Patent Publication Number: US-9903558-B2

Title: Vehicle lighting fixture

Description:
This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-101793 filed on May 19, 2015, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The presently disclosed subject matter relates to vehicle lighting fixtures, and in particular, to a vehicle lighting fixture configured to two-dimensionally scan with light to form a predetermined light distribution pattern. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional vehicle lighting fixture  800 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the conventional vehicle lighting fixture  800  can include laser light sources  812 , condenser lenses  814 , optical deflectors (MEMS mirrors)  816 , a wavelength conversion member (phosphor panel)  818 , and a projector lens  820 . Laser light emitted from the laser light sources  812  can be two-dimensionally scanned by the respective optical deflectors  816 . The two-dimensionally scanned laser light can form a luminance distribution on the wavelength conversion member  818 . The formed luminance distribution can be projected by the projector lens  820  to thereby allow the vehicle lighting fixture  800  to form a predetermined light distribution pattern corresponding to the luminance distribution. This type of vehicle lighting fixture can include those proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-222238 (or US2011/0249460A1 corresponding thereto), for example. 
     This publication, however, is silent about the resolution as to which order the resolution of the predetermined light distribution pattern should be set to and how such a resolution can be achieved in the vehicle lighting fixture  800  when the light distribution pattern, in particular including an unirradiation region(s), is formed by two-dimensionally scanning with light. 
     SUMMARY 
     The presently disclosed subject matter was devised in view of these and other problems and features in association with the conventional art. According to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, a vehicle lighting fixture can be configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern by two-dimensionally scanning with light, wherein the predetermined light distribution can be formed with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     According to another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, a vehicle lighting fixture can be configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern with groups of spots of light scanning in a two-dimensional manner and include an optical controlling member configured to change a pitch between spots in a group of spots among the groups of spots of light. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture with the above-mentioned configuration can form the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     According to another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, the vehicle lighting fixture of the above-mentioned aspect can be configured such that the optical controlling member can change the pitch between spots such that the pitch becomes large as the light scanning in a two-dimensional manner is directed by a larger deflection angle. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture with the above-mentioned configuration can reliably form the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     According to still another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, a vehicle lighting fixture can be configured to include a light source; an optical deflector configured to two-dimensionally scan with groups of spots of light having been incident thereon from the light source; a screen member in which the light scanning by the optical deflector forms a luminance distribution corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern; an optical system configured to project the luminance distribution formed in the screen member forward of a vehicle body; and an optical controlling member configured to change a pitch between spots in a group of spots among the groups of spots of light scanning by the optical deflector on the screen member. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture with the above-mentioned configuration can form the luminance distribution with groups of spots of light scanning in a two-dimensional manner on the screen member and project the luminance distribution forward to form the predetermined light distribution pattern. In this case, the vehicle lighting fixture can form the luminance distribution and the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     According to another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, the vehicle lighting fixture of the above-mentioned aspect can be configured such that the optical controlling member can change the pitch between spots on the screen member such that the pitch on the screen member becomes large as the light scanning in a two-dimensional manner is directed by a larger deflection angle. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture with the above-mentioned configuration can reliably form the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     According to another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, the vehicle lighting fixture of any of the above-mentioned aspects can be configured such that the optical controlling member can be a multifocal lens disposed between the optical deflector and the screen member and configured to allow the light scanning by the optical deflector to pass therethrough. Here, the screen member can be configured to form the luminance distribution with the light scanning with the optical deflector and passing through the multifocal lens. The multifocal lens can be configured to have lens portions having respective focal distances such that the focal distance is shorter at a lens portion of the multifocal lens where the light with a larger deflection angle passes. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture with the above-mentioned configuration can reliably form the luminance distribution (corresponding to the predetermined light distribution pattern) with resolutions in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     In the vehicle lighting fixture with the above-mentioned configuration, the multifocal lens can be configured to have the lens portions having the respective focal distances such that the focal distance is shorter at a lens portion of the multifocal lens where the light with a larger deflection angle in a horizontal direction passes. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture with the above-mentioned configuration can reliably form the luminance distribution (corresponding to the predetermined light distribution pattern) with resolutions in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     Furthermore, in the vehicle lighting fixture with the above-mentioned configuration, the multifocal lens can be configured to have the lens portions having the respective focal distances such that the focal distance is shorter at a lens portion of the multifocal lens where the light with a larger deflection angle in a vertical direction passes. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture with the above-mentioned configuration can reliably form the luminance distribution (corresponding to the predetermined light distribution pattern) with resolutions in which the resolution in the vertical direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These and other characteristics, features, and advantages of the presently disclosed subject matter will become clear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional vehicle lighting fixture  600 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a vehicle lighting fixture  10  of a first reference example; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating a modified example of the vehicle lighting fixture  10 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an optical deflector  201  of a 2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination) (of a one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type); 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  are not applied with a voltage, and  FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which they are applied with a voltage; 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  are not applied with a voltage, and  FIG. 6B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which they are applied with a voltage; 
         FIG. 7A  is a diagram illustrating the maximum swing angle of a mirror part  202  around a first axis X 1 , and  FIG. 7B  is a diagram illustrating the maximum swing angle of the mirror part  202  around a second axis X 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a test system; 
         FIG. 9  is a graph obtained by plotting test results (measurement results); 
         FIG. 10  is a graph showing a relationship between the swing angle and frequency of the mirror part  202 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a control system configured to control an excitation light source  12  and an optical deflector  201 ; 
         FIG. 12  includes graphs showing a state in which the excitation light source  12  (laser light) is modulated at a modulation frequency f L  (25 MHz) in synchronization with the reciprocal swing of the mirror part  202  (upper graph), showing a state in which the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  are applied with first and second alternating voltages (for example, sinusoidal wave of 25 MHz) (middle graph), and showing a state in which the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  are applied with a third alternating voltage (for example, sawtooth wave of 55 Hz) (lower graph); 
         FIG. 13A  includes graphs showing details of the first and second alternating voltages (for example, sinusoidal wave of 24 kHz) to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuator  203  and  204 , an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc., and  FIG. 13B  includes graphs showing details of the third alternating voltage (for example, sawtooth wave of 60 Hz) to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuator  205  and  206 , an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc.; 
         FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C  illustrate examples of scanning patterns of laser light (spot-shaped laser light) with which the optical deflector  201  can two-dimensionally scan (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction); 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate examples of scanning patterns of laser light (spot-shaped laser light) two-dimensionally scanning (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) by the optical deflector  201 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an optical deflector  161  of a two-dimensional nonresonance type; 
         FIG. 17A  includes graphs showing details of the first alternating voltage (for example, sawtooth wave of 6 kHz) to be applied to first piezoelectric actuators  163  and  164 , an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc., and  FIG. 17B  includes graphs showing details of the third alternating voltage (for example, sawtooth wave of 60 Hz) to be applied to second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166 , an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc.; 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view illustrating an optical deflector  201 A of a two-dimensional resonance type; 
         FIG. 19A  includes graphs showing details of the first alternating voltage (for example, sinusoidal wave of 24 kHz) to be applied to first piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa and  15 Ab, an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc., and  FIG. 19B  includes graphs showing details of the third alternating voltage (for example, sinusoidal wave of 12 Hz) to be applied to second piezoelectric actuators  17 Aa and  17 Ab, an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc.; 
         FIG. 20  is a graph showing a relationship among the temperature change, the resonance frequency, and the mechanical swing angle (half angle) of a mirror part  202  around the first axis X 1  as a center; 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle lighting fixture  300  according to a second reference example; 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view illustrating the vehicle lighting fixture  300 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a front view illustrating the vehicle lighting fixture  300 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of  FIG. 23  taken along line A-A; 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view including the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 24  illustrating the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of  FIG. 23  taken along line A-A; 
         FIG. 26  is a diagram illustrating a predetermined light distribution pattern P formed on a virtual vertical screen (assumed to be disposed in front of a vehicle body approximately 25 m away from the vehicle front face) by the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of the present reference example; 
         FIGS. 27A, 27B, and 27C  are a front view, a top plan view, and a side view of a wavelength conversion member  18 , respectively; 
         FIG. 28A  is a graph showing the relationship between a mechanical swing angle (half angle) of the mirror part  202  around the first axis X 1  and the drive voltage to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 , and  FIG. 28B  is a graph showing the relationship between a mechanical swing angle (half angle) of the mirror part  202  around the second axis X 2  and the drive voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 ; 
         FIG. 29  is a table summarizing the conditions to be satisfied in order to change the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  when the distances between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202 ) and the wavelength conversion member  18  are the same (or substantially the same) as each other; 
         FIG. 30A  is a diagram for illustrating the “L” and “βh_max” illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 29 , and  FIG. 30B  is a diagram for illustrating the “S,” “βv_max,” and L illustrated in (b) of  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 31  is a diagram for illustrating an example in which the distances between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202 ) and the wavelength conversion member  18  are changed; 
         FIG. 32  is a table summarizing the conditions to be satisfied in order to change the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  when the driving voltages to be applied to the respective optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  are the same (or substantially the same) as one another; 
         FIG. 33  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified example of the vehicle lighting fixture  300 ; 
         FIG. 34  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle lighting fixture  400  according to a third reference example; 
         FIG. 35  is a perspective view of a cross section of the vehicle lighting fixture  400  of  FIG. 34 ; 
         FIG. 36  is a vertical cross-sectional view of another modified example of the vehicle lighting fixture  300 ; 
         FIG. 37  is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of an optical distributor  68 ; 
         FIG. 38  includes graphs showing (a) an example of a light intensity distribution in which the light intensity at a region B 1  in the vicinity of its center is relatively high, (b) an example of a drive signal (sinusoidal wave) in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a), and (c) an example of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a); 
         FIG. 39  includes graphs showing (a) an example of a light intensity distribution (reference example), (b) an example of a drive signal (sinusoidal wave) in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a), and (c) an example of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a linear region in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a); 
         FIG. 40  is a diagram illustrating an example of a light intensity distribution in which the light intensity at a region B 2  in the vicinity of the side e corresponding to a cut-off line is relatively high; 
         FIG. 41  includes graphs showing (a) an example of a light intensity distribution in which the light intensities at regions B 1  and B 3  near its center are relatively high, (b) an example of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a), and (c) an example of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a); 
         FIG. 42  includes graphs showing (a) an example of a light intensity distribution (reference example), (b) an example of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a linear region in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a), and (c) an example of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a linear region in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a); 
         FIG. 43  includes graphs showing (a) an example of a light intensity distribution (reference example), (b) an example of a drive signal (sinusoidal wave) in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a), and (c) an example of a drive signal (sinusoidal wave) in order to form the light intensity distribution of (a); 
         FIG. 44A  is a diagram illustrating an example of an irradiation pattern P Hot  for forming an unirradiation region C 1 ,  FIG. 44B  is a diagram illustrating an example of an irradiation pattern P Mid  for forming an unirradiation region C 2 ,  FIG. 44C  is a diagram illustrating an example of an irradiation pattern P Wide  for forming an unirradiation region C 3 , and  FIG. 44D  is a diagram illustrating an example of a high-beam light distribution pattern P Hi  configured by overlaying a plurality of irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide ; 
         FIG. 45  is a diagram illustrating a state in which the nonirradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  are shifted from each other; 
         FIG. 46A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a high-beam light distribution pattern PL Hi  formed by a vehicle lighting fixture  300 L disposed on the left side of a vehicle body front portion (on the left side of a vehicle body),  FIG. 46B  is a diagram illustrating an example of a high-beam light distribution pattern PR Hi  formed by a vehicle lighting fixture  300 R disposed on the right side of the vehicle body front portion (on the front side of the vehicle body), and  FIG. 46C  is a diagram illustrating an example of a high-beam light distribution pattern P Hi  configured by overlaying the two irradiation patterns PL Hi  and PR Hi ; 
         FIG. 47  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle lighting fixture  500  according to a first exemplary embodiment made in accordance with principles of the presently disclosed subject matter; 
         FIG. 48  is a schematic diagram illustrating essential parts of the vehicle lighting fixture  500  including a wavelength conversion member  18  and a multifocal lens  502 ; 
         FIG. 49A  is a diagram illustrating a state (simulation result) in which excitation light directed from an optical deflector  201  and passing through a single focus lens  506 A forms a high-resolution region by a group of spots SP of light in a horizontal direction on the wavelength conversion member  18  at a pitch p 1 ;  FIG. 49B  is a diagram illustrating a state (simulation result) in which excitation light directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through a single focus lens  506 B forms a middle-resolution region by a group of spots SP of light in the horizontal direction on the wavelength conversion member  18  at a pitch p 2 ; and  FIG. 49C  is a diagram illustrating a state (simulation result) in which excitation light directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through a single focus lens  506 C forms a low-resolution region by a group of spots SP of light in the horizontal direction on the wavelength conversion member  18  at a pitch p 3 ; 
         FIG. 50A  is a diagram illustrating a predetermined light distribution pattern having a high resolution at a horizontal center and a lower resolution toward the periphery thereof;  FIG. 50B  is a diagram illustrating a predetermined light distribution pattern having a constant, relatively low resolution in the horizontal direction; and  FIG. 50C  is a diagram illustrating a predetermined light distribution pattern having a constant, relatively high resolution in the horizontal direction; 
         FIG. 51  is a block diagram schematically illustrating the vehicle lighting fixture  500 ; 
         FIG. 52  is a schematic diagram showing the relationship among the wavelength conversion member  18  (luminous distribution d), the projector lens  20 , and the predetermined light distribution pattern P; 
         FIG. 53  is a diagram illustrating an example in which basic light distribution data and mask data are used to generate a basic light distribution pattern including an unirradiation region; 
         FIG. 54  is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the vehicle lighting fixture  500 ; 
         FIG. 55  is a perspective view of a multifocal lens  502 ; 
         FIG. 56  is a perspective view of a vehicle lighting fixture  600 ; and 
         FIGS. 57A and 57B  are each a perspective view of each of optical controlling mirrors  602   Wide  and  602   Hot . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     A description will now be made below to vehicle lighting fixtures of the presently disclosed subject matter with reference to the accompanying drawings in accordance with reference examples and an exemplary embodiment(s). The definition relating to directions is based on the irradiation direction of the vehicle lighting fixture that can form a light distribution pattern in front of a vehicle body on which the vehicle lighting fixture is installed. 
