IP Library Granted Patent US 8,149,491
Granted Patent B2
US 8,149,491 · App. 12/278,297 · Granted Apr 3, 2012

Scanning unit and image display device

Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,149,491
App. No.
12/278,297
Granted
Apr 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A scan unit according to the present invention is a scan unit including: a reflecting portion for reflecting laser light; and an enclosure portion having a movable object enclosed within a hollow, characterized in that the movable object moves in accordance with an angular velocity of the scan unit, thereby changing a reflecting state of the reflecting portion with respect to the laser light. In one embodiment, the movable object moves in accordance with the angular velocity of the scan unit to cover at least a part of the reflecting portion. In one embodiment, the movable object moves in accordance with the angular velocity of the scan unit to deform the reflecting portion.

Claims (36)

1. A scan unit comprising:

a reflecting portion for reflecting laser light; and

an enclosure portion having a movable object enclosed within a hollow, wherein,

the movable object has flowability,

the movable object moves in accordance with an angular velocity of the scan unit, thereby changing a reflecting state of the reflecting portion with respect to the laser light, and

the movable object is liquid, powder or a mixture of liquid and powder.

2. The scan unit of claim 1 , wherein,

at least a part of the enclosure portion is positioned near a surface of the reflecting portion that reflects the laser light; and

the movable object moves in accordance with the angular velocity of the scan unit to cover at least a part of the reflecting portion.

3. The scan unit of claim 2 , wherein,

the reflecting portion is provided on an inner surface of the enclosure portion;

the enclosure portion includes a transmitting portion for transmitting the laser light, the transmitting portion opposing the reflecting portion; and

the movable object moves in between the reflecting portion and the transmitting portion.

4. The scan unit of claim 2 , wherein,

the movable object moves in a direction of covering a smaller proportion of the reflecting portion as the angular velocity increases, and moves in a direction of covering a larger proportion of the reflecting portion as the angular velocity decreases; and

a reflected light amount from the reflecting portion is smaller when the proportion of covering the reflecting portion is large than when the proportion of covering the reflecting portion is small.

5. The scan unit of claim 2 , wherein,

the movable object moves in a direction of covering a larger proportion of the reflecting portion when the scan unit comes to a halt; and

a reflected light amount from the reflecting portion decreases when the movable object moves in the direction of covering a larger proportion of the reflecting portion.

6. The scan unit of claim 5 , wherein the movable object moves within 0.25 seconds after the scan unit comes to a halt.

7. The scan unit of claim 1 , wherein,

the reflecting portion is provided on the enclosure portion; and

the movable object moves in accordance with an angular velocity of the scan unit to deform the reflecting portion.

8. The scan unit of claim 7 , wherein,

a degree of scattering of reflected light from the reflecting portion changes in accordance with deformation of the reflecting portion; and

the movable object moves in a direction of decreasing the degree of scattering as the angular velocity increases, and moves in a direction of increasing the degree of scattering as the angular velocity decreases.

9. The scan unit of claim 7 , wherein,

a degree of scattering of reflected light from the reflecting portion changes in accordance with deformation of the reflecting portion; and

the movable object moves in a direction of increasing the degree of scattering when the scan unit comes to a halt.

10. The scan unit of claim 9 , wherein the movable object moves within 0.25 seconds after the scan unit comes to a halt.

11. An image display apparatus comprising:

the scan unit of claim 1 ;

a light source for outputting the laser light; and

a driving section for driving the scan unit, wherein,

the image display apparatus displays an image with at least a part of the laser light reflected by the scan unit and projected; and

the state of the projected laser light changes in accordance with a movement of the movable object.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 3, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021779/0851 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2008
From: OBI, HIROSHI; TOMITA, HIRONORI; KUROZUKA, AKIRA; KAJINO, OSAMU
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021678/0112 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2006-033366 · Feb 10, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090185249A1 · Jul 23, 2009