OPTICAL SHUTTER AND OPTICAL SCANNER ADOPTING SAME

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical shutter which adjusts the amount of light transmitted by making use of the electrowetting phenomenon and to provide an optical scanner adopting the optical shutter. SOLUTION: The optical scanner is provided with: at least a light source; an optical shutter array having a plurality of optical shutters which adjust the amount of light transmitted from the light source; and a micro lens array having a plurality of conversion lenses which converge the light transmitted through the plurality of optical shutters, respectively. Each of the plurality of optical shutters is provided with: a cell having a transparent panel and a hydrophobic transparent insulation panel which are arranged to face each other; a transparent electrode formed on an outer surface of the hydrophobic transparent insulation panel; and an opaque hydrophilic droplet contained in the cell to contact an inner surface of the hydrophobic transparent insulation panel, wherein the amount of light transmitted is adjusted by changing a contact angle of the hydrophilic droplet with respect to the hydrophobic transparent insulation panel depending on applying of an electric field between the transparent electrode and the hydrophilic droplet. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI