IP Library Granted Patent US 9,164,355
Granted Patent B2
US 9,164,355 · App. 14/539,204 · Granted Oct 20, 2015

Light control apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,164,355
App. No.
14/539,204
Granted
Oct 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Incident light that passes through the optical aperture is controlled by pivoting the light control unit ( 130 ) alternately to a first stationary position of being retracted from the optical aperture ( 102 and 122 ), and a second stationary position of overlapping with the optical aperture by moving the light control unit by the drive unit ( 132 and 150 ), and when the light control unit is at the first stationary position, the light control unit is capable of sticking out of the first substrate and the second substrate.

Claims (20)

1. A light control apparatus comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate, each having an optical aperture formed therein:

at least one light control unit;

a spacer which is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and which forms a space for the light control unit to move;

a drive unit which moves the light control unit disposed on the first substrate, and

a protruding portion which has an abutting portion, wherein

when the light control unit is at the first stationary position, the light control unit abuts with the abutting portion;

incident light that passes through the optical aperture is controlled by pivoting the light control unit alternately to a first stationary position of being retracted from the optical aperture, and a second stationary position of overlapping with the optical aperture, by moving the light control unit by the drive unit;

when the light control unit is at the first stationary position, the light control unit is capable of sticking out of the first substrate and the second substrate; and

the protruding portion is a portion which is formed by at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate sticking out in an in-plane direction which is perpendicular to an optical axis of the light control apparatus.

2. A light control apparatus comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate, each having an optical aperture formed therein:

at least one light control unit;

a spacer which is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and which forms a space for the light control unit to move; and

a drive unit which moves the light control unit disposed on the first substrate,

wherein incident light that passes through the optical aperture is controlled by pivoting the light control unit alternately to a first stationary position of being retracted from the optical aperture, and a second stationary position of overlapping with the optical aperture, by moving the light control unit by the drive unit, and

wherein when the light control unit is at the first stationary position, the light control unit is capable of sticking out of the first substrate and the second substrate;

wherein the light control apparatus has a frame member, and a part of the frame member sticks out in the in-plane direction;

a notch is formed in the first substrate and the second substrate, and

the frame member includes a regulating portion which prevents the light control unit inserted into the notch from falling.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2014
From: OKITA, TATSUHIKO
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034154/0965 →