1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical scanning apparatus and a scanning endoscope, and more particularly, to an optical scanning apparatus and a scanning endoscope used for acquiring an image by scanning an object.
2. Description of the Related Art
With respect to endoscopes in a medical field, various technologies for reducing a diameter of an insertion section to be inserted into a body cavity of a subject are proposed so as to reduce a burden on the subject. As an example of such a technology, a scanning endoscope is known which does not include a solid-state image pickup device at a part corresponding to the insertion section mentioned above. Moreover, a scanning fiber device akin to the scanning endoscope mentioned above is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-527028, for example.
More specifically, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-527028 discloses a scanning fiber device configured to two-dimensionally scan, in a spiral scan pattern, an object irradiated with illumination light emitted from a light source, by holding an exit end portion of an optical fiber for transmitting the illumination light in a cantilevered manner by an actuator tube including a piezoelectric tube and swinging the exit end portion.
Furthermore, with respect to the scanning endoscope as described above, there is known a scanning method of two-dimensionally scanning an object in a Lissajous scan pattern, for example, in addition to the spiral scan pattern disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-527028, for example.
An optical scanning apparatus of an aspect of the present invention includes a fixing member having, at a center portion, a cylindrical through hole allowing penetration of a light guide member that is configured to guide light entering an incident end portion and to emit the light from an exit end portion, the fixing member being configured to fix the exit end portion in a state penetrating through the through hole, and an actuator section including a first drive section, provided on an outer surface of the fixing member, configured to swing, in a first direction, the exit end portion protruding from a distal end portion of the fixing member, and a second drive section, provided on an outer surface of the fixing member, configured to swing, in a second direction different from the first direction, the exit end portion protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member, where the first drive section and the second drive section differ from each other in at least one of a shape and a material of piezoelectric elements of the first drive section and the second drive section.
A scanning endoscope of an aspect of the present invention includes an insertion section formed to have a shape allowing insertion into a body cavity, a light guide member, inserted through the insertion section, configured to guide light entering an incident end portion and to emit the light from an exit end portion, a fixing member having, at a center portion, a cylindrical through hole allowing penetration of the light guide member, the fixing member being configured to fix the exit end portion of the light guide member in a manner protruding from a distal end portion in a state where the light guide member is penetrating through the through hole, and an actuator section including a first drive section, provided on an outer surface of the fixing member, configured to swing, in a first direction, the exit end portion protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member, and a second drive section, provided on an outer surface of the fixing member, configured to swing, in a second direction different from the first direction, the exit end portion protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member, where the first drive section and the second drive section differ from each other in at least one of a shape and a material of piezoelectric elements of the first drive section and the second drive section.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in
The scanning endoscope 2 includes an elongated and flexible insertion section 11 which can be inserted into the body cavity of a subject. Note that a connector or the like, not shown, configured to connect the scanning endoscope 2 to the main body apparatus 3 in a freely detachable manner is provided at a proximal end portion of the insertion section 11.
An illumination fiber 12 which functions as a light guide member configured to guide illumination light supplied from a light source unit 21 of the main body apparatus 3 to a collection optical system 14, and a light receiving fiber 13 configured to receive returned light from an object and to guide the light to a detection unit 23 of the main body apparatus 3 are each inserted through a part, inside the insertion section 11, from the proximal end portion to a distal end portion.
An incident end portion, including a light incident surface, of the illumination fiber 12 is disposed at a multiplexer 32 provided inside the main body apparatus 3. Also, an exit end portion, including a light exit surface, of the illumination fiber 12 is included in an optical scanning apparatus 15 described later, and is disposed near a light incident surface of a lens 14a provided at the distal end portion of the insertion section 11 in a manner not fixed by a fixing member or the like.
An incident end portion, including a light incident surface, of the light receiving fiber 13 is disposed fixed to the periphery of a light exit surface of a lens 14b at a distal end surface of the distal end portion of the insertion section 11. Also, an exit end portion, including a light exit surface, of the light receiving fiber 13 is disposed at a demultiplexer 36 provided inside the main body apparatus 3.
