Abstract:
The present invention provides a light source module that scans beams so as to realize various images at one time and realizes three-dimensional images, and an optical scanning apparatus using the same. The light source module includes a plurality of light emitting elements that emit modulated light so as to transmit image information, and a fixing member that fixes the light emitting elements such that fixed positions of the respective light emitting elements are different from each other or direction angles of the light emitting elements are different from each other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a light source module and an optical scanning apparatus using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light source module that scans a beam so as to revive various image screens at one time and that can realize three-dimensional images, and an optical scanning apparatus using the same. 
         [0003]    (b) Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Recently, demand for a large image display devices is increasing. The large image display devices are broadly classified into a direct view type of image display device that is represented by a CRT (cathode-ray tube), a projection type of image display device that is represented by an LCD (liquid crystal display) projector, and an optical scanning type of image display device. 
         [0005]    In the CRT, which is a direct view type of image display, red, green, and blue electron beams emitted from red, green, and blue electron guns reach fluorescent points of red, green, and blue color pixels formed on the fluorescent panel in response to red, green, and blue components of a color image signal so as to radiate the fluorescent points of the red, green, and blue color pixels corresponding to the color image signal, so that a color image is displayed on a fluorescent panel. However, in the CRT apparatus, since an absolute moving distance of red, green, and blue electron beams emitted by red, green, and blue electron guns and reaching the fluorescent panel is needed, the overall size and weight of the CRT increases so that it is limited to increase a size of a color image screen of the CRT. 
         [0006]    Meanwhile, according to the LCD projector representing the projection type of image display, the weight and the thickness can be reduced and a relatively large image screen can be formed, but since a polarizer is adopted, there is a disadvantage of light loss. 
         [0007]    The image display apparatus of an optical scanning type has been proposed in Korean Patent No. 0607644 in the name of the applicant of this application in which two-dimensional scanning is possible by rotating a linear light source without using a rotating multi-surface mirror. However, the image display device disclosed in that application cannot sufficiently display various images. In addition, the image display device disclosed in that application has a drawback in that it is difficult to realize three-dimensional images. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a light source module having an advantage of realizing various images so as to produce various results, thereby enhancing the marketability of the product and an optical scanning apparatus using the same. 
         [0009]    In addition, the present invention has been made in an effort to provide a light source module having an advantage of producing three-dimensional images that can be seen without glasses for seeing three-dimensional images and an optical scanning apparatus using the same. 
         [0010]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a light source module including a plurality of light emitting elements that emit modulated light so as to transmit image information, and a fixing member that fixes the light emitting elements such that fixed positions of the respective light emitting elements are different from each other or direction angles of the light emitting elements are different from each other. 
         [0011]    The fixing member may include a base, and projections disposed on the base with a constant interval therebetween and respectively having surfaces at a height different from a surface formed by the base. 
         [0012]    A side surface of the projection may be formed to be slanted. 
         [0013]    The light emitting elements may be arranged on the fixing member in at least one row. 
         [0014]    The projections may be arranged in at least one row. 
         [0015]    The projections may be formed as truncated circular cones. 
         [0016]    The projections may be formed as truncated quadrangular cones. 
         [0017]    The projections may be provided with other projections thereon that are formed as truncated quadrangular cones. 
         [0018]    The projections provided to the base may be formed by curved surfaces extending from the base. 
         [0019]    The surfaces being formed at different heights that are provided to the fixing member may be continuously formed along a length direction. 
         [0020]    The surfaces may be formed to be curved. 
         [0021]    A side part of the surfaces may be slanted. 
         [0022]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an optical scanning apparatus using a light source module including a plurality of light emitting elements that emit modulated light so as to transmit image information, and a fixing member that fixes the light emitting elements such that fixed positions of the respective light emitting elements are different from each other or direction angles of the light emitting elements are different from each other. 
