Optical scanner, image display apparatus, and head-mount display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9341841-B2
Application number	US-201414582407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 24, 2014
Priority date	Dec 26, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

An optical scanner includes: a base portion; a light reflecting portion that reflects light; a connection portion that connects the base portion and the light reflecting portion; and a shaft portion that supports the base portion in a swingable manner about a swing axis, wherein the light reflecting portion is disposed so that a geometrical center of the light reflecting portion is separated from the swing axis in a plan view seen in a direction in which the light reflecting portion and the base portion are lined up, and wherein a geometrical center of at least one of the base portion and the connection portion is positioned on an opposite side of the geometrical center of the light reflecting portion with respect to the swing axis in the plan view.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical scanner comprising:
a base portion;
a light reflecting portion that reflects light;
a connection portion that connects the base portion and the light reflecting portion; and
a shaft portion that supports the base portion in a swingable manner about a swing axis,
wherein the light reflecting portion is disposed so that a geometrical center of the light reflecting portion is separated from the swing axis in a plan view seen in a direction in which the light reflecting portion and the base portion are lined up, and
wherein a geometrical center of at least one of the base portion and the connection portion is positioned on an opposite side of the geometrical center of the light reflecting portion with respect to the swing axis in the plan view.

2. An optical scanner comprising:
a base portion;
a light reflecting portion that reflects light;
a connection portion that connects the base portion and the light reflecting portion;
a frame body portion that is disposed to surround the base portion;
a first shaft portion that connects the base portion and the frame body portion, and supports the base portion in a swingable manner about a first axis; and
a second shaft portion that supports the frame body portion in a swingable manner about a second axis intersecting the first axis,
wherein the light reflecting portion is disposed so that a geometrical center of the light reflecting portion is positioned to be separated from the first axis or the second axis in a plan view seen in a direction in which the light reflecting portion and the base portion are lined up, and
wherein a geometrical center of at least one of the base portion and the connection portion is positioned on the opposite side of the geometrical center of the light reflecting portion with respect to the first axis or the second axis in the plan view.

3. The optical scanner according to claim 2 ,
wherein the geometrical center of the light reflecting portion is deviated from the first axis in the plan view.

4. The optical scanner according to claim 2 ,
wherein the geometrical center of the light reflecting portion is deviated from the second axis in the plan view.

5. The optical scanner according to claim 2 ,
wherein the geometrical center of the base portion is deviated from the first axis or the second axis in the plan view.

6. The optical scanner according to claim 2 ,
wherein the geometrical center of the connection portion is deviated from the first axis or the second axis in the plan view.

7. The optical scanner according to claim 6 ,
wherein side surfaces of the connection portion have tapers inclined to a direction in which the light reflecting portion and the base portion are lined up.

8. The optical scanner according to claim 7 ,
wherein the tapers are disposed in a proximal portion and a distal portion with respect to the first axis or the second axis, and
wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion have different inclination angular degrees with respect to the direction in which the light reflecting portion and the base portion are lined up.

9. The optical scanner according to claim 2 ,
wherein both of the geometrical centers of the base portion and the connection portion are deviated from the first axis or the second axis in the plan view.

10. The optical scanner according to claim 9 ,
wherein a shape of the base portion is identical to a shape of the connection portion in the plan view.

11. The optical scanner according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light reflecting portion has an elliptical or oval shape along the first axis or the second axis in the plan view.

12. An image display apparatus comprising:
the optical scanner according to claim 1 .

13. An image display apparatus comprising:
the optical scanner according to claim 2 .

14. An image display apparatus comprising:
the optical scanner according to claim 3 .

15. An image display apparatus comprising:
the optical scanner according to claim 4 .

16. An image display apparatus comprising:
the optical scanner according to claim 5 .

17. A head-mount display comprising:
the optical scanner according to claim 1 .

18. A head-mount display comprising:
the optical scanner according to claim 2 .

19. A head-mount display comprising:
the optical scanner according to claim 3 .

20. A head-mount display comprising:
the optical scanner according to claim 4 .

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Yamano Yukihide

Classifications

• G02B27/0101

  characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B81B2203/0154

  Torsion bars · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• B81B2201/042

  Micromirrors, not used as optical switches · CPC title

• G02B26/085

  the reflecting means being moved or deformed by electromagnetic means · CPC title