     Before discussing the presently disclosed subject matter by way of an exemplary embodiment(s), the basic configuration that can be adopted by the presently disclosed subject matter will be described as several reference examples with the use of a simple system configuration. 
       FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a vehicle lighting fixture  10  of a first reference example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the vehicle lighting fixture  10  according to the reference example is configured as a vehicle headlamp and can include: an excitation light source  12 ; a condenser lens  14  configured to condense excitation light rays Ray from the excitation light source  12 ; an optical deflector  201  configured to scan with the excitation light rays Ray, which are condensed by the condenser lens  14 , in a two-dimensional manner in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; a wavelength conversion member  18  configured to form a two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern drawn by the excitation light rays Ray with which the wavelength conversion member is scanned in the two-dimensional manner in the horizontal and vertical directions by the optical deflector  201 ; and a projector lens assembly  20  configured to project the two-dimensional image drawn on the wavelength conversion member  18  forward. 
     The optical deflector  201 , the wavelength conversion member  18 , and the projector lens assembly  20  can be disposed, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , so that the excitation light rays Ray which are emitted from the excitation light source  12  and with which the optical deflector  201  scans in the two-dimensional manner (in the horizontal and vertical directions) can be incident on a rear face  18   a  of the wavelength conversion member  18  and pass therethrough to exit through a front face  18   b  thereof. Specifically, the optical deflector  201  can be disposed on the rear side with respect to the wavelength conversion member  18  while the projector lens assembly  20  can be disposed on the front side with respect to the wavelength conversion member  18 . This type of arrangement is called as a transmission type. In this case, the excitation light source  12  may be disposed either on the front side or on the rear side with respect to the wavelength conversion member  18 . In  FIG. 2 , the projector lens assembly  20  can be configured to include four lenses  20 A to  20 D, but the projector lens assembly  20  may be configured to include a single aspheric lens, for example. 
     The optical deflector  201 , the wavelength conversion member  18 , and the projector lens assembly  20  may be disposed, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , so that the excitation light rays Ray which are emitted from the excitation light source  12  and with which the optical deflector  201  scans in the two-dimensional manner (in the horizontal and vertical directions) can be incident on the front face  18   b  of the wavelength conversion member  18 . In this case, the optical deflector  201  and the projector lens assembly  20  may be disposed on the front side with respect to the wavelength conversion member  18 . This type of arrangement is called as a reflective type. In this case, the excitation light source  12  may be disposed either on the front side or on the rear side with respect to the wavelength conversion member  18 . The reflective type arrangement as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when compared with the transmission type arrangement as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is advantageous in terms of the dimension of the vehicle lighting fixture  10  in a reference axis Ax direction being shorter. In  FIG. 3 , the projector lens assembly  20  is configured to include a single aspheric lens, but the projector lens assembly  20  may be configured to include a lens group composed of a plurality of lenses. 
     The excitation light source  12  can be a semiconductor light emitting element such as a laser diode (LD) that can emit laser light rays of blue color (for example, having an emission wavelength of 450 nm). The excitation light source  12  may be a semiconductor light emitting element such as a laser diode (LD) that can emit laser light rays of near ultraviolet light (for example, having an emission wavelength of 405 nm) or an LED. The excitation light rays emitted from the excitation light source  12  can be converged by the condenser lens  14  (for example, collimated) and be incident on the optical deflector  201  (in particular, on a mirror part thereof). 
     The wavelength conversion member  18  can be a plate-shaped or laminate-type wavelength conversion member having a rectangular outer shape. The wavelength conversion member  18  can be scanned with the laser light rays as the excitation light rays by the optical deflector  201  in a two-dimensional manner (in the horizontal and vertical directions) to thereby convert at least part of the excitation light rays to light rays with different wavelength. In the case of  FIG. 2 , the wavelength conversion member  18  can be fixed to a frame body  22  at an outer periphery of the rear face  18   a  thereof and disposed at or near the focal point F of the projector lens assembly  20 . In the case of  FIG. 3 , the wavelength conversion member  18  can be fixed to a support  46  at the rear face  18   a  thereof and disposed at or near the focal point F of the projector lens assembly  20 . 
     Specifically, when the excitation light source  12  is a blue laser diode for emitting blue laser light rays, the wavelength conversion member  18  can employ a plate-shaped or laminate-type phosphor that can be excited by the blue laser light rays to emit yellow light rays. With this configuration, the optical deflector  201  can scan the wavelength conversion member  18  with the blue laser light rays in a two-dimensional manner (in the horizontal and vertical directions), whereby a two-dimensional white image can be drawn on the wavelength conversion member  18  corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern. Specifically, when the wavelength conversion member  18  is irradiated with the blue laser light rays, the passing blue laser light rays and the yellow light rays emitted from the wavelength conversion member  18  can be mixed with each other to emit pseudo white light, thereby drawing the two-dimensional white image on the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     Further, when the excitation light source  12  is a near UV laser diode for emitting near UV laser light rays, the wavelength conversion member  18  can employ a plate-shaped or laminate-type phosphor that can be excited by the near UV laser light rays to emit three types of colored light rays, i.e., red, green, and blue light rays. With this configuration, the optical deflector  201  can scan the wavelength conversion member  18  with the near UV laser light rays in a two-dimensional manner (in the horizontal and vertical directions), whereby a two-dimensional white image can be drawn on the wavelength conversion member  18  corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern. Specifically, when the wavelength conversion member  18  is irradiated with the near UV laser light rays, the red, green, and blue light rays emitted from the wavelength conversion member  18  due to the excitation by the near UV laser light rays can be mixed with each other to emit pseudo white light, thereby drawing the two-dimensional white image on the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     The projector lens assembly  20  can be composed of a group of four lenses  20 A to  20 D that have been aberration-corrected (have been corrected in terms of the field curvature) to provide a planar image formed, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The lenses may also be color aberration-corrected. Then, the planar wavelength conversion member  18  can be disposed in alignment with the image plane (flat plane). The focal point F of the projector lens assembly  20  can be located at or near the wavelength conversion member  18 . When the projector lens assembly  20  is a group of plural lenses, the projector lens assembly  20  can remove the adverse effect of the aberration on the predetermined light distribution pattern more than a single convex lens used. With this projector lens assembly  20 , the planar wavelength conversion member  18  can be employed. This is advantageous because the planar wavelength conversion member  18  can be produced easier than a curved wavelength conversion member. Furthermore, this is advantageous because the planar wavelength conversion member  18  can facilitate the drawing of a two-dimensional image thereon easier than a curved wavelength conversion member. 
     Further, the projector lens assembly  20  composed of a group of plural lenses is not limitative, and may be composed of a single aspheric lens without aberration correction (correction of the field curvature) to form a planar image. In this case, the wavelength conversion member  18  should be a curved one corresponding to the field curvature and disposed along the field curvature. In this case, also the focal point F of the projector lens assembly  20  can be located at or near the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     The projector lens assembly  20  can project the two-dimensional image drawn on the wavelength conversion member  18  corresponding to the predetermined light distribution pattern forward to form the predetermined light distribution pattern (low-beam light distribution pattern or high-beam light distribution pattern) on a virtual vertical screen in front of the vehicle lighting fixture  10  (assumed to be disposed in front of the vehicle lighting fixture approximately 25 m away from the vehicle body). 
     Next, a description will be given of the optical deflector  201 . The optical deflector  201  can scan the wavelength conversion member  18  with the excitation light rays Ray emitted from the excitation light source  12  and converged by the condenser lens  14  (for example, collimated) in a two-dimensional manner (in the horizontal and vertical direction). 
     The optical deflectors  201  can be configured by, for example, an MEMS scanner. The driving system of the optical deflectors is not limited to a particular system, and examples thereof may include a piezoelectric system, an electrostatic system, and an electromagnetic system. In the present reference example, a description will be given of an optical deflector driven by a piezoelectric system as a representative example. 
     The piezoelectric system used in the optical deflector is not limited to a particular system, and examples thereof may include a one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type, a two-dimensional nonresonance type, and a two-dimensional resonance type. 
     The following reference example may employ the one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)) of optical deflector  201  using the piezoelectric system, as one example. 
     &lt;One-Dimensional Nonresonance/One-Dimensional Resonance Type (2-D Optical Scanner (Fast Resonant and Slow Static Combination))&gt; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the optical deflector  201  utilizing a 2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the optical deflector  201  can include the mirror part  202  (also called as MEMS mirror), the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 , a movable frame  212 , second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 , and a base  215 . The first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  can drive the mirror part  202  via torsion bars  211   a  and  211   b . The movable frame  212  can support the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 . The second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can drive the movable frame  212 . The base  215  can support the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . 
     The mirror part  202  can be formed in a circle shape and the torsion bars  211   a  and  211   b  can be connected to the mirror part  202  so as to extend outward from both ends of the mirror part  202 . The first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  can be formed in a semi-circle shape so as to surround the mirror part  202  while disposed with a gap between them. Furthermore, the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  can be coupled to each other with the torsion bars  211   a  and  211   b  interposed therebetween at their respective ends. The movable frame  212  can be disposed to surround the mirror part  202  and the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 . The first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  can be coupled to and supported by the movable frame  212  at respective outer central portions of the semi-circle (arc) shape. 
