projection system is provided. The projection system comprises an external cavity laser, an optical intensity monitor, laser projection optics, and a controller. The external cavity laser comprises a laser diode, an intra-cavity wavelength conversion device, and a wavelength selective element. According to the method, the position of the wavelength selective element is adjusted relative to an optical axis Z of the external cavity laser to optimize output intensity. Specifically, the position of the wavelength selective element is adjusted by (i) tilting the wavelength selective element about its wavelength selective axis Y to reflect a wavelength of interest along an optimum path in an XZ plane of the external laser cavity and (ii) tipping the wavelength selective element about its wavelength insensitive axis X to reflect the wavelength of interest along an optimum path in a YZ plane of the external laser cavity. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: There is provide a technique in which in an optical beam scanning device, optical characteristics can be suitably corrected according to a change in environmental temperature.

Abstract: To provide a technique that can appropriately correct an optical characteristic according to fluctuation in an environmental temperature.

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which in an optical beam scanning device, optical characteristics can be suitably corrected according to a change in environmental temperature.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a diffractive optical element. The diffractive optical element is a hybrid lens in which a resin layer is joined to a glass-lens base material, and a diffractive surface is provided in the resin layer. The diffractive surface has a multi-step structure including a plurality of zonal surfaces and a plurality of step surfaces.