         [0023]    The light emitting elements may be realized by a light emitting diode, and in particular, a surface light emitting diode. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view for explaining an example to which an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing primary parts of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view for describing a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view for describing a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view for describing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view for describing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view for describing a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view for describing a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view for describing an eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view for describing a ninth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view for describing a tenth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view for describing an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view for describing a twelfth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view for explaining an example to which an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II in  FIG. 1  and illustrates an optical scanning apparatus for an image display apparatus. An optical scanning apparatus  10  may include a cylindrical drum  20  that is connected to a driving device (not shown) such as a motor, and a light source module disposed on an outer surface of the drum  20 . The optical scanning apparatus  10  may scan light on a screen  25  or the like so as to realize an image. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the optical scanning apparatus  10  may emit light so as to directly display an image that can be seen by a user, without the screen  25 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing primary parts of a first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a plan view of  FIG. 3  and illustrates a light source module. The light source module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing member  30  and a light emitting element  40 . The fixing member  30  includes a base  50 , which can be formed in a shape of a bar having a specific length, and projections  60  that are repeatedly disposed on the base  50  and have surfaces having a height difference h (shown in  FIG. 3 ) from a surface formed by the base  50 . Although the base  50  and the projections  60  may be formed by combining separate members, it is preferable that the base  50  and the projections  60  are integrally formed as a single body. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the projections  60  may be formed as circular cones, an end portion of which is cut, i.e., truncated circular cones. That is, the light source module according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which the projections  60  formed as truncated circular cones are arranged in a row on the fixing member  30  having a specific length. That is, there is a specific height difference h (shown in  FIG. 3 ) between a surface  50   a  formed by the base  50  and a surface  60   a  formed by the projection  60 . In this case, surfaces  60   a  of the projection  60  may preferably be formed at the same height. 
         [0042]    Light emitting elements  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c ,  40   d ,  40   e , and  40   f  (referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) may be coupled to the surface  60   a  of the projection  60 , a surface  50   a  forming the base  50  between the projections  60 , and a side surface  60   b  of the projection  60 . The light emitting elements  40   c ,  40   d ,  40   e , and  40   f  (referring to  FIG. 4 ) coupled to the side surface  60   b  of the projection  60  may be regularly arranged at a front side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side. The light emitting elements  40  are arranged such that the light emitting elements  40   a  disposed on the surface  60   a  of the projection  60  form one row and other light emitting elements  40   b  disposed on the surface  50   a  forming the base  50  between the projections  60  form the same row with the light emitting elements  40   a  with a height difference. The light emitting elements  40   c  and  40   e  disposed on the slanted side surface  60   b  of the projection  60  form a different row from the row of the light emitting elements  40   a , and have a different direction angle by the inclination. The light emitting elements  40   d  and  40   f  disposed on the slanted side surface  60   b  of the projection  60  form the same row with the light emitting elements  40   a , but have a different light scanning direction by the inclination so as to have a different direction angle. 
         [0043]    The light emitting element  40  that can be applied to the present invention emits modulated light of red, green, and blue colors corresponding to an image displayed in a shape in which laser diodes or light emitting diodes are arranged in a row. 
         [0044]    Operations of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail hereinafter. The light emitting element  40  can scan images while moving in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the fixing member  30 . Further detailed explanation will be made using an example of the light emitting element  40  scanning in this way. A person who sees images at a front center can mainly see the light emitting elements  40   a  on the surface  60   a  of the projection  60  and the light emitting elements  40   b  disposed on the surface  50   a  between the projections  60 . A person who sees images at a left side can see the light emitting elements  40   d  disposed on a left side surface of the projection  60 , and a person who sees images at a right side can mainly see the light emitting elements  40   f  disposed on a right side surface of the projection  60 . Accordingly, left and right images can be formed to be different from each other, and the light emitting elements are independently modulated so that different images can be illuminated on left and right eyes of a viewer. That is, when a viewer sees the light emitting element, the center light emitting elements  40   a  and  40   b , the light emitting elements  40   d  and  40   f  that scan to the left and the right, or the light emitting elements  40   c  and  40   e  that scan to the upper side and the lower side scan to different spaces, and the center light emitting elements  40   a  and  40   b  scan to different spaces by the height difference h, so that three-dimensional images can be displayed. In the case that the light emitting elements of the light source having different heights scan, a feeling of depth of the light source may be endowed to viewers. In addition, since the light emitting elements emit light at different direction angles, for example, the light emitting elements that scan to the left and the right scan to the left and the right depending on position, one of them cannot be seen according to a seeing direction, so that images that are actually seen become different depending on a scanning position and a position of a viewer. For example, in the case that the light source scans while moving from the left to the right and a viewer is positioned at the center, light emitted from the light emitting element in a direction angle that is slanted to the left cannot reach eyes of the viewer while scanning from the left scanning start point to the front (center) of the viewer, but can easily reach eyes of the viewer while scanning from the front (center) of the viewer to the right scanning end point. To the contrary, light emitted from the light emitting element a direction angle that is slanted to the right reaches eyes of the viewer while scanning from the left scanning start point to the front (center) of the viewer, but cannot reach eyes of the viewer while scanning from the front (center) of the viewer to the right scanning end point. Accordingly, a range of the light source that can be seen varies depending on a direction angle of the right emitting element and a position of the viewer, and the viewer can perceive the depth according to the height of the light emitting elements, so that images having an excellent feeling of solidity can be scanned. 