The collection optical system 14 includes the lens 14a where illumination light which has passed through the light exit surface of illumination fiber 12 is to enter, and the lens 14b configured to emit the illumination light which has passed through the lens 14a to an object.
The optical scanning apparatus 15 including an actuator section 18 which is driven based on a drive signal outputted from a driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3 is provided at the distal end portion of the insertion section 11.
As shown in
Note that, in the following, description will be given assuming that a longitudinal direction of the insertion section 11, a longitudinal direction of the illumination fiber 12, and a longitudinal direction of the fixing member 16 are each parallel to a Z-axis direction shown in
The fixing member 16 is formed of ceramics containing zirconia, or metal such as nickel, for example. Furthermore, as shown in
According to the configuration as described above, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 may be fixed in a state as shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
The holding member 17 is formed of metal such as stainless steel. Also, the holding member 17 functions as a fixing end of the optical scanning apparatus 15, and is configured to hold the optical scanning apparatus 15 at a predetermined position inside the distal end portion of the insertion section 11.
The actuator section 18 is configured by including at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16, and at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16. More specifically, as shown in
The piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 are capable of swinging, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a first drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3.
The piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are capable of swinging, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a second drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3.
The piezoelectric elements 181 to 184 are formed as cuboids having same length L, width W, and thickness T as one another. Also, the piezoelectric elements 181 to 184 are formed using a same piezoelectric material as one another.
A memory 19 is provided inside the insertion section 11, the memory 19 storing in advance endoscope information including various pieces of information such as individual identification information of the scanning endoscope 2. Note that, according to the present embodiment, a connector (not shown) configured to connect the scanning endoscope 2 to the main body apparatus 3 in a freely detachable manner is desirably provided with the memory 19. Moreover, the endoscope information stored in the memory 19 is read by a controller 25 of the main body apparatus 3 when the scanning endoscope 2 and the main body apparatus 3 are connected together.
Meanwhile, the main body apparatus 3 includes a light source unit 21, a driver unit 22, a detection unit 23, a memory 24, and a controller 25.
The light source unit 21 includes a light source 31a, a light source 31b, a light source 31c, and the multiplexer 32.
The light source 31a includes a laser light source, for example, and is configured to emit light in a red wavelength band (hereinafter referred to also as R light) to the multiplexer 32 when the light source 31a is caused to emit light under control of the controller 25.
The light source 31b includes a laser light source, for example, and is configured to emit light in a green wavelength band (hereinafter referred to also as G light) to the multiplexer 32 when the light source 31b is caused to emit light under control of the controller 25.
The light source 31c includes a laser light source, for example, and is configured to emit light in a blue wavelength band (hereinafter referred to also as B light) to the multiplexer 32 when the light source 31c is caused to emit light under control of the controller 25.
The multiplexer 32 is configured to be capable of multiplexing the R light emitted from the light source 31a, the G light emitted from the light source 31b, and the B light emitted from the light source 31c, and of supplying the multiplexed light to the light incident surface of the illumination fiber 12.
The driver unit 22 includes a signal generator 33, D/A converters 34a and 34b, and an amplifier 35.
The signal generator 33 is configured to generate a first drive signal for swinging the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 in the X-axis direction under the control of the controller 25, and to output the signal to the D/A converter 34a. The signal generator 33 is configured to also generate a second drive signal for swinging the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 in the Y-axis direction under the control of the controller 25, and to output the signal to the D/A converter 34b.
The D/A converter 34a is configured to convert the digital first drive signal outputted from the signal generator 33 into an analog first drive signal, and to output the analog first drive signal to the amplifier 35.
The D/A converter 34b is configured to convert the digital second drive signal outputted from the signal generator 33 into an analog second drive signal, and to output the analog second drive signal to the amplifier 35.
The amplifier 35 is configured to amplify the first and the second drive signals outputted from the D/A converters 34a and 34b, and to output the amplified signals to the actuator section 18.
The detection unit 23 includes a demultiplexer 36, detectors 37a, 37b and 37c, and A/D converters 38a, 38b and 38c.
The demultiplexer 36 is provided with a dichroic mirror or the like, and is configured to separate light emitted from the light exit surface of the light receiving fiber 13 into light of each of color components of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and to emit the separated light to the detectors 37a, 37b and 37c.
