US 12,248,140 B2
Optical device
Kenji Narumi, Osaka (JP); and Yasuhisa Inada, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD., Osaka (JP)
Filed by Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/695,743.
Application 17/695,743 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/029912, filed on Aug. 5, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-176746 (JP), filed on Sep. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0206288 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 26/08 (2006.01); G02B 26/10 (2006.01); G02B 27/09 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 26/10 (2013.01) [G02B 26/0816 (2013.01); G02B 27/0955 (2013.01); G02B 27/0983 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical device comprising:
an optical deflector that emits, through a light exit surface parallel to a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, and in a direction intersecting the light exit surface, an optical beam having a shape extending in the second direction and that is configured to cause a direction of emission of the optical beam to change along the first direction; and
an optical element, placed on a path of the optical beam, that expands an extent of spread of the optical beam in the second direction, wherein;
the optical element includes at least one mirror having a curvature in the second direction, and
the mirror reflects the optical beam emitted from the light exit surface of the optical deflector.