         [0045]    Accordingly, clear three-dimensional images can be enjoyed without separate glasses for three-dimensional images. 
         [0046]    Meanwhile, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the region at which light arrives can be varied by the light emitting element, so that different images can be seen according to a view position. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is a drawing describing the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a light source module. Explanations of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. In the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fixing member  100  includes a base  105  and projections  110  and  120  arranged in two rows on the base  105 . The projections  110  and  120  arranged in two rows are respectively formed as truncated circular cones like in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Light emitting elements  130  (only a portion of the light emitting elements are designated by the reference numeral for convenience of description) are disposed in the same manner as the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, if the amount of light of the light source is deficient, an object of the present invention can be achieved by adding additional light emitting elements, and the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the present invention can be executed in various ways. 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  is a drawing describing the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a light source module. Explanations of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. In the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, projections  170  provided to a base  160  constituting a fixing member  150  are arranged in a row, and have a quadrangular cone shape, an upper portion of which is cut, i.e., a truncated quadrangle cone shape. Light emitting elements  180  (only a portion of light emitting elements are designated by the reference numeral for convenience of description) may be disposed on a surface of the base  160  between the projections  170  and surfaces formed by the projections  170 . The third exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the present invention can be executed in various ways. 
         [0049]      FIG. 7  is a drawing describing the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a light source module. Explanations of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. A fixing member  200  of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided with first projections  220  with a shape of a quadrangle cone, an upper portion of which is cut, i.e., a truncated quadrangle cone, at an upper surface of the base  210 . In addition, second projections  230  are provided at an upper surface of the first projection  220 . The second projections  230  may be formed in a shape of a quadrangle cone, an upper portion of which is cut, i.e., a truncated quadrangle cone, similar to the first projection  220 . The light emitting elements  240  may be preferably disposed on surfaces of the first projections  220  and the second projections  230 , and a surface of the base  210  between the first projections  220 . The fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention has the same operations and effects as the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but can achieve the object of the present invention through different structures. 
         [0050]      FIG. 8  is a drawing describing the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a light source module. Explanations of the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. A fixing member  250  of the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a base  260  and a plurality of projections  270  arranged on the base at different heights. That is, the projections  270  have a surface formed at a different height from a surface formed by the base  260 , and the projections  270  are repeatedly disposed. In addition, light emitting elements  280  may be disposed on surfaces formed by the projections  270  and surfaces formed by the base  260  between the projections  270 . Alternatively, the base  260  may be formed to have grooves so as to form the projections  270  having different surfaces in turn. 
         [0051]      FIG. 9  is a drawing describing the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a light source module. Explanations of the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. A fixing member  300  of the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a base  310  and projections  320  provided to the base  310 , and a side surface of the projection  320  is formed as a slanted surface  320   a . In addition, light emitting elements  330  may be disposed on upper surfaces formed by the projections  320  and the slanted surfaces  320   a . In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the base  310  and the projections  320  may preferably be integrated in a single member. The sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the object of the present invention can be achieved in various ways. 
         [0052]      FIG. 10  is a drawing describing the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a light source module. Explanations of the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. A fixing member  370  of the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a base  360  and projections  370  formed on the base  360 , and both side surfaces of the projections  370  are respectively formed as slanted surfaces  370   a  and  370   b . Light emitting elements  380  may be disposed on upper surfaces formed by the projections  370  and the slanted surfaces  370   a  and  370   b . In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the base  360  and the projections  370  may preferably be integrated in a single member. One side surface of each projection is formed with the slanted surface as in the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, but in the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention, both side surfaces of the projection are formed with the slanted surface. The seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the object of the present invention can be achieved in various ways. 
         [0053]      FIG. 11  is a drawing describing the eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a light source module. Explanations of the eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. A fixing member  400  of the eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a base  410  and projections  420  formed on the base  410 , and both side surfaces of the projection  420  are respectively formed as slanted surfaces  420   a  and  420   b . Light emitting elements  430  may be disposed on upper surfaces formed by the projections  420  and the slanted side surfaces  420   a  and  420   b . In particular, when compared to the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of each projection  420  of the eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is formed to be very narrow. This example also shows that the present invention can be executed in various ways. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the base  410  and the projections  420  may preferably be integrated in a single member. The eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the object of the present invention can be achieved in various ways. 