The detector 37a is configured to detect the intensity of R light outputted from the demultiplexer 36, to generate an analog R signal according to the detected intensity of the R light, and to output the analog R signal to the A/D converter 38a.
The detector 37b is configured to detect the intensity of G light outputted from the demultiplexer 36, to generate an analog G signal according to the detected intensity of the G light, and to output the analog G signal to the A/D converter 38b.
The detector 37c is configured to detect the intensity of B light outputted from the demultiplexer 36, to generate an analog B signal according to the detected intensity of the B light, and to output the analog B signal to the A/D converter 38c.
The A/D converter 38a is configured to convert the analog R signal outputted from the detector 37a into a digital R signal, and to output the digital R signal to the controller 25.
The A/D converter 38b is configured to convert the analog G signal outputted from the detector 37b into a digital G signal, and to output the digital G signal to the controller 25.
The A/D converter 38c is configured to convert the analog B signal outputted from the detector 37c into a digital B signal, and to output the digital B signal to the controller 25.
Control programs for controlling the main body apparatus 3, and the like are stored in the memory 24. Also, endoscope information read by the controller 25 of the main body apparatus 3 is stored in the memory 24.
The controller 25 is provided with a CPU and the like, and is configured to operate according to operation of the input apparatus 5, for example.
The controller 25 is configured to read control programs stored in the memory 24, and to control the light source unit 21 and the driver unit 22 based on the control programs which have been read. That is, the actuator section 18 vibrates according to a drive signal supplied from the driver unit 22 under the control of the controller 25 to thereby swing the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 in such a way that a position irradiated with illumination light emitted to an object draws a trajectory according to a predetermined scan pattern.
The controller 25 operates to read endoscope information from the memory 19 and to store the information in the memory 24 when the insertion section 11 is electrically connected to the main body apparatus 3.
The controller 25 is configured to generate an image based on the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal outputted from the detection unit 23, and to display the generated image on the monitor 4.
Next, an action of the present embodiment will be described.
First, after connecting each section of the scanning endoscope system 1 and turning on the power, a user, such as a surgeon, issues an instruction to start scanning of an object by operating a predetermined switch of the input apparatus 5.
When the power of the main body apparatus 3 is turned on and the insertion section 11 is electrically connected, the controller 25 reads endoscope information from the memory 19, and stores the information in the memory 24.
For example, when pressing down of a predetermined switch, such as a scanning start switch, provided to the input apparatus 5 is detected, the controller 25 controls the light source unit 21 to supply mixed light (white light) of the R light, the G light, and the B light to the illumination fiber 12 as the illumination light.
When pressing down of a predetermined switch of the input apparatus 5 is detected, the controller 25 controls the signal generator 33 to generate a first drive signal whose signal waveform is a sine wave with frequency f1 and a predetermined amplitude SL, as shown by a one-dot chain line in
Furthermore, when the first drive signal with the signal waveform as shown by the one-dot chain line in
According to the present embodiment, when the fixing member 16 is seen from the side of the light exit surface of the illumination fiber 12, the lengths of the fixing member 16 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are different from each other. In other words, the fixing member 16 of the present embodiment is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 161 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with mechanical resonance frequency frx, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with mechanical resonance frequency fry, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous pattern, control is performed so as to supply the first drive signal whose frequency f1 is set to frx, for example, to the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182, and therefore, the vibration efficiency in the X-axis direction corresponding to the size of amplitude of the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 observed at the time of application of a specific voltage to the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 may be maximized (see
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the sizes of the amplitudes of the drive signals at the time of swinging the illumination fiber 12 at desired amplitudes and in the Lissajous pattern may be optimized, and as a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased.
Next, a configuration according to an example modification of the optical scanning apparatus 15 of the present embodiment will be described. Note that, in the following, for the sake of simplicity, sections different from those of the configuration described above will be mainly described while omitting as appropriate description regarding sections to which the same configuration as the configuration described above can be applied.