     The movable frame  212  can have a rectangular shape and include a pair of sides disposed in a direction perpendicular to the directions of the torsion bars  211   a  and  211   b , at which the movable frame  212  can be coupled to the respective tip ends of the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  opposite to each other with the movable frame  212  interposed therebetween. The base  215  can include a supporting base part  214  formed thereon so as to surround the movable frame  212  and the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . In this configuration, the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can be coupled to and supported at respective base ends thereof by the supporting base part  214 . 
     The first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  each can include a single piezoelectric cantilever composed of a support  203   a ,  204   a , a lower electrode  203   b ,  204   b , a piezoelectric body  203   c ,  204   c , and an upper electrode  203   d ,  204   d , as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . 
     Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  each can include six piezoelectric cantilevers  205 A to  205 F,  206 A to  206 F, which are coupled to adjacent ones thereof so as to be folded back at its end. As a result, the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can be formed in an accordion shape as a whole. Each of the piezoelectric cantilevers  205 A to  205 F and  206 A to  206 F can have the same configuration as those of the piezoelectric cantilevers of the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 . 
     A description will now be given of the action of the mirror part  202  (swing motion around the first axis X 1 ). 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  each show the cross-sectional view of the part where the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  are provided, while taken along line A-A in  FIG. 4 . Specifically,  FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  are not applied with a voltage, and  FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which they are applied with a voltage. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , voltages of +Vd and −Vd, which have respective reversed polarity, can be applied to between the upper electrode  203   d  and the lower electrode  203   b  of the first piezoelectric actuator  203  and between the upper electrode  204   d  and the lower electrode  204   b  of the first piezoelectric actuator  204 , respectively. As a result, they can be deformed while being bent in respective opposite directions. This bent deformation can rotate the torsion bar  211   b  in such the state as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . The torsion bar  211   a  can receive the same rotation. Upon rotation of the torsion bars  211   a  and  211   b , the mirror part  202  can be swung around the first axis X 1  with respect to the movable frame  212 . 
     A description will now be given of the action of the mirror part  202  (swing motion around a second axis X 2 ). Note that the second axis X 2  is perpendicular to the first axis X 1  at the center (center of gravity) of the mirror part  202 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  are not applied with a voltage, and  FIG. 6B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which they are applied with a voltage. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6B , when the second piezoelectric actuator  206  is applied with a voltage, the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers  206 A,  206 C, and  206 E from the movable frame  212  side can be deformed and bent upward while the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers  206 B,  206 D, and  206 F can be deformed and bent downward. As a result, the piezoelectric actuator  206  as a whole can be deformed with a larger angle (angular variation) accumulated by the magnitudes of the respective bent deformation of the piezoelectric cantilevers  206 A to  206 F. The second piezoelectric actuator  205  can also be driven in the same manner. This angular variation of the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can cause the movable frame  212  (and the mirror part  202  supported by the movable frame  212 ) to rotate with respect to the base  215  around the second axis X 2  perpendicular to the first axis X 1 . 
     A single support formed by processing a silicon substrate can constitute a mirror part support for the mirror part  202 , the torsion bars  211   a  and  211   b , supports for the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 , the movable frame  212 , supports for the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 , and the supporting base part  214  on the base  215 . Furthermore, the base  215  can be formed from a silicon substrate, and therefore, it can be integrally formed from the above single support by processing a silicon substrate. The technique of processing such a silicon substrate can employ those described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-040240, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. There can be provided a gap between the mirror part  202  and the movable frame  212 , so that the mirror part  202  can be swung around the first axis X 1  with respect to the movable frame  212  within a predetermined angle range. Furthermore, there can be provided a gap between the movable frame  212  and the base  215 , so that the movable frame  212  (and together with the mirror part  202  supported by the movable frame  212 ) can be swung around the second axis X 2  with respect to the base  215  within a predetermined angle range. 
     The optical deflector  201  can include electrode sets  207  and  208  to apply a drive voltage to the respective piezoelectric actuators  203  to  206 . 
     The electrode set  207  can include an upper electrode pad  207   a , a first upper electrode pad  207   b , a second upper electrode pad  207   c , and a common lower electrode  207   d . The upper electrode pad  207   a  can be configured to apply a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator  203 . The first upper electrode pad  207   b  can be configured to apply a drive voltage to the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers  205 A,  205 C, and  205 E of the second piezoelectric actuator  205  counted from its tip end side. The second upper electrode pad  207   c  can be configured to apply a drive voltage to the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers  205 B,  205 D, and  205 F of the second piezoelectric actuator  205  counted from its tip end side. The common lower electrode  207   d  can be used as a lower electrode common to the upper electrode pads  207   a  to  207   c.    
     Similarly thereto, the other electrode set  208  can include an upper electrode pad  208   a , a first upper electrode pad  208   b , a second upper electrode pad  208   c , and a common lower electrode  208   d . The upper electrode pad  208   a  can be configured to apply a drive voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator  204 . The first upper electrode pad  208   b  can be configured to apply a drive voltage to the odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers  206 A,  206 C, and  206 E of the second piezoelectric actuator  206  counted from its tip end side. The second upper electrode pad  208   c  can be configured to apply a drive voltage to the even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers  206 B,  206 D, and  206 F of the second piezoelectric actuator  206  counted from its tip end side. The common lower electrode  208   d  can be used as a lower electrode common to the upper electrode pads  208   a  to  208   c.    
     In this reference example, the first piezoelectric actuator  203  can be applied with a first AC voltage as a drive voltage, while the first piezoelectric actuator  204  can be applied with a second AC voltage as a drive voltage, wherein the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage can be different from each other in phase, such as a sinusoidal wave with an opposite phase or shifted phase. In this case, an AC voltage with a frequency close to a mechanical resonance frequency (first resonance point) of the mirror part  202  including the torsion bars  211   a  and  211   b  can be applied to resonantly drive the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 . This can cause the mirror part  202  to be reciprocately swung around the first axis X 1  with respect to the movable frame  212 , so that the laser light rays as excitation light rays from the excitation light source  12  and incident on the mirror part  202  can scan in a first direction (for example, horizontal direction). 
     A third AC voltage can be applied to each of the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  as a drive voltage. In this case, an AC voltage with a frequency equal to or lower than a predetermined value that is smaller than a mechanical resonance frequency (first resonance point) of the movable frame  212  including the mirror part  202 , the torsion bars  211   a  and  211   b , and the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  can be applied to nonresonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . This can cause the mirror part  202  to be reciprocately swung around the second axis X 2  with respect to the base  215 , so that the laser light rays as excitation light rays from the excitation light source  12  and incident on the mirror part  202  can scan in a second direction (for example, vertical direction). 
     The optical deflector  201  utilizing a 2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination) can be arranged so that the first axis X 1  is contained in a vertical plane and the second axis X 2  is contained in a horizontal plane. With this arrangement, a predetermined light distribution pattern (two-dimensional image corresponding to the required predetermined light distribution pattern) being wide in the horizontal direction and narrow in the vertical direction for use in a vehicular headlamp can be easily formed (drawn). 
     Specifically, the optical deflector  201  utilizing a 2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination) can be configured such that the maximum swing angle of the mirror part  202  around the first axis X 1  is larger than the maximum swing angle of the mirror part  202  around the second axis X 2 . For example, since the reciprocal swing of the mirror part  202  around the first axis X 1  is caused due to the resonance driving, the maximum swing angle of the mirror part  202  around the first axis X 1  ranges from 10 degrees to 20 degrees as illustrated in  FIG. 7A . On the contrary, since the reciprocal swing of the mirror part  202  around the second axis X 2  is caused due to the nonresonance driving, the maximum swing angle of the mirror part  202  around the second axis X 2  becomes about 7 degrees as illustrated in  FIG. 7B . As a result, the above-described arrangement of the optical deflector  201  utilizing a 2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination) can easily form (draw) a predetermined light distribution pattern (two-dimensional image corresponding to the required predetermined light distribution pattern) being wide in the horizontal direction and narrow in the vertical direction for use in a vehicular headlight. 
     As described above, by driving the respective piezoelectric actuators  203  to  206 , the laser light rays as the excitation light rays from the excitation light source  12  can scan in a two dimensional manner (for example, in the horizontal and vertical directions). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the optical deflector  201  can include an H sensor  220  and a V sensor  222 . The H sensor  220  can be disposed at the tip end of the torsion bar  211   a  on the mirror part  202  side. The V sensor  222  can be disposed to the base end sides of the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 , for example, at the piezoelectric cantilevers  205 F and  206 F. 
     The H sensor  220  can be formed from a piezoelectric element (PZT) similar to the piezoelectric cantilever in the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  and can be configured to general a voltage in accordance with the bent deformation (amount of displacement) of the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 . The V sensor  222  can be formed from a piezoelectric element (PZT) similar to the piezoelectric cantilever in the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  and can be configured to general a voltage in accordance with the bent deformation (amount of displacement) of the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . 
     In the optical deflector  201 , the mechanical swing angle (half angle) of the mirror  202  around the first axis X 1  is varied, as illustrated in  FIG. 20 , due to the change in natural vibration frequency of a material constituting the optical deflector  201  by temperature change. This can be suppressed by the following method. Specifically, on the basis of the drive signal (the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 ) and the sensor signal (output of the H sensor  220 ), the frequencies of the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  (or alternatively, the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage themselves) can be feed-back controlled so that the mechanical swing angle (half angle) of the mirror part  202  around the first axis becomes a target value. As a result, the fluctuation can be suppressed. 
     A description will next be give of the desired frequencies of the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  and the desired frequency of the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . 
     The inventors of the subject application have conducted experiments and examined the test results thereof to find out that the frequencies (hereinafter, referred to as a horizontal scanning frequency f H ) of the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  in the optical deflector  201  utilizing a 2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination) with the above configuration can be desirably about 4 to 30 kHz (sinusoidal wave), and more desirably 27 kHz±3 kHz (sinusoidal wave). 
     Furthermore, the inventors of the subject application have found out that the horizontal resolution (number of pixels) is desirably set to 300 (or more) in consideration of the high-beam light distribution pattern so that the turning ON/OFF (lit or not lit) can be controlled at an interval of 0.1 degrees (or less) within the angular range of −15 degrees (left) to +15 degrees with respect to the vertical axis V. 
     The inventors of the subject application have further conducted experiments and examined the test results thereof to find out that the frequency (hereinafter, referred to as a vertical scanning frequency f V ) of the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  in the optical deflector  201  utilizing a 2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination) with the above configuration can be desirably 55 Hz or higher (sawtooth wave), more desirably 55 Hz to 120 Hz (sawtooth wave), still more desirably 55 Hz to 100 Hz (sawtooth wave), and particularly desirably 70 Hz±10 Hz (sawtooth wave). 
     Furthermore, the inventors of the subject application have found out that the frequency (the vertical scanning frequency f V ) of the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  is set to desirably 50 Hz or higher (sawtooth wave), more desirably 50 Hz to 120 Hz (sawtooth wave), still more desirably 50 Hz to 100 Hz (sawtooth wave), and particularly desirably 70 Hz±10 Hz (sawtooth wave) in consideration of normal travelling speeds (for example, 0 km/h to 150 km/h). Since the frame rate depends on the vertical scanning frequency f V , when the vertical scanning frequency f V  is 70 Hz, the frame rate is 70 fps. 
     When the vertical scanning frequency f V  is 55 Hz or higher, the predetermined light distribution pattern can be formed on the virtual vertical screen as an image (considered as a moving picture or movie) with a frame rate of 55 fps or more. Similarly, when the vertical scanning frequency f V  is 55 Hz to 120 Hz, the predetermined light distribution pattern can be formed on the virtual vertical screen as an image (considered as a moving picture or movie) with a frame rate of 55 fps or more and 120 fps or less. Similarly, when the vertical scanning frequency f V  is 55 Hz to 100 Hz, the predetermined light distribution pattern can be formed on the virtual vertical screen as an image (considered as a moving picture or movie) with a frame rate of 55 fps or more and 100 fps or less. Similarly, when the vertical scanning frequency f V  is 70 Hz±10 Hz, the predetermined light distribution pattern can be formed on the virtual vertical screen as an image (considered as a moving picture or movie) with a frame rate of 70 fps±10 fps. The same correspondence as above can be applied to the cases when the vertical scanning frequency f V  is 50 Hz or more, 50 Hz to 120 Hz, 50 Hz to 100 Hz, and 70 Hz±10 Hz. 
