Scanner mirror
A scanner mirror includes a reflecting mirror and a driver. The reflecting mirror has first and second reflectors that are pivotally arranged about a pivot axis. The first and second reflectors have light receiving faces, respectively. The light receiving faces face in directions that are angularly offset with each other about the pivot axis. The driver drives the reflecting mirror to pivot the first and second reflectors within a specific angle range.
1. A scanner mirror comprising:
a reflecting mirror having first and second reflectors that are pivotally arranged about a pivot axis, the first and second reflectors having light receiving faces, respectively, the light receiving faces facing in directions that are angularly offset with each other about the pivot axis and being arranged to simultaneously receive light reflected by an object; and
a driver that drives the reflecting mirror to pivot the first and second reflectors within a specific angle range such that the light receiving faces of the first and second reflectors simultaneously receive the light reflected by the object.
2. The scanner mirror according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second reflectors pivot together while substantially maintaining an offset angle between the light receiving faces about the pivot axis.
3. The scanner mirror according to claim 2 , wherein
the offset angle is more than or equal to 75 degrees and less than or equal to 105 degrees.
4. The scanner mirror according to claim 2 , wherein
the offset angle is more than or equal to 85 degrees and less than or equal to 95 degrees.
5. The scanner mirror according to claim 2 , wherein
the offset angle is 90 degrees.
6. The scanner mirror according to claim 1 , wherein
the light receiving faces of the first and second reflectors have surface areas that are substantially equal to each other.
7. The scanner mirror according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second reflectors are substantially identical to each other.
8. The scanner mirror according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third reflector that reflects light from a light source, the third reflector being pivotally arranged about the pivot axis.
9. The scanner mirror according to claim 8 , wherein
the third reflector is disposed between the first reflector and the second reflector along the pivot axis.
10. The scanner mirror according to claim 8 , wherein
the first reflector is disposed between the third reflector and the second reflector along the pivot axis.
11. The scanner mirror according to claim 8 , wherein
the light receiving faces of the first and second reflectors have surface areas that are greater than a surface area of a reflecting face of the third reflector.
12. The scanner mirror according to claim 8 , wherein
the third reflector has a reflecting face that faces in a direction that is substantially parallel to the direction in which the light receiving face of the second reflector faces.
13. The scanner mirror according to claim 1 , wherein
the reflecting mirror further has a support that pivotally supports the first and second reflectors about the pivot axis.
14. The scanner mirror according to claim 13 , wherein
the support includes a pair of end parts, a middle part that is disposed between the end parts and to which the first and second reflectors are attached, and a pair of torsional parts disposed between the middle part and the end parts, respectively.
15. The scanner mirror according to claim 14 , wherein
the torsional parts each have a meander structure.
16. The scanner mirror according to claim 8 , further comprising
a light blocker disposed between the third reflector and one of the first and second reflectors along the pivot axis.
17. The scanner mirror according to claim 1 , wherein
the specific angle range is 45 degrees.
18. A ranging device comprising
a light source;
a scanner mirror including
a reflecting mirror having first and second reflectors that are pivotally arranged about a pivot axis, the first and second reflectors having light receiving faces, respectively, the light receiving faces facing in directions that are angularly offset with each other about the pivot axis, the light receiving faces being arranged to simultaneously receive and reflect light that has been emitted from the light source and reflected by an object, and
a driver that drives the reflecting mirror to pivot the first and second reflectors within a specific angle range such that the light receiving faces of the first and second reflectors simultaneously receive and reflect the light; and
a light receiver that receives the light from the scanner mirror.
19. The ranging device according to claim 18 , further comprising
a first mirror member that reflects the light from the scanner mirror towards the light receiver, and
a second mirror member that reflects the light from the scanner mirror towards the light receiver.
20. A ranging device comprising
a light source;
a scanner mirror including
a reflecting mirror having first and second reflectors that are pivotally arranged about a pivot axis, the first and second reflectors having light receiving faces, respectively, the light receiving faces facing in directions that are angularly offset with each other about the pivot axis, and
a driver that drives the reflecting mirror to pivot the first and second reflectors within a specific angle range, the scanner mirror reflecting light that has been emitted from the light source and reflected by an object;
first and second mirror members that reflect the light that has been reflected on the first and second reflectors, respectively;
a light receiver that receives the light from the first and second mirror members,
the first and second mirror members reflecting the light from the first and second reflectors of the scanner mirror towards the light receiver.