JPS6029092B2 - two-dimensional optical scanner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a two-dimensional optical scanner that performs main scanning and sub-scanning of light.

Conventionally, as a method for two-dimensional scanning with light, main scanning is performed using a one-dimensional optical scanner, and for width scanning, these one-dimensional scanning is mechanically moved in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, or Alternatively, the main scanner generally remains fixed and mechanically moves the object to be scanned in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.

For example, in a one-dimensional optical scanner, one end of a large number of optical fibers is arranged in a straight line, and the other end is arranged in a circular manner.The circular end of a circular-to-linear converter is used to rotate and scan, and the linear end is used to convert the optical fibers into a straight line. There are various scanning mechanisms such as scanners and flying spot tubes that perform scanning.

These scanning mechanisms have mechanical rotating or moving parts even in the main scan, and also mechanically move in the sub-scan, making other mechanisms that require power complicated and large, resulting in short lifespans, etc. There is a point. An object of the present invention is to provide a small and inexpensive two-dimensional optical scanner that requires as little mechanical movement as possible. The optical scanner of the present invention provides an ultrasonic transducer on a thin film constituting a thin-film optical waveguide, and performs main scanning by diffracting the light emitted by the ultrasonic transducer and deflecting it in the width direction of the thin film. The present invention is characterized in that the scanning side dark hole of the thin film optical scanner is vibrated in the thickness direction of the thin film to perform sub-scanning.

Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1a is a plan view showing an example of a one-dimensional thin film optical scanner used in the two-dimensional optical scanner of the present invention, and FIG. 1b is a sectional view thereof.

This thin-film optical scanner 1 includes an optical waveguide 5 made up of three layers of thin films 2, 3, and 4, and the intermediate cover film 3 is a thin film that is at least transparent to light.

Since the refractive index of the intermediate thin film 3 is higher than the refractive index of the thin films 2 and 4 on both sides, the intermediate thin film 3
The incoming light rays are reflected repeatedly at the interface between the two thin films,
It can propagate through the thin film 3. By partially increasing the thickness of the intermediate thin film 3, such a thin film optical waveguide 5 can have substantially the same effect as when a general lens is placed at a position where the thick film is changed. Lens systems 8, 9, and 10 are lens systems formed in this manner. For optical scanning, for example, an ultrasonic exciter 11 is used to deflect the light beam incident from Sekiguchi 6 as shown in FIG. 1a.
is provided on the thin film 2, and by supplying an appropriate signal to the ultrasonic exciter 11, the sound field 12 emitted by the ultrasonic exciter diffracts the incident light. The magnitude of this diffraction angle can be changed by changing the lattice constant of the sound castle 12 by changing the frequency of the signal supplied to the ultrasonic exciter 11. This ultrasonic exciter 11 and its lead wire 13
can be formed by a vapor deposition method. The aforementioned lens systems 9 and 1 converge the human rays from the Sekiguchi 6 and converge them onto the sound field 13 of the ultrasonic exciter 11.
This is for condensing the diffracted light at the aperture 7, amplifying the change in the deflection angle, and converging it on the closed aperture 7. This optical scanner is reversible with respect to light propagation. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a two-dimensional optical scanner of the present invention.

In this example, the sekiguchi 7 side of the burnable optical scanner 1 is vibrated in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction to perform two-dimensional scanning. Although a mechanical vibrator can be considered as the vibrating device, a magnetic vibrator is more suitable. In this case, the amplitude is about 1 mm, making it possible to use a compact scanner. Signals are supplied to the ultrasonic exciter from support members 20 and 21 which also serve as electrodes. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing still another example of the two-dimensional optical scanner of the present invention.

The thin film optical scanner used in this example does not need to be flammable.
A shaft is attached to the thin film scanner 30 parallel to the scanning direction, and the shaft is rotatably supported by bearings 31 and 32 which also serve as electrodes. Two-dimensional scanning is performed by vibrating the thin film scanner 30 in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction using a magnetic vibrator or the like.
The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example, but can be modified in many ways.

For example, the scanner of the present invention can receive light from a light source with the scanner closure 6, scan the light and record it on a recording paper, or can receive light from a light beam that illuminates an original image by reflecting or transmitting it on the original image. It is also possible to obtain a signal by scanning the original image by receiving light through the opening □7 of the scanner and receiving the light with a photoelectric conversion element through the closed opening 6 on the opposite side.

Also, the sound field 12 of the ultrasonic exciter 11. For example, a half mirror formed by alternately forming two types of layers with different equivalent refractive indexes is provided in the optical path between the aperture 7 and the illumination light of a constant intensity incident on the aperture □6 side using this device. The reflected light is scanned and irradiated onto the original image in contact with the closing opening 7, and this reflected light is received from the Sekiguchi 7, propagates through the thin film optical waveguide again, is reflected by the aforementioned half mirror, and is separated from the optical path of the illumination light. The light is collected by a thin film lens system provided to collect the light, and the light is taken out to the outside by a means for guiding the light flux to the outside, such as a prism bonded to the surface of the thin film waveguide or a grating formed on the surface, and then taken out to the outside. It is also possible to receive the light with a photoelectric conversion element and use it as a reading scanner. Further, in the above example, a three-layer thin film optical waveguide is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be configured with a two-layer thin film waveguide that is capable of transmitting optical signals. Furthermore, instead of allowing the light to enter and exit through the closure 6 of the thin film optical waveguide 5, a prism or grating may be provided on the surface and the light may enter and exit through this. As described above, the two-dimensional optical scanner of the present invention performs main scanning by diffracting and deflecting the optical beam in the sound beam generated by the ultrasonic transducer provided on the thin film.
It is configured to perform sub-scanning by vibrating the scanning-side aperture of the thin-film optical waveguide in the film thickness direction, and does not require any mechanical means for main-scanning, and the thin-film optical waveguide is small. Since it is lightweight, the mechanical drive means for performing sub-scanning can also be made small and lightweight, and the overall structure can be made simple and compact, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1a is a plan view diagrammatically showing an example of a one-dimensional optical scanner using a thin film optical waveguide, FIG. 1b is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a two-dimensional optical scanner of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the two-dimensional optical scanner of the present invention. 1, 30... Thin film optical scanner, 5... Thin film optical waveguide, 6, 7... Closed. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A thin film in which an ultrasonic transducer is provided on a thin film constituting a thin film optical waveguide, and main scanning is performed by diffracting a light beam in the sound flux range emitted by the ultrasonic transducer and deflecting it in the width direction of the thin film. A two-dimensional optical scanner comprising an optical scanner, the scanning side aperture of the thin film optical scanner being vibrated in the thickness direction of the thin film to perform sub-scanning.