According to a first example modification of the present embodiment, the optical scanning apparatus 15 may be configured by including a fixing member 16A having a shape as shown in
For example, as shown in
Furthermore, for example, as shown in
The fixing member 16A of the present example modification is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 161 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric. Therefore, also in the case of configuring the optical scanning apparatus 15 by using the fixing member 16A of the present example modification, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency frx, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency fry, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184. As a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased also in the case of configuring the optical scanning apparatus 15 by using the fixing member 16A of the present example modification.
According to a second example modification of the present embodiment, the optical scanning apparatus 15 may be configured by including a fixing member 16B having a shape as shown in
For example, as shown in
Furthermore, for example, as shown in
Note that the shape of the groove sections 163 may be other than the concave shape, such as a V-shape or a U-shape, as long as the groove sections 163 are formed along the Z-axis direction (the longitudinal direction of the fixing member 16B). Also, it is enough if the groove section 163 is formed on at least one side surface among the side surfaces of the fixing member 16B.
The fixing member 16B of the present example modification is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 161 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric. Therefore, also in the case of configuring the optical scanning apparatus 15 by using the fixing member 16B of the present example modification, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency frx, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency fry, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184. As a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased also in the case of configuring the optical scanning apparatus 15 by using the fixing member 16B of the present example modification.
According to a third example modification of the present embodiment, the optical scanning apparatus 15 may be configured by including a fixing member 16C having a shape as shown in
For example, as shown in
Furthermore, for example, as shown in
The fixing member 16C of the present example modification is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 164 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric. Therefore, also in the case of configuring the optical scanning apparatus 15 by using the fixing member 16C of the present example modification, the frequency 11 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency frx, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency fry, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184. As a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased also in the case of configuring the optical scanning apparatus 15 by using the fixing member 16C of the present example modification.
Note that, in the present embodiment, sections having a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be mainly described while omitting as appropriate detailed description regarding sections having the same configuration as in the first embodiment.
The scanning endoscope 2 of the present embodiment is configured by including an optical scanning apparatus 15A as shown in
More specifically, as shown in
The fixing member 16D is formed of ceramics containing zirconia, or metal such as nickel, for example. Furthermore, as shown in
According to the configuration of the fixing member 16D described above, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 may be fixed in a state as shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
The holding member 17A is formed of metal such as stainless steel. Also, the holding member 17A functions as a fixing end of the optical scanning apparatus 15A, and is configured to hold the optical scanning apparatus 15A at a predetermined position inside the distal end portion of the insertion section 11. Furthermore, for example, as shown in
The actuator section 18 includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, and at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D. More specifically, as shown in
The piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 are capable of swinging, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a first drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3.
The piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are capable of swinging, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a second drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3.
The piezoelectric elements 181 to 184 are formed as cuboids having same length L, width W, and thickness T as one another. Also, the piezoelectric elements 181 to 184 are formed using a same piezoelectric material as one another.
The holding member 17A of the present embodiment is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 161 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the position of the fixing end for vibration of the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 and the position of the fixing end for vibration of the piezoelectric element 183 and 184 may be made substantially different. That is, according to the present embodiment, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency fix, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency fry, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the sizes of the amplitudes of the drive signals at the time of swinging the illumination fiber 12 at desired amplitudes and in the Lissajous pattern may be optimized, and as a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased.
Note that, in the present embodiment, sections having a configuration different from those of the first and the second embodiments will be mainly described while omitting as appropriate detailed description regarding sections having the same configuration as in at least the first embodiment or the second embodiment.
The scanning endoscope 2 of the present embodiment is configured by including an optical scanning apparatus 15B as shown in
More specifically, as shown in
The holding member 17 functions as a fixing end of the optical scanning apparatus 15B, and is configured to hold the optical scanning apparatus 15B at a predetermined position inside the distal end portion of the insertion section 11.
The actuator section 18A includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, and at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D. More specifically, as shown in
The piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 are capable of swinging, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a first drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3. Moreover, the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 are formed as cuboids having same length L1, width W1, and thickness T1 as each other.
The piezoelectric elements 185 and 186 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 185 and 186 are capable of swinging, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a second drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3. Moreover, the piezoelectric elements 185 and 186 are formed as cuboids having same length L1, width W1, and thickness T2 as each other.
The piezoelectric elements 181, 182, 185, and 186 are formed using a same piezoelectric material as one another.
Furthermore, the actuator section 18A is formed in such a way that the thickness T1 of the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182 in the X-axis direction and the thickness T2 of the piezoelectric elements 185 and 186 in the Y-axis direction are different. That is, the actuator section 18A of the present embodiment is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 161 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency frx, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 181 and 182, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with mechanical resonance frequency frya, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 185 and 186.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the sizes of the amplitudes of the drive signals at the time of swinging the illumination fiber 12 at desired amplitudes and in the Lissajous pattern may be optimized, and as a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased.
Next, a configuration according to an example modification of the optical scanning apparatus 15B of the present embodiment will be described. Note that, in the following, for the sake of simplicity, sections different from those of the configuration described above will be mainly described while omitting as appropriate description regarding sections to which the same configuration as the configuration described above can be applied.
According to a first example modification of the present embodiment, the optical scanning apparatus 15B may be configured by including an actuator section 18B having a configuration as shown in
The actuator section 18B includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, and at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D. More specifically, as shown in
The piezoelectric elements 187 and 188 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 187 and 188 are capable of swinging, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a first drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3. Moreover, the piezoelectric elements 187 and 188 are formed as cuboids having same length L1, width W2, and thickness T1 as each other.
The piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are capable of swinging, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a second drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3. Moreover, the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are formed as cuboids having same length L1, width W1, and thickness T1 as each other.
The piezoelectric elements 183, 184, 187, and 188 are formed using a same piezoelectric material as one another.
Furthermore, the actuator section 18B is formed such that the width W1 of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 in the X-axis direction and the width W2 of the piezoelectric elements 187 and 188 in the Y-axis direction are different. That is, the actuator section 18B of the present embodiment is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 161 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric. Therefore, according to the present example modification, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with mechanical resonance frequency frxb, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 187 and 188, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency fry, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184.
Therefore, according to the present example modification, the sizes of the amplitudes of the drive signals at the time of swinging the illumination fiber 12 at desired amplitudes and in the Lissajous pattern may be optimized, and as a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased.
According to a second example modification of the present embodiment, the optical scanning apparatus 15B may be configured by including an actuator section 18C having a configuration as shown in
The actuator section 18C includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, and at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D. More specifically, as shown in
The piezoelectric elements 189 and 190 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 189 and 190 are capable of swinging, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a first drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3. Furthermore, the piezoelectric elements 189 and 190 are formed as cuboids having same length L2, width W1, and thickness T1 as each other.
The piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are capable of swinging, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a second drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3. Furthermore, the piezoelectric elements 185 and 186 are formed as cuboids having same length L1, width W1, and thickness T1 as each other.
The piezoelectric elements 183, 184, 189, and 190 are formed using a same piezoelectric material as one another.
Furthermore, the actuator section 18C is formed such that the length L1 of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 in the Z-axis direction and the length L2 of the piezoelectric elements 189 and 190 in the Z-axis direction are different. That is, the actuator section 18C of the present embodiment is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 161 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric. Therefore, according to the present example modification, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with mechanical resonance frequency frxc, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 189 and 190, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency fry, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184.
Therefore, according to the present example modification, the sizes of the amplitudes of the drive signals at the time of swinging the illumination fiber 12 at desired amplitudes and in the Lissajous pattern may be optimized, and as a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased.
According to a third example modification of the present embodiment, the optical scanning apparatus 15B may be configured by including an actuator section 18D having a configuration as shown in
The actuator section 18D includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, and at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D. More specifically, as shown in
The piezoelectric elements 181A and 182A are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces on a proximal end portion side of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 181A and 182A are capable of swinging, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a first drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3.
The piezoelectric elements 183A and 184A are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces on a distal end portion side of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are capable of swinging, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a second drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3.
The piezoelectric elements 181A to 184A are formed as cuboids having same length L, width W, and thickness T as one another. Also, the piezoelectric elements 181A to 184A are formed using a same piezoelectric material as one another.
