Patent ID: 7729041
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. An electro optic device comprising: an optical element in which a refractive index distribution changes according to the intensity of an electric field generated therein such that an incident laser beam is scanned; and first and second electrodes provided on two opposite surfaces of the optical element, a distance between electrodes of the first and second electrodes of the optical element decreasing continuously or in a stepwise manner from an emission end surface toward an incident end surface, the first and second electrodes being comprised of a plurality of electrode parts, the optical element including a plurality of element portions, the distance between electrodes in each of the element portions being constant and the distances between electrodes in the element portions being different from each other, the plurality of element portions being disposed to be in contact with each other in the order from the incident end surface such that the element portion having a relatively short distance between electrodes is located close to the incident end surface, the laser beam being deflected toward the first electrode or the second electrode, the optical element having a distance between electrodes in the element portions corresponding to a deflection angle of the laser beam emitted from the emission end surface, a voltage being separately applied to each of the plurality of element portions, the voltage applied to each of the plurality of element portions having a same frequency and a same phase, and a larger voltage being applied to a thicker element portion.