     The resolution (the number of vertical scanning lines) in the vertical direction can be determined by the following formula.
 
The resolution in the vertical direction(the number of vertical scanning lines)=2×(Utility time coefficient of vertical scanning:  K   V )× f   H   /f   V  
 
     On the basis of this formula, if the horizontal scanning frequency f H =25 kHz, the vertical scanning frequency f V =70 Hz, and the utility time coefficient Kv=0.9 to 0.8, then the number of vertical scanning lines is about 600 (lines)=2×25 kHz/70 Hz×(0.9 to 0.85). 
     The above-described desirable vertical scanning frequency f V  have never been used in vehicle lighting fixtures such as vehicular headlamps, and the inventors of the present application have found it as a result of various experiments conducted by the inventors. Specifically, in the conventional art, in order to suppress the flickering in the general illumination field (other than the vehicle lighting fixtures such as an automobile headlamp), it is a technical common knowledge to use a frequency of 100 Hz or higher. Furthermore, in order to suppress the flickering in the technical field of vehicle lighting fixtures, it is a technical common knowledge to use a frequency of 220 Hz or higher. Therefore, the above-described desirable vertical scanning frequency f V  have never been used in vehicle lighting fixtures such as vehicular headlamps. 
     Next, a description will now be given of why the technical common knowledge is to use a frequency of 100 Hz or higher in order to suppress the flickering in the general illumination field (other than the vehicle lighting fixtures such as an automobile headlamp). 
     For example, the Ordinance Concerning Technical Requirements for Electrical Appliances and Materials (Ordinance of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 85 of 37 th  year of Showa) describes that “the light output should be no flickering,” and “it is interpreted as to be no flickering when the light output has a repeated frequency of 100 Hz or higher without missing parts or has a repeated frequency of 500 Hz or higher.” It should be noted that the Ordinance is not intended to vehicle lighting fixtures such as automobile headlamps. 
     Furthermore, the report in Nihon Keizai Shimbun (The Nikkei dated Aug. 26, 2010) also said that “the alternating current has a frequency of 50 Hz. The voltage having passed through a rectifier is repeatedly changed between ON and OFF at a frequency of 100 times per second. The fluctuation in voltage may affect the fluctuation in luminance of fluorescent lamps. An LED illumination has no afterglow time like the fluorescent lamps, but instantaneously changes in its luminance, whereby flickering is more noticeable,” meaning that the flickering is more noticeable when the frequency is 100 Hz or higher. 
     In general, the blinking frequency of fluorescent lamps that cannot cause flickering is said to be 100 Hz to 120 Hz (50 Hz to 60 Hz in terms of the power source phase). 
     Next, a description will be given of why the technical common knowledge is to use a frequency of 220 Hz or higher (or a frame rate of 220 fps or more) in order to suppress the flickering in vehicle lighting fixtures such as an automobile headlamp. 
     In general, an HID (metal halide lamp) used for an automobile headlamp can be lit under a condition of applying a voltage with a frequency of 350 to 500 Hz (rectangular wave). This is because a frequency of 800 Hz or more may cause an acoustic noise while a lower frequency may deteriorate the light emission efficiency of HIDs. When a frequency of 150 Hz or lower is employed, the HID life may be lowered due to the adverse effect to heating wearing of electrodes. Furthermore, a frequency of 250 Hz or higher is said to be preferable. 
     The report of “Glare-free High Beam with Beam-scanning,” ISAL 2013, pp. 340 to 347 says that the frequency for use in a vehicle lighting fixture such as an automobile headlamp is 220 Hz or higher, and the recommended frequency is 300 to 400 Hz or higher. Similarly, the report of “Flickering effects of vehicle exterior light systems and consequences,” ISAL 2013, pp. 262 to 266 says that the frequency for use in a vehicle lighting fixture such as an automobile headlamp is approximately 400 Hz. 
     Therefore, it has never been known in the conventional art that the use of frequency of 55 Hz or higher (desirably 55 Hz to 120 Hz) as a vertical scanning frequency f V  in a vehicle lighting fixture such as an automobile headlamp can suppress flickering. 
     A description will now be given of experiments conducted by the inventors of the present application in order to study the above-described desirable vertical scanning frequency f V . 
     Experiment 
     The inventors of the present application conducted experiments using a test system simulating a vehicular headlamp during driving to evaluate the degree of flickering sensed by test subjects. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of the test system used. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the test system can include a movable road model using a rotary belt B that can be varied in rotational speed and a lighting fixture model M similar to those used in the vehicle lighting fixture  10 . The movable road model is made with a scale size of ⅕, and white lines and the like simulating an actual road surface are drawn on the surface of the rotary belt B. The lighting fixture model M can change the output (scanning illuminance) of an excitation light source similar to the excitation light source  12 . 
     First, experiments were performed to confirm whether the flickering sensed by a test subject is different between a case where the lighting fixture model M having an LED excitation light source is used for illuminating the surface of the rotary belt B and a case where the lighting fixture model M having an LD excitation light source is used for illuminating the surface of the rotary belt B. As a result, it has been confirmed that if the vertical scanning frequency f V  is the same, the degree of flickering sensed by test subjects is not different between the case where the lighting fixture model M having an LED excitation light source is used for illuminating the surface of the rotary belt B and the case where the lighting fixture model M having an LD excitation light source is used for illuminating the surface of the rotary belt B. 
     Next, the vertical scanning frequency f V  was measured at the time when a test subject did not sense the flickering while the rotary belt B was rotated at different rotational speed corresponding to each of actual travelling speeds, 0 km/h, 50 km/h, 100 km/h, 150 km/h, and 200 km/h. In particular, the test experiment was performed in such a manner that a test subject changed the vertical scanning frequency f V  by dial operation and stopped the dial operation when he/she did not sense the flickering. The vertical scanning frequency measured at that time was regarded as the vertical scanning frequency f V . The measurement was performed at some levels of illuminance. They are: illuminance of 60 lx being the comparable level of road illumination in front of a vehicle body 30 to 40 meters away from the vehicle body (at a region which a driver watches during driving); illuminance of 300 lx being the comparable level of road illumination in front of the vehicle body approximately 10 meters away from the vehicle body (at a region just in front of the vehicle body); and illuminance of 2000 lx being the comparable level of reflection light from a leading vehicle or a guard rail close to the vehicle body.  FIG. 9  is a graph obtained by plotting test results (measurement results), showing the relationship between the travelling speed and the flickering, where the vertical axis represents the vertical scanning frequency f V  and the horizontal axis represents the travelling speed (per hour). 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , the following facts can be found. 
     Firstly, when the road illuminance is 60 lx and the travelling speed is 0 km/h to 200 km/h, the vertical scanning frequency f V  at which a test subject does not sense flickering is 55 kHz or higher. In consideration of the road illuminance of 60 lx at a region which a driver watches during driving, it is desirable to set the vertical scanning frequency f V  at 55 kHz or higher in order to suppress the flickering occurring in a vehicle lighting fixture such as an automobile headlamp. 
     Secondly, when the road illuminance is 60 lx and the travelling speed is 0 km/h to 150 km/h, the vertical scanning frequency f V  at which a test subject does not sense flickering is 50 kHz or higher. In consideration of the road illuminance of 60 lx at a region which a driver watches during driving, it is desirable to set the vertical scanning frequency f V  at 50 kHz or higher in order to suppress the flickering occurring in a vehicle lighting fixture such as an automobile headlamp. 
     Thirdly, when the travelling speed is increased, the vertical scanning frequency f V  at which a test subject does not sense flickering tends to increase. Taking it into consideration, it is desirable to make the vertical scanning frequency f V  variable in order to suppress the occurrence of flickering in a vehicle lighting fixture such as an automobile headlamp. For example, it is desirable to increase the vertical scanning frequency f V  as the travelling speed is increased. 
     Fourthly, when the illuminance is increased, the vertical scanning frequency f V  at which a test subject does not sense flickering tends to increase. Taking it into consideration, it is desirable to make the vertical scanning frequency f V  variable in order to suppress the occurrence of flickering in a vehicle lighting fixture such as an automobile headlamp. For example, it is desirable to increase the vertical scanning frequency f V  as the travelling speed is increased. 
     Fifthly, the vertical scanning frequency f V  at which a person does not sense flickering is higher at the time of stopping (0 km/h) than at the time of travelling (50 km/h to 150 km/h). Taking it into consideration, it is desirable to make the vertical scanning frequency f V  variable in order to suppress the occurrence of flickering in a vehicle lighting fixture such as an automobile headlamp. For example, it is desirable to make the relationship between the vertical scanning frequency f V   1  at the time of stopping and the vertical scanning frequency f V   2  at the time of travelling satisfy f V   1 &gt;f V   2 . 
     Sixthly, the vertical scanning frequency f V  at which a person does not sense flickering is not higher than 70 kHz at illuminance of 60 lx, 300 lx, or 2000 lx and at the time of travelling (0 km/h to 200 km/h). Taking it into consideration, it is desirable to set the vertical scanning frequency f V  to 70 kHz or higher or 70 Hz±10 Hz in order to suppress the occurrence of flickering in a vehicle lighting fixture such as an automobile headlamp. 
     Furthermore, the inventors of the present application has found that the frequency (the vertical scanning frequency f V ) of the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuator  205  and  206  is set to desirably 120 Hz or lower (sawtooth wave), and more desirably 100 Hz or lower (sawtooth wave), when taking the mechanical resonance point (hereinafter referred to as V-side resonance point) of the movable frame  212  including the mirror part  202 , the torsion bars  211   a  and  211   b , and the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  into consideration. The reason is as follows. 
       FIG. 10  is a graph showing the relationship between the swing angle and frequency of the mirror part  202 , and the vertical axis represents the swing angle and the horizontal axis represents the frequency of the applied voltage (for example, sinusoidal wave or triangle wave). 
     For example, when a voltage of about 2 V is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  (low voltage activation), as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the V-side resonance point exists near 1000 Hz and 800 Hz. On the other hand, when a high voltage of about 45 V is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  (high voltage activation), the V-side resonance point exists near 350 Hz and 200 Hz at the maximum swing angle. In order to achieve the stable angular control while it periodically vibrates (swings), it is necessary to set the vertical scanning frequency f V  at points other than the V-side resonance point. In view of this, the frequency of the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  (the vertical scanning frequency f V ) is desirably 120 Hz or lower (sawtooth wave), and more desirably 100 Hz or lower (sawtooth wave). Further, when the frequency of the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  (the vertical scanning frequency f V ) exceeds 120 Hz, the reliability, durability, life time, etc. of the optical deflector  201  deteriorate. Also in terms of this point, the frequency of the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  (the vertical scanning frequency f V ) is desirably 120 Hz or lower (sawtooth wave), and more desirably 100 Hz or lower (sawtooth wave). 
     The above-described desirable vertical scanning frequencies f V  have been derived for the first time by the inventors on the basis of the aforementioned findings. 
     A description will next be given of the configuration example of a controlling system configured to control the excitation light source  12  and the optical deflector  201 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the control system can be configured to include a controlling unit  24 , and a MEMS power circuit  26 , an LD power circuit  28 , an imaging device  30 , an illuminance sensor  32 , a speed sensor  34 , a tilt sensor  36 , a distance sensor  38 , an acceleration/braking sensor  40 , a vibration sensor  42 , a storage device  44 , etc., which are electrically connected to the controlling unit  24 . 