As described above, the actuator section 18D is configured with arranged positions of the piezoelectric elements 181A and 182A on the outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D and arranged positions of the piezoelectric elements 183A and 184A on the outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D shifted from each other along the Z-axis direction. That is, the actuator section 18D of the present embodiment is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 161 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric.
Therefore, according to the present example modification, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with mechanical resonance frequency frxd, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 181A and 182A, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with mechanical resonance frequency fryd, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183A and 184A.
Therefore, according to the present example modification, the sizes of the amplitudes of the drive signals at the time of swinging the illumination fiber 12 at desired amplitudes and in the Lissajous pattern may be optimized, and as a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased.
According to a fourth example modification of the present embodiment, the optical scanning apparatus 15B may be configured by including an actuator section 18E having a configuration as shown in
The actuator section 18E includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, and at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D. More specifically, as shown in
The piezoelectric elements 191 and 192 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 191 and 192 are capable of swinging, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a first drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3. Furthermore, the piezoelectric elements 191 and 192 are formed using a piezoelectric material that is the same between each other but different from that of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184.
The piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are capable of swinging, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a second drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3. Furthermore, the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are formed using a piezoelectric material that is the same between each other but different from that of the piezoelectric elements 191 and 192.
The piezoelectric elements 183, 184, 191, and 192A are formed as cuboids having same length L, width W, and thickness T as one another.
As described above, according to the actuator section 18E, the piezoelectric material used for forming the piezoelectric elements 191 and 192 and the piezoelectric material used for forming the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are different from each other.
Therefore, according to the present example modification, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with mechanical resonance frequency frxe, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 191 and 192, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency fry, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184.
Therefore, according to the present example modification, the sizes of the amplitudes of the drive signals at the time of swinging the illumination fiber 12 at desired amplitudes and in the Lissajous pattern may be optimized, and as a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased.
According to a fifth example modification of the present embodiment, the optical scanning apparatus 15B may be configured by including an actuator section 18F having a configuration as shown in
The actuator section 18F includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, and at least one piezoelectric element configured to swing, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D. More specifically, as shown in
The piezoelectric element 182 is provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric element 182 is capable of swinging, in the X-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a first drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3.
The piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are provided at positions, on outer side surfaces of the fixing member 16D, facing each other across the illumination fiber 12. Also, the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184 are capable of swinging, in the Y-axis direction, the exit end portion of the illumination fiber 12 protruding from the distal end portion of the fixing member 16D, by vibrating (repeatedly expanding and contracting while maintaining opposite expansion/contraction states) according to a second drive signal supplied by the driver unit 22 of the main body apparatus 3.
The piezoelectric elements 182 to 184 are foamed as cuboids having same length L, width W, and thickness T as one another. Furthermore, the piezoelectric elements 182 to 184 are formed using a same piezoelectric material as one another.
As described above, according to the actuator section 18F, the number of piezoelectric elements provided in the X-axis direction and the number of piezoelectric elements provided in the Y-axis direction are different from each other. That is, the actuator section 18F of the present embodiment is formed in such a way that the shape seen in the X-axis direction from the center axis passing though the center of the through hole 161 and the shape seen in the Y-axis direction from the center axis are asymmetric.
Therefore, according to the present example modification, the frequency f1 of the first drive signal may be made to coincide with mechanical resonance frequency frxf, in the X-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric element 182, and also, the frequency f2 of the second drive signal may be made to coincide with the mechanical resonance frequency fry, in the Y-axis direction, of the vibration of the piezoelectric elements 183 and 184.
Therefore, according to the present example modification, the sizes of the amplitudes of the drive signals at the time of swinging the illumination fiber 12 at desired amplitudes and in the Lissajous pattern may be optimized, and as a result, the efficiency at the time of scanning an object in the Lissajous scan pattern may be increased.
Note that the present invention is not limited to each of the embodiments and example modifications described above, and may be subjected to various changes and alterations within the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2014-088464 | Apr 2014 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation application of PCT/JP2015/055841 filed on Feb. 27, 2015 and claims benefit of Japanese Application No. 2014-088464 filed in Japan on Apr. 22, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2015/055841 | Feb 2015 | US |
Child | 15238052 | US |