         [0054]      FIG. 12  is a drawing describing the ninth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a fixing member  450 . Explanations of the ninth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. The fixing member  450  includes a base  460  and projections  470  extended from the base  460 , and the projections  470  are formed in a shape to be connected to one another by a curved surface. Light emitting elements  480  are coupled to the curved surfaces. The ninth exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the object of the present invention can be achieved in various ways. 
         [0055]    The above-described structure is configured so as to maximize a difference of light of the light emitting element reaching left and right eyes, and in particular, in the case of  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 12 , if light is scanned to the upper side and the lower side, this effect can be maximized. To the contrary, it can be known that in the case of  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 , different images can be seen at the right and the left side irregardless of the scanning direction. 
         [0056]    In the case of  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 14 , and  FIG. 15 , if light is scanned in the left direction and the right direction, a difference between the left image and the right image of a viewer can be more effectively seen. This is explained with an example in which the fixing members are disposed in a vertical direction and undergoes a parallel movement or a rotational movement in a horizontal direction. 
         [0057]      FIG. 13  is a drawing describing the tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a fixing member  500 . Explanations of the tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. In the tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member  500  is formed to have a shape of stairs in a direction perpendicular to a length direction thereof. The fixing member  500  includes a base  510  and projections  520 ,  530 , and  540  extending from the base  510 . The projections  520 ,  530 , and  540  form the same surfaces along a length direction of the base  510 , and light emitting elements  545  may be disposed on the surfaces. The tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the object of the present invention can be achieved in various ways. 
         [0058]      FIG. 14  is a drawing describing the eleventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a fixing member  550 . Explanations of the eleventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. In the eleventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member  550  is formed to have a shape of stairs in a direction perpendicular to a length direction thereof. The fixing member  550  includes a base  560  and projections  570 ,  580 , and  590  extending from the base  560 . The projections  570 ,  580 , and  590  form the same surfaces along a length direction of the base  550 , and light emitting elements  595  may be disposed on the surfaces. In particular, in the eleventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention, parts connecting the projections  570 ,  580 , and  590  may be formed as a curved surface or a slanted surface. The light emitting elements  595  may be disposed on surfaces forming the projections  570 ,  580 , and  590 . The eleventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the object of the present invention can be achieved in various ways. 
         [0059]      FIG. 15  is a drawing describing the twelfth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a fixing member  600 . Explanations of the twelfth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be made for only parts that are different from the eleventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and explanations for the like parts will be omitted. In the twelfth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member  600  is formed to have a shape of stairs in a direction perpendicular to a length direction thereof. The fixing member  600  includes a base  610  and projections  620 ,  630 , and  640  extending from the base  610 . The projections  620 ,  630 , and  640  form the same surfaces along a length direction of the base  610 , and light emitting elements  645  may be disposed on the surfaces. In particular, in the twelfth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, parts connecting the projections  620 ,  630 , and  640  may be formed as slanted surfaces  620   a ,  630   a , and  640   a . Light emitting elements  645  may be disposed on the surfaces formed by the projections  620 ,  630 , and  640  and the slanted surfaces  620   a ,  630   a , and  640   a . The eleventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the object of the present invention can be achieved in various ways. As such, the present invention can be variously realized by the combination of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention or variations of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be realized in a method in which the fixing member and the light emitting elements are formed by being combined with a flexible PCB, a shape of which can be easily changed. 
         [0060]    In addition, without changing a physical height of the fixing member or forming the slanted surface, a depth feeling or a direction angle of the light source can be changed using an optical device, etc. For example, an apparent light emitting position of the light emitting elements positioned on the same surface can be changed can be changed using an optical device such as a lens. In addition, a direction angle of light emitted from the light source can be adjusted using an optical device such as a prism that can change the directional characteristic of emitted light. 
         [0061]    As such, according to the present invention, the light emitting elements are disposed on the fixing member in at least one row at different heights or they scan light in different direction angles, so a three-dimensional image can be realized. 
         [0062]    In particular, according to the present invention, a three-dimensional image can be seen without using glasses for seeing three-dimensional images. 
         [0063]    In addition, the light emitting elements emit light at different positions, and the emitted light is scanned in different directions, so that images can be realized in various ways to thereby enhance the marketability of the product.