     The MEMS power circuit  26  can function as a piezoelectric actuator controlling unit (or mirror part controlling unit) in accordance with the control from the controlling unit  24 . The MEMS power circuit  26  can be configured to apply the first and second AC voltages (for example, sinusoidal wave of 25 MHz) to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  to resonantly drive the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 , so that the mirror part  202  can be reciprocally swung around the first axis X 1 . The MEMS power circuit  26  can be further configured to apply the third AC voltage (for example, sawtooth wave of 55 Hz) to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  to none-resonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 , so that the mirror part  202  can be reciprocally swung around the second axis X 2 . 
     In  FIG. 12 , the graph at the center represents a state where the first and second AC voltages (for example, sinusoidal wave of 25 MHz) are applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 , while the graph at the bottom represents a state where the third AC voltage (for example, sawtooth wave of 55 Hz) is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . Also, in  FIG. 12 , the graph at the top represents a state where the excitation light source  12  emitting laser light rays is modulated at the modulation frequency f L  (25 MHz) in synchronization with the reciprocating swing of the mirror part  202 . Note that the shaded areas in  FIG. 12  show that the excitation light source  12  is not lit. 
       FIG. 13A  includes graphs showing details of the first and second AC voltages (for example, sinusoidal wave of 24 kHz) to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuator  203  and  204 , an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc., and  FIG. 13B  includes graphs showing details of the third AC voltage (for example, sawtooth wave of 60 Hz) to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuator  205  and  206 , an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc. 
     The LD power circuit  28  can be function as a modulation unit configured to modulate the excitation light source  12  (laser light rays) in synchronization with the reciprocating swing of the mirror part  202  in accordance with the control from the controlling unit  24 . 
     The modulation frequency (modulation rate) of the excitation light source  12  (laser light rays) can be determined by the following formula.
 
Modulation Frequency  f   L =(number of pixels)(frame rate; f   V )/(ratio of blanking time:  Br )
 
     On the basis of this formula, if the number of pixels is 300×600, f V =70, and Br=0.5, then the modulation frequency f L  is approximately 25 MHz=300×600×70/0.5. If the modulation frequency f L  is approximately 25 MHz, the output of the excitation light source  12  can be controlled to turn ON/OFF the light source or emit light rays with various intensities in plural stepped degrees per 1/25 MHz seconds (for example, zero is minimum and a plurality of stepwisely increased intensities). 
     The LD power circuit  28  can modulate the excitation light source  12  (laser light rays) on the basis of a predetermined light distribution pattern (digital data) stored in the storage device  44  so that a two-dimensional image corresponding to the predetermined light distribution pattern is drawn on the wavelength conversion member  18  by means of laser light rays as excitation light with which the optical deflector  201  two-dimensionally scan (in the horizontal and vertical directions). 
     Examples of the predetermined light distribution pattern (digital data) may include a low-beam light distribution pattern (digital data), a high-beam distribution pattern (digital data), a highway driving light distribution pattern (digital data), and a town-area driving light distribution pattern (digital data). The predetermined light distribution patterns (digital data) can include the outer shapes of respective light distribution patterns, light intensity distributions (luminance distribution), and the like. As a result, the two-dimensional image drawn on the wavelength conversion member  18  by means of laser light rays as excitation light with which the optical deflector  201  two-dimensionally scan (in the horizontal and vertical directions) can have the outer shape corresponding to the defined light distribution pattern (for example, high-beam light distribution pattern) and the light intensity distribution (for example, the light intensity distribution with a maximum value at its center required for such a high-beam light distribution pattern). Note that the switching between various predetermined light distribution patterns (digital data) can be performed by operating a selector switch to be provided within a vehicle interior. 
       FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C  illustrate examples of scanning patterns of laser light (spot-shaped laser light) with which the optical deflector  201  two-dimensionally scans (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction). 
     Examples of the scanning patterns in the horizontal direction of laser light (spot-shaped laser light) scanning by the optical deflector  201  in a two-dimensional manner (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) may include the pattern with bidirectional scanning (reciprocating scanning) as illustrated in  FIG. 14A  and the pattern with one-way scanning (forward scanning or return scanning only) as illustrated in  FIG. 14B . 
     Furthermore, examples of the scanning patterns in the vertical direction of laser light (spot-shaped laser light) scanning by the optical deflector  201  in a two-dimensional manner (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) may include the pattern densely scanned one line by one line, and the pattern scanned every other line similar to the interlace scheme as illustrated in  FIG. 14C . 
     Furthermore, examples of the scanning patterns in the vertical direction of laser light (spot-shaped laser light) scanning by the optical deflector  201  in a two-dimensional manner (in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) may include the pattern in which the optical deflector scan from the upper end to the lower end repeatedly, as illustrated in  FIG. 15A , and the pattern in which the optical deflector scan from the upper end to the lower end and then from the lower end to the upper end repeatedly, as illustrated in  FIG. 15B . 
     Incidentally, when the scanning reaches the left, right, upper, or lower end of the wavelength conversion member  18  (screen), the scanning light should be returned to the original starting point. This time period is called as blanking, during which the excitation light source  12  is not lit. 
     A description will next be given of other examples of control by the control system illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
     The control system illustrated in  FIG. 11  can perform various types of control other than the above-described exemplary control. For example, the control system can achieve a variable light-distribution vehicle headlamp (ADB: Adaptive Driving Beam). For example, the controlling unit  28  can determine whether an object which is prohibited from being irradiated with light (such as pedestrians and oncoming vehicles) exists within a predetermined light distribution pattern formed on a virtual vertical screen on the basis of detection results of the imaging device  30  functioning as a detector for detecting an object present in front of its vehicle body. If it is determined that the object exists within the pattern, the controlling unit  28  can control the excitation light source  12  in such a manner that the output of the excitation light source  12  is stopped or lowered during the time when a region on the wavelength conversion member  18  corresponding to a region of the light distribution pattern where the object exists is being scanned with the laser light rays as the excitation light. 
     Furthermore, on the basis of the finding by the inventors of the present application, i.e., on the basis of the fact where when the travelling speed is increased, the vertical scanning frequency f V  at which a person does not sense flickering tends to increase, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f V ) for nonresonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can be changed on the basis of the travelling speed as a result of detection by the speed sensor  34  provided to the vehicle body. For example, it is possible to increase the vertical scanning frequency f V  as the traveling speed increases. When doing so, the correspondence between the vertical scanning frequencies f V  and the traveling speeds (or ranges of traveling speed) is stored in the storage device  44  in advance (meaning that the relationship of the increased vertical scanning frequency f V  corresponding to the increased travelling speed or range is confirmed in advance). Then, the vertical scanning frequency f V  is read out from the storage device  44  on the basis of the detected vehicle traveling speed detected by the speed sensor  34 . After that, the MEMS power circuit  26  can apply the third AC voltage (with the read-out vertical scanning frequency) to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  to thereby nonresonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . 
     Furthermore, on the basis of the finding by the inventors of the present application, i.e. on the basis of the fact where the vertical scanning frequency f V  at which a person does not sense flickering is higher at the time of stopping (0 km/h) than at the time of travelling (50 km/h to 150 km/h), the vertical scanning frequency f V  at the time of stopping (0 km/h) can be increased as compared with that at the time of travelling (50 km/h to 150 km/h). This can be achieved by the following method. That is, for example, the vertical scanning frequency f V   1  at the time of stopping and the vertical scanning frequency f V   2  at the time of traveling are stored in the storage device  44  in advance (f V   1 &gt;f V   2 ), and it is determined that the vehicle body is stopped or not on the basis of the detection results from the speed sensor  34 . When it is determined that the vehicle body is traveling, the vertical scanning frequency f V   2  at the time of traveling is read out from the storage device  44 . After that, the MEMS power circuit  26  can apply the third AC voltage (with the read-out vertical scanning frequency f V   2  at the time of traveling) to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  to thereby nonresonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . 
     On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle body is stopped, the vertical scanning frequency f V   1  at the time of stopping is read out from the storage device  44 . After that, the MEMS power circuit  26  can apply the third AC voltage (with the read-out vertical scanning frequency f V   1  at the time of stopping) to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  to thereby nonresonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . 
     Furthermore, on the basis of the finding by the inventors of the present application, i.e. on the basis of the fact where when the illuminance is increased, the vertical scanning frequency f V  at which a person does not sense flickering tends to increase, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f V ) for nonresonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can be changed on the basis of the illuminance detected by the illumination sensor  32  provided to the vehicle body (for example, the illuminance sensed by a driver). For example, it is possible to increase the vertical scanning frequency f V  as the illuminance increases. When doing so, the correspondence between the vertical scanning frequencies f V  and the illuminances (or ranges of illuminance) is stored in the storage device  44  in advance (meaning that the relationship of the increased vertical scanning frequency f V  corresponding to the increased illuminance or range is confirmed in advance). Then, the vertical scanning frequency f V  is read out from the storage device  44  on the basis of the detected illuminance value detected by the illuminance sensor  32 . After that, the MEMS power circuit  26  can apply the third AC voltage (with the read-out vertical scanning frequency) to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  to thereby nonresonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . 
     In the same manner, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f V ) for nonresonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can be changed on the basis of the distance between the vehicle body and an object to be irradiated with light detected by the distance sensor  38  provided to the vehicle body. 
     In the same manner, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f V ) for nonresonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can be changed on the basis of the detection results by the vibration sensor  42  provided to the vehicle body. 
     In the same manner, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f V ) for nonresonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can be changed according to a predetermined light distribution pattern. For example, the driving frequency (vertical scanning frequency f V ) for nonresonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can be changed between the highway driving light distribution pattern and the town-area driving light distribution pattern. 
     By making the vertical scanning frequency f V  variable as described above, the optical deflector  201  can be improved in terms of the reliability, durability, life time, etc. when compared with the case where the driving frequency for nonresonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  is made constant. 
     In place of the one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)) of optical deflector  201  with the above-described configuration, a two-dimensional nonresonance type optical deflector  161  can be utilized. 
     &lt;Two-Dimensional Nonresonance Type&gt; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an optical deflector  161  of a two-dimensional nonresonance type. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the optical deflector  161  of the two-dimensional nonresonance type can be configured to include a mirror part  162  (referred to as a MEMS mirror), piezoelectric actuators  163  to  166  configured to drive the mirror part  162 , a movable frame  171  configured to support the piezoelectric actuators  163  to  166 , and a base  174 . 
     The configuration and action of the piezoelectric actuators  163  to  166  can be the same as those of the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the optical deflector  201  of the one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type. 
     In the present reference example, each of first piezoelectric actuators  163  and  164  out of the piezoelectric actuators  163  to  166  can be applied with a first AC voltage as its driving voltage. At this time, the applied voltage can be an alternating voltage with a frequency equal to or lower than a predetermined value that is smaller than the mechanical resonance frequency (first resonance point) of the mirror part  162  to thereby nonresonantly drive the first piezoelectric actuators  163  and  164 . This can cause the mirror part  162  to be reciprocately swung around the third axis X 3  with respect to the movable frame  171 , so that the excitation light rays that are emitted from the excitation light source  12  and incident on the mirror part  162  can scan in a first direction (for example, horizontal direction). 
     Furthermore, a second AC voltage can be applied to each of the second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166  as a drive voltage. At this time, the applied voltage can be an alternating voltage with a frequency equal to or lower than a predetermined value that is smaller than the mechanical resonance frequency (first resonance point) of the movable frame  171  including the mirror part  162  and the first piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166  to thereby nonresonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166 . This can cause the mirror part  162  to be reciprocately swung around the fourth axis X 4  with respect to the base  174 , so that the excitation light rays that are emitted from the excitation light source  12  and incident on the mirror part  162  can scan in a second direction (for example, vertical direction). 
       FIG. 17A  includes graphs showing details of the first alternating voltage (for example, sawtooth wave of 6 kHz) to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuator  163  and  164 , an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc., and  FIG. 17B  includes graphs showing details of the third alternating voltage (for example, sawtooth wave of 60 Hz) to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuator  165  and  166 , an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc. 
     The respective piezoelectric actuators  163  to  166  can be driven in the manner described above, so that the laser light as the excitation light rays from the excitation light source  12  can scan two-dimensionally (in the horizontal and vertical directions). 
     In place of the one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)) of optical deflector  201  with the above-described configuration, a two-dimensional resonance type optical deflector  201 A can be utilized. 
     &lt;Two-Dimensional Resonance Type&gt; 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an optical deflector  201 A of a two-dimensional resonance type. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the optical deflector  201 A of the two-dimensional resonance type can be configured to include a mirror part  13 A (referred to as a MEMS mirror), first piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa and  15 Ab configured to drive the mirror part  13 A via torsion bars  14 Aa and  14 Ab, a movable frame  12 A configured to support the first piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa and  15 Ab, second piezoelectric actuators  17 Aa and  17 Ab configured to drive the movable frame  12 A, and a base  11 A configured to support the second piezoelectric actuators  17 Aa and  17 Ab. 
     The configuration and action of the piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa,  15 Ab,  17 Aa, and  17 Ab can be the same as those of the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the optical deflector  201  of the one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type. 
     In the present reference example, the first piezoelectric actuator  15 Aa can be applied with a first AC voltage as its driving voltage while the other first piezoelectric actuator  15 Ab can be applied with a second AC voltage as its driving voltage. Here, the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage can be different from each other in phase, such as a sinusoidal wave with an opposite phase or shifted phase. In this case, an AC voltage with a frequency close to a mechanical resonance frequency (first resonance point) of the mirror part  13 A including the torsion bars  14 Aa and  14 Ab can be applied to resonantly drive the first piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa and  15 Ab. This can cause the mirror part  13 A to be reciprocately swung around the fifth axis X 5  with respect to the movable frame  12 A, so that the laser light rays that are emitted from the excitation light source  12  and incident on the mirror part  13 A can scan in a first direction (for example, horizontal direction). 
     A third AC voltage can be applied to the second piezoelectric actuator  17 Aa as a drive voltage while a fourth AC voltage can be applied to the other second piezoelectric actuator  17 Ab as a drive voltage. Here, the third AC voltage and the fourth AC voltage can be different from each other in phase, such as a sinusoidal wave with an opposite phase or shifted phase. In this case, an AC voltage with a frequency near the mechanical resonance frequency (first resonance point) of the movable frame  12 A including the mirror part  13 A and the first piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa and  15 Ab can be applied to resonantly drive the first piezoelectric actuators  17 Aa and  17 Ab. This can cause the mirror part  13 A to be reciprocately swung around the sixth axis X 6  with respect to the base  11 A, so that the laser light rays that are emitted from the excitation light source  12  as excitation light rays and incident on the mirror part  13 A can scan in a second direction (for example, vertical direction). 
       FIG. 19A  includes graphs showing details of the first AC voltage (for example, sinusoidal wave of 24 kHz) to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa and  15 Ab, an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc., and  FIG. 19B  includes graphs showing details of the third AC voltage (for example, sinusoidal wave of 12 Hz) to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  17 Aa and  17 Ab, an output pattern of the excitation light source  12  (laser light), etc. 
     The respective piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa,  15 Ab,  17 Aa, and  17 Ab can be driven in the manner described above, so that the laser light from the excitation light source  12  as the excitation light rays can scan two-dimensionally (in the horizontal and vertical directions). 
     As described above, according to the present reference example, even when frequencies remarkably lower than 220 Hz that is considered to cause the occurrence of flickering in vehicle lighting fixtures such as an automobile headlamp are utilized, or frame rates remarkably lower than 220 fps, i.e., “55 fps or more,” “55 fps to 120 fps,” “55 fps to 100 fps,” or “70 fps±10 fps” are utilized, the occurrence of flickering can be suppressed. 
     Furthermore, according to the present reference example, frequencies remarkably lower than 220 Hz are utilized (or frame rates remarkably lower than 220 fps), i.e., “55 fps or more,” “55 fps to 120 fps,” “55 fps to 100 fps,” or “70 fps±10 fps” are utilized, it is possible to improve the reliability, durability, and life time of the optical deflector  201  and the like when compared with the case where the frequency of 220 Hz or higher or frame rates of 220 fps or more are used. 
     Furthermore, according to the present reference example, the drive frequency used for nonresonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  can be made variable, and therefore, the reliability, durability, and life time of the optical deflector  201  and the like can be improved when compared with the case where the drive frequency used for nonresonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  are constant. 
     A description will now be given of a vehicle lighting unit using three optical deflectors  201  of one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)) with reference to the associated drawings as a second reference example. It is appreciated that the aforementioned various types of optical deflectors discussed in the above reference example can be used in place of the one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type optical deflector  201 . 
       FIG. 21  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle lighting fixture  300  according to the second reference example.  FIG. 22  is a perspective view illustrating the vehicle lighting fixture  300 .  FIG. 23  is a front view illustrating the vehicle lighting fixture  300 .  FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of  FIG. 23  taken along line A-A.  FIG. 25  is a perspective view including the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 24  illustrating the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of  FIG. 23  taken along line A-A.  FIG. 26  is a diagram illustrating a predetermined light distribution pattern P formed on a virtual vertical screen (assumed to be disposed in front of a vehicle body approximately 25 m away from the vehicle front face) by the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of the present reference example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 26 , the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of the present reference example can be configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern P (for example, high-beam light distribution pattern) excellent in far-distance visibility and sense of light distribution. The predetermined light distribution pattern P can be configured such that the center light intensity (P Hot ) is relatively high and the light intensity is gradually lowered from the center to the periphery (P Hot →P Mid →P Wide ). 
     Next, the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of the present reference example will be compared with the vehicle lighting fixture  10  of the above-described reference example. In the above-described reference example as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the vehicle lighting fixture  10  can include a single excitation light source  12  and a single optical deflector  201 . In the present reference example as illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the vehicle lighting fixture  300  can include three excitation light source (wide-zone excitation light source  12   Wide , middle-zone excitation light source  12   Mid , and hot-zone excitation light source  12   Hot ), and three optical deflectors (wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid , and hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot ), which is the different feature from the above-described reference example. 
     The configuration of the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of the present reference example can have the same configuration as that of the vehicle lighting fixture  10  of the above-described reference example except for the above different point. Hereinbelow, a description will be give of the different point of the present reference example from the above-described reference example, and the same or similar components of the present reference example as those in the above-described reference example will be denoted by the same reference numerals and a description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 
     In the specification, the term “hot-zone” member/part means a member/part for use in forming a hot-zone partial light distribution pattern (with highest intensity), the term “middle-zone” member/part means a member/part for use in forming a middle-zone partial light distribution pattern (diffused more than the hot-zone partial light distribution pattern), and the term “wide-zone” member/part means a member/part for use in forming a wide-zone partial light distribution pattern (diffused more than the middle-zone partial light distribution pattern), unless otherwise specified. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  300  can be configured, as illustrated in  FIGS. 21 to 25 , as a vehicle headlamp. The vehicle lighting fixture  300  can include three excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot , three optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  each including a mirror part  202 , a wavelength conversion member  18 , a projector lens assembly  20 , etc. The three optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  can be provided corresponding to the three excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot . The wavelength conversion member  18  can include three scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  (see  FIG. 21 ) provided corresponding to the three optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot . Partial light intensity distributions can be formed within the respective scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot , and can be projected through the projector lens assembly  20  serving as an optical system for forming the predetermined light distribution pattern P. Note that the number of the excitation light sources  12 , the optical deflectors  201 , and the scanning regions A is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 24 , the projector lens assembly  20 , the wavelength conversion member  18 , and the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  can be disposed in this order along a reference axis AX (or referred to as an optical axis) extending in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  300  can further include a laser holder  46 . The laser holder  46  can be disposed to surround the reference axis AX and can hold the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  with a posture tilted in such a manner that excitation light rays Ray Wide , Ray Mid , and Ray Hot  emitted from the respective excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  are directed rearward and toward the reference axis AX. 
     Specifically, the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  can be disposed by being fixed to the laser holder  46  in the following manner. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the laser holder  46  can be configured to include a tubular part  48  extending in the reference axis AX, and extension parts  50 U,  50 D,  50 L, and  50 R each radially extending from the outer peripheral face of the tubular part  48  at its upper, lower, left, or right part in an upper, lower, left, or right direction perpendicular to the reference axis AX. Specifically, the respective extension parts  50 U,  50 D,  50 L, and  50 R can be inclined rearward to the tip ends thereof, as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . Between the adjacent extension parts  50 U,  50 D,  50 L, and  50 R, there can be formed a heat dissipation part  54  (heat dissipation fins), as illustrated in  FIG. 23 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 24 , the wide-zone excitation light source  12   Wide  can be fixed to the tip end of the extension part  50 D with a posture tilted so that the excitation light rays Ray Wide  are directed to a rearward and obliquely upward direction. Similarly, the middle-zone excitation light source  12   Mid  can be fixed to the tip end of the extension part  50 U with a posture tilted so that the excitation light rays Ray Mid  are directed to a rearward and obliquely downward direction. Similarly, the hot-zone excitation light source  12   Hot  can be fixed to the tip end of the extension part  50 L with a posture tilted so that the excitation light rays Ray Hot  are directed to a rearward and obliquely rightward direction when viewed from its front side. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  300  can further include a lens holder  56  to which the projector lens assembly  20  (lenses  20 A to  20 D) is fixed. The lens holder  56  can be screwed at its rear end to the opening of the tubular part  48  so as to be fixed to the tubular part  48 . 
     A condenser lens  14  can be disposed in front of each of the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot . The excitation light rays Ray Wide , Ray Mid , and Ray Hot  can be emitted from the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  and condensed by the respective condenser lenses  14  (for example, collimated) to be incident on the respective mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 25 , the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  with the above-described configuration can be disposed to surround the reference axis AX and be closer to the reference axis AX than the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  so that the excitation light rays emitted from the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  can be incident on the corresponding mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  and reflected by the same to be directed to the corresponding scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot , respectively. 
     Specifically, the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  can be secured to an optical deflector holder  58  as follows. 
     The optical deflector holder  58  can have a square pyramid shape projected forward, and its front face can be composed of an upper face  58 U, a lower face  58 D, a left face  58 L, and a right face  58 R (not shown in the drawings), as illustrated in  FIG. 25 . 
     The wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  (corresponding to the first optical deflector) can be secured to the lower face  58 D of the square pyramid face while being tilted so that the mirror part  202  thereof is positioned in an optical path of the excitation light rays Ray Wide  emitted from the wide-zone excitation light source  12   Wide . Similarly thereto, the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  (corresponding to the second optical deflector) can be secured to the upper face  58 U of the square pyramid face while being tilted so that the mirror part  202  thereof is positioned in an optical path of the excitation light rays Ray Mid  emitted from the middle-zone excitation light source  12   Mid . Similarly thereto, the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  (corresponding to the third optical deflector) can be secured to the left face  58 L (when viewed from front) of the square pyramid face while being tilted so that the mirror part  202  thereof is positioned in an optical path of the excitation light rays Ray Hot  emitted from the hot-zone excitation light source  12   Hot . 
     The optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  each can be arranged so that the first axis X 1  is contained in a vertical plane and the second axis X 2  is contained in a horizontal plane. As a result, the above-described arrangement of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  can easily form (draw) a predetermined light distribution pattern (two-dimensional image corresponding to the required predetermined light distribution pattern) being wide in the horizontal direction and narrow in the vertical direction required for a vehicular headlight. 
     The wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  can draw a first two-dimensional image on the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  (corresponding to the first scanning region) with the excitation light rays Ray Wide  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof, to thereby form a first light intensity distribution on the wide-zone scanning region A Wide . 
     The middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  can draw a second two-dimensional image on the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  (corresponding to the second scanning region) with the excitation light rays Ray Mid  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof in such a manner that the second two-dimensional image overlaps the first two-dimensional image in part, to thereby form a second light intensity distribution on the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  with a higher light intensity than that of the first light intensity distribution. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  can be smaller than the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  in size and overlap part of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide . As a result of the overlapping, the overlapped middle-zone scanning region A Mid  can have the relatively higher light intensity distribution. 
     The hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  can draw a third two-dimensional image on the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  (corresponding to the third scanning region) with the excitation light rays Ray Hot  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof in such a manner that the third two-dimensional image overlaps the first and second two-dimensional images in part, to thereby form a third light intensity distribution on the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  with a higher light intensity than that of the second light intensity distribution. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  can be smaller than the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  in size and overlap part of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid . As a result of the overlapping, the overlapped hot-zone scanning region A Hot  can have the relatively higher light intensity distribution. 
     The shape of each of the illustrated scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  in  FIG. 21  is a rectangular outer shape, but it is not limitative. The outer shape thereof can be a circle, an oval, or other shapes. 
       FIGS. 27A, 27B, and 27C  are a front view, a top plan view, and a side view of the wavelength conversion member  18 , respectively. 
     The illustrated wavelength conversion member  18  can be configured to be a rectangular plate with a horizontal length of 18 mm and a vertical length of 9 mm. The wavelength conversion member  18  can also be referred to as a phosphor panel. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , the vehicle lighting fixture  300  can include a phosphor holder  52  which can close the rear end opening of the tubular part  48 . The wavelength conversion member  18  can be secured to the phosphor holder  52 . Specifically, the phosphor holder  52  can have an opening  52   a  formed therein and the wavelength conversion member  18  can be secured to the periphery of the opening  52   a  of the phosphor holder  52  at its outer periphery of the rear surface  18   a  thereof. The wavelength conversion member  18  can cover the opening  52   a.    
     The wavelength conversion member  18  can be disposed to be confined between the center line AX 202  of the mirror part  202  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  at the maximum deflection angle βh_max (see  FIG. 30A ) and the center line AX 202  of the mirror part  202  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  at the maximum deflection angle βv_max (see  FIG. 30B ). Specifically, the wavelength conversion member  18  should be disposed to satisfy the following two formulas 1 and 2:
 
tan(β h _max)≧ L/d   (Formula 1), and
 
tan(β v _max)≧ S/d   (Formula 2),
 
wherein L is ½ of a horizontal length of the wavelength conversion member  18 , S is ½ of a vertical length of the wavelength conversion member  18 , and d is the distance from the wavelength conversion member  18  and the optical deflector  201  (mirror part  202 ).
 
     A description will next be given of how to adjust the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot . 
     The sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  can be adjusted by changing the swinging ranges of the mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  around the first axis X 1  and the swinging ranges of the mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  around the second axis X 2 . This can be done by changing the first and second AC voltages to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  and the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  when the distances between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  are the same (or substantially the same) as each other. (See  FIGS. 23 and 24 .) The reasons therefore are as follows. 
     Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 28A , in the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot , the mechanical swing angle (half angle, see the vertical axis) of the mirror part  202  around the first axis X 1  is increased as the drive voltage (see the horizontal axis) to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  is increased. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG.  28 B, the mechanical swing angle (half angle, see the vertical axis) of the mirror part  202  around the second axis X 2  is also increased as the drive voltage (see the horizontal axis) to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  is increased. 
     Thus, when the distances between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  are the same (or substantially the same) as each other (see  FIGS. 24 and 25 ), the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  can be adjusted by changing the first and second AC voltages to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  and the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 , and thereby changing the swinging ranges of the mirror parts  202  of the respective optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  around the first axis X 1  and the swinging ranges of the mirror parts  202  of the respective optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  around the second axis X 2 . 
     Next, a description will be given of a concrete adjustment example. In the following description, it is assumed that the distances between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  are the same (or substantially the same) as each other and d=24.0 mm as illustrated in  FIGS. 30A and 30B  and the focal distance of the projector lens assembly  20  is 32 mm. 
     As shown in the row “WIDE” of the table of  FIG. 29A , when 5.41 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γh_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ±9.8 degrees and ±19.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (horizontal length) of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  in the horizontal direction is adjusted to be ±8.57 mm. 
     The “L” and “βh_max” described in  FIG. 29A  represent the distance and the angle shown in  FIG. 30A . The “mirror mechanical half angle” (also referred to as “mechanical half angle”) described in  FIG. 29A  means the angle at which the mirror part  202  actually moves, and represents an angle of the mirror part  202  with respect to the normal direction with the sign “+” or “−.” The “mirror deflection angle” (also referred to as “optical half angle”) described in  FIG. 29A  means the angle formed between the excitation light (light rays) reflected by the mirror part and the normal direction of the mirror part  202 , and also represents an angle of the mirror part  202  with respect to the normal direction with the sign “+” or “−.” According to the Fresnel&#39;s law, the optical half angle is twice the mechanical half angle. 
     As shown in the row “WIDE” of the table of  FIG. 29B , when 41.2 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γv_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ±4.3 degrees and ±8.6 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (vertical length) of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  in the vertical direction is adjusted to be ±3.65 mm. 
     The “S” and “βv_max” described in  FIG. 29B  represent the distance and the angle shown in  FIG. 30B , respectively. 
     As described above, by applying 5.41 V pp  as a drive voltage (the first and second AC voltages) to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , and also by applying 41.2 V pp  as a drive voltage (the third AC voltage) to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , thereby changing the swinging range of the mirror part  202  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  around the first axis X 1  and the swinging range of the mirror part  202  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  around the second axis X 2 , the size (horizontal length) of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  can be adjusted to be ±8.57 mm and the size (vertical length) of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  can be adjusted to be ±3.65 mm to form a rectangular shape with the horizontal length of ±8.57 mm and the vertical length of ±3.65 mm. 
     The light intensity distribution formed in the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  with the above-described dimensions can be projected forward through the projector lens assembly  20  to thereby form the wide-zone light distribution pattern P Wide  with a rectangle of the width of ±15 degrees in the horizontal direction and the width of ±6.5 degrees in the vertical direction on the virtual vertical screen (see  FIG. 26 ). 
     As shown in the row “MID” of the table of  FIG. 29A , when 2.31 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γh_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ±5.3 degrees and ±11.3 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (horizontal length) of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  in the horizontal direction is adjusted to be ±4.78 mm. 
     As shown in the row “MID” of the table of  FIG. 29B , when 24.4 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γv_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ±2.3 degrees and ±4.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (vertical length) of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  in the vertical direction is adjusted to be ±1.96 mm. 
     As described above, by applying 2.31 V pp  as a drive voltage (the first and second AC voltages) to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid , and by applying 24.4 V pp  as a drive voltage (the third AC voltage) to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid , thereby changing the swinging range of the mirror part  202  of the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  around the first axis X 1  and the swinging range of the mirror part  202  of the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  around the second axis X 2 , the size (horizontal length) of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  can be adjusted to be ±4.78 mm and the size (vertical length) of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  can be adjusted to be ±1.96 mm to form a rectangular shape with the horizontal length of ±4.78 mm and the vertical length of ±1.96 mm. 
     The light intensity distribution formed in the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  with the above-described dimensions can be projected forward through the projector lens assembly  20  to thereby form the middle-zone light distribution pattern P Mid  (see  FIG. 26 ) with a rectangle of the width of ±8.5 degrees in the horizontal direction and the width of ±3.5 degrees in the vertical direction on the virtual vertical screen. 
     As shown in the row “HOT” of the table of  FIG. 29A , when 0.93 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γh_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ±2.3 degrees and ±4.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (horizontal length) of the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  in the horizontal direction is adjusted to be ±1.96 mm. 
     As shown in the row “HOT” of the table of  FIG. 29B , when 13.3 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γv_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ±1.0 degrees and ±2.0 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (vertical length) of the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  in the vertical direction is adjusted to be ±0.84 mm. 
     As described above, by applying 0.93 V pp  as a drive voltage (the first and second AC voltages) to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot , and also by applying 13.3 V pp  as a drive voltage (the third AC voltage) to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot , thereby changing the swinging range of the mirror part  202  of the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  around the first axis X 1  and the swinging range of the mirror part  202  of the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  around the second axis X 2 , the size (horizontal length) of the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  can be adjusted to be ±1.96 mm and the size (vertical length) of the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  can be adjusted to be ±0.84 mm to form a rectangular shape with the horizontal length of ±1.96 mm and the vertical length of ±0.84 mm. 
     The light intensity distribution formed in the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  with the above-described dimensions can be projected forward through the projector lens assembly  20  to thereby form the hot-zone light distribution pattern P Hot  with a rectangle of the width of ±3.5 degrees in the horizontal direction and the width of ±1.5 degrees in the vertical direction on the virtual vertical screen (see  FIG. 26 ). 
     Thus, when the distances between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  are the same (or substantially the same) as each other (see  FIGS. 24 and 25 ), the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  can be adjusted by changing the first and second AC voltages to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  and the third AC voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 , and thereby changing the swinging ranges of the mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  around the first axis X 1  and the swinging ranges of the mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  around the second axis X 2 . 
     A description will next be given of another technique of adjusting the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot . 
     When the drive voltages to be applied to the respective optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  are the same (or substantially the same) as each other, the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  can be adjusted by changing the distances between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202 ) and the wavelength conversion member  18  (for example, see  FIG. 31 ). 
     Next, a description will be given of a concrete adjustment example. In the following description, it is assumed that the drive voltages to be applied to the respective optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  are the same as each other and the focal distance of the projector lens assembly  20  is 32 mm. 
     For example, as shown in the row “WIDE” of the table of  FIG. 32A , when the distance between the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to 24.0 mm and 5.41 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γh_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ±9.8 degrees and ±19.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (horizontal length) of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  in the horizontal direction is adjusted to be ±8.57 mm. 
     The “L” and “d,” and “βh_max” described in  FIG. 32A  represent the distances and the angle shown in  FIG. 30A , respectively. 
     Then, as shown in the row “WIDE” of the table of  FIG. 32B , when the distance between the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to 24.0 mm and 41.2 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γv_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ±4.3 degrees and ±8.6 degrees, respectively. In this case, the size (vertical length) of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  in the vertical direction is adjusted to be ±3.65 mm. 
     The “S” and “d,” and “βv_max” described in  FIG. 32B  represent the distances and the angle shown in  FIG. 30B , respectively. 
     As described above, by setting the distance between the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  to 24.0 mm, the size (horizontal length) of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  in the horizontal direction can be adjusted to be ±8.57 mm and the size (vertical length) of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  in the vertical direction can be adjusted to be ±3.65 mm to form a rectangular shape with the horizontal length of ±8.57 mm and the vertical length of ±3.65 mm. 
     The light intensity distribution formed in the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  with the above-described dimensions can be projected forward through the projector lens assembly  20  to thereby form the wide-zone light distribution pattern P Wide  with a rectangle of the width of ±15 degrees in the horizontal direction and the width of ±6.5 degrees in the vertical direction on the virtual vertical screen (see  FIG. 26 ). 
     Next, as shown in the row “MID” of the table of  FIG. 32A , when the distance between the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to 13.4 mm and 5.41 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  as in the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γh_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ±9.8 degrees and ±19.7 degrees, respectively, as in the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide . However, the distance (13.4 mm) between the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to be shorter than the distance (24.0 mm) between the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18 . Thus, the size (horizontal length) of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  in the horizontal direction is adjusted to be ±4.78 mm. 
     Then, as shown in the row “MID” of the table of  FIG. 32B , when the distance between the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to 13.4 mm and 41.2 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  as in the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γv_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ±4.3 degrees and ±8.6 degrees, respectively, as in the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide . However, the distance (13.4 mm) between the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to be shorter than the distance (24.0 mm) between the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18 . Thus, the size (vertical length) of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  in the vertical direction is adjusted to be ±1.96 mm. 
     As described above, by setting the distance between the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  to 13.4 mm, the size (horizontal length) of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  in the horizontal direction can be adjusted to be ±4.78 mm and the size (vertical length) of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  in the vertical direction can be adjusted to be ±1.96 mm to form a rectangular shape with the horizontal length of ±4.78 mm and the vertical length of ±1.96 mm. 
     The light intensity distribution formed in the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  with the above-described dimensions can be projected forward through the projector lens assembly  20  to thereby form the middle-zone light distribution pattern P Mid  with a rectangle of the width of ±8.5 degrees in the horizontal direction and the width of ±3.6 degrees in the vertical direction on the virtual vertical screen (see  FIG. 26 ). 
     Next, as shown in the row “HOT” of the table of  FIG. 32A , when the distance between the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to 5.5 mm and 5.41 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  of the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  as in the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γh_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βh_max) are ±9.8 degrees and ±19.7 degrees, respectively, as in the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide . However, the distance (5.5 mm) between the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to be shorter than the distance (13.4 mm) between the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18 . Thus, the size (horizontal length) of the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  in the horizontal direction is adjusted to be ±1.96 mm. 
     Then, as shown in the row “HOT” of the table of  FIG. 32B , when the distance between the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to 5.5 mm and 41.2 V pp  as a drive voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  of the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  as in the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide , the mechanical swing angle (half angle: γv_max) around the first axis X 1  and the maximum deflection angle (half angle: βv_max) are ±4.3 degrees and ±8.6 degrees, respectively, as in the wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide . However, the distance (5.5 mm) between the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  is set to be shorter than the distance (13.4 mm) between the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18 . Thus, the size (vertical length) of the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  in the vertical direction is adjusted to be ±0.84 mm. 
     As described above, by setting the distance between the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202  thereof) and the wavelength conversion member  18  to 5.5 mm, the size (horizontal length) of the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  can be adjusted to be ±1.96 mm and the size (vertical length) of the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  can be adjusted to be ±0.84 mm to form a rectangular shape with the horizontal length of ±1.96 mm and the vertical length of ±0.84 mm. 
     The light intensity distribution formed in the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  with the above-described dimensions can be projected forward through the projector lens assembly  20  to thereby form the hot-zone light distribution pattern P Hot  with a rectangle of the width of ±3.5 degrees in the horizontal direction and the width of ±1.5 degrees in the vertical direction on the virtual vertical screen (see  FIG. 26 ). 
     As described above, when the drive voltages to be applied to the respective optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  are the same (or substantially the same) as each other, the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  can be adjusted by changing the distances between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (the center of the mirror part  202 ) and the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     When the first and second AC voltages to be applied to the respective optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  are feedback-controlled, the drive voltages applied to the respective optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  are not completely the same. Even in this case, the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  can be adjusted by changing the distance between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (the center of each of the mirror parts  202 ) and the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     A description will next be given of still another technique of adjusting the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot . 
     It is conceivable that the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  can be adjusted by disposing a lens  66  between each of the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  and each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  (or alternatively between each of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  and the wavelength conversion member  18 ), as illustrated in  FIG. 33 . The lens  66  may be a lens having a different focal distance. 
     With the vehicle lighting fixture having the above-described configuration in the present reference example, which utilizes a plurality of optical deflectors configured to scan with excitation light in a two-dimensional manner, it is possible to miniaturize its size and reduce the parts number, which has been a cause for cost increase. This is because the single wavelength conversion member  18  and the single optical system (projector lens assembly  20 ) are used with respect to the plurality of optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  as compared with the conventional case wherein a vehicle lighting fixture uses a plurality of wavelength conversion members (phosphor parts) and a plurality of optical systems (projector lenses). 
     With the vehicle lighting fixture having the above-described configuration in the present reference example, which utilizes a plurality of optical deflectors configured to scan with excitation light in a two-dimensional manner, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , a predetermined light distribution pattern P (for example, high-beam light distribution pattern) excellent in far-distance visibility and sense of light distribution can be formed. The predetermined light distribution pattern P of  FIG. 26  can be configured such that the light intensity in part, for example, at the center (P Hot ), is relatively high and the light intensity is gradually lowered from that part, or the center, to the periphery (P Hot →P Mid →P Wide ). 
     This is because of the following reason. Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  can be smaller than the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  in size and overlap part of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide , and the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  can be smaller than the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  in size and overlap part of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid . As a result, the light intensity of the first light intensity distribution formed in the wide-zone scanning region A Wide , that of the second light intensity distribution formed in the middle-zone scanning region A Mid , and that of the third light intensity distribution formed in the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  are increased more in this order while the respective sizes of the light intensity distributions are decreased more in this order. Then, the predetermined light distribution pattern P as illustrated in  FIG. 26  can be formed by projecting the first, second, and third light intensity distributions respectively formed in the wide-zone scanning region A Wide , the middle-zone scanning region A Mid , and the hot-zone scanning region A Hot . Thus, the resulting predetermined light distribution pattern P can be excellent in far-distance visibility and sense of light distribution. 
     Furthermore, according to the present reference example, the vehicle lighting fixture  300  (or the lighting unit) can be made thin in the reference axis AX direction as compared with a vehicle lighting fixture  400  (or a lighting unit) to be described later, although the size thereof may be large in the vertical and horizontal direction. 
     Next, a description will be given of another vehicle lighting fixture using three optical deflectors  201  of one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)) as a third reference example. Note that the type of the optical deflector  201  is not limited to this, but may adopt any of the previously described various optical deflectors as exemplified in the above-described reference example. 
       FIG. 34  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle lighting fixture  400  according to the third reference example, and  FIG. 35  is a perspective view of a cross section of the vehicle lighting fixture  400  of  FIG. 34 . 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  400  of this reference example can be configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern P (for example, high-beam light distribution pattern), as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , which can be excellent in far-distance visibility and sense of light distribution and be configured such that the light intensity in part, for example, at the center (P Hot ), is relatively high and the light intensity is gradually lowered from that part, or the center, to the periphery (P Hot →P Mid →P Wide ). 
     Next, the vehicle lighting fixture  400  of this reference example will be compared with the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of the second reference example. In this reference example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , the vehicle lighting fixture  300  can be configured such that the laser light rays emitted from the respective excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  as the excitation light rays can be directly incident on the corresponding optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot , respectively. The vehicle lighting fixture  400  of this reference example is different from the previous one in that, as illustrated in  FIGS. 34 and 35 , once the laser light rays emitted from the respective excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  as the excitation light rays can be reflected by corresponding reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot , respectively and then incident on the corresponding optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot , respectively. 
     The configuration of the vehicle lighting fixture  400  of the present reference example can have the same configuration as that of the vehicle lighting fixture  300  of the second reference example except for the above different point. Hereinbelow, a description will be given of the different point of the present reference example from the second reference example, and the same or similar components of the present reference example as those in the second reference example will be denoted by the same reference numerals and a description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  400  can be configured, as illustrated in  FIGS. 34  and  35 , as a vehicle headlamp. The vehicle lighting fixture  400  can include three excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot ; three reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot  provided corresponding to the three excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot ; three optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  each including a mirror part  202 , a wavelength conversion member  18 , a projector lens assembly  20 , etc. The three optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  can be provided corresponding to the three reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot . The wavelength conversion member  18  can include three scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  (see  FIG. 21 ) provided corresponding to the three optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot . Partial light intensity distributions can be formed within the respective scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot , and can be projected through the projector lens assembly  20  serving as an optical system to thereby form the predetermined light distribution pattern P. Note that the number of the excitation light sources  12 , the reflection surfaces  60 , the optical deflectors  201 , and the scanning regions A is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 34 , the projector lens assembly  20 , the wavelength conversion member  18 , and the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  can be disposed in this order along a reference axis AX (or referred to as an optical axis) extending in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  400  can further include a laser holder  46 A. The laser holder  46 A can be disposed to surround the reference axis AX and can hold the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  with a posture tilted in such a manner that excitation light rays Ray Wide , Ray Mid , and Ray Hot  are directed forward and toward the reference axis AX. 
     Specifically, the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  can be disposed by being fixed to the laser holder  46 A in the following manner. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 34 , the laser holder  46 A can be configured to include extension parts  46 AU,  46 AD,  46 AL, and  46 AR each radially extending from the outer peripheral face of an optical deflector holder  58  at its upper, lower, left, or right part in a forward and obliquely upward, forward and obliquely downward, forward and obliquely leftward, or forward and obliquely rightward direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 34 , the wide-zone excitation light source  12   Wide  can be fixed to the front face of the extension part  46 AD with a posture tilted so that the excitation light rays Ray Wide  is directed to a forward and obliquely upward direction. Similarly, the middle-zone excitation light source  12   Mid  can be fixed to the front face of the extension part  46 AU with a posture tilted so that the excitation light rays Ray Mid  is directed to a forward and obliquely downward direction. Similarly, the hot-zone excitation light source  12   Hot  can be fixed to the front face of the extension part  46 AL with a posture tilted so that the excitation light rays Ray Mid  is directed to a forward and obliquely leftward direction. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  400  can further include a lens holder  56  to which the projector lens assembly  20  (lenses  20 A to  20 D) is fixed. The lens holder  56  can be screwed at its rear end to the opening of a tubular part  48  so as to be fixed to the tubular part  48 . 
     A condenser lens  14  can be disposed in front of each of the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot . The excitation light rays Ray Wide , Ray Mid , and Ray Hot  can be emitted from the respective excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  and condensed by the respective condenser lenses  14  (for example, collimated) to be incident on and reflected by the respective reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot , and then be incident on the respective mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 34 , the reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot  can be disposed to surround the reference axis AX and be closer to the reference axis AX than the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot . The reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot  can be fixed to a reflector holder  62  such that each posture is tilted to be closer to the reference axis AX and also the excitation light rays emitted from the excitation light sources  12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot  can be incident on the corresponding reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot , and reflected by the same to be directed rearward and toward the reference axis AX. 
     Specifically, the reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot  can be secured to the reflector holder  62  as follows. 
     The reflector holder  62  can include a ring-shaped extension  64  extending from the rear end of the tubular part  48  that extend in the reference axis AX direction toward the rear and outer side. The ring-shaped extension  64  can have a rear surface tilted so that an inner rim thereof closer to the reference axis AX is positioned more forward than an outer rim thereof, as can be seen from  FIG. 34 . 
     The wide-zone reflection surface  60   Wide  can be secured to a lower portion of the rear surface of the ring-shaped extension  64  with a tilted posture such that the excitation light rays Ray Wide  can be reflected thereby to a rearward and obliquely upward direction. Similarly, the middle-zone reflection surface  60   Mid  can be secured to an upper portion of the rear surface of the ring-shaped extension  64  with a tilted posture such that the excitation light rays Ray Mid  can be reflected thereby to a rearward and obliquely downward direction. Similarly, the hot-zone reflection surface  60   Hot  (not illustrated) can be secured to a left portion of the rear surface of the ring-shaped extension  64  with a tilted posture such that the excitation light rays Ray Hot  can be reflected thereby to a rearward and obliquely rightward direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 35 , the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  with the above-described configuration can be disposed to surround the reference axis AX and be closer to the reference axis AX than the reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot  so that the excitation light rays from the corresponding reflection surfaces  60   Wide ,  60   Mid , and  60   Hot  as reflected light rays can be incident on the corresponding mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  and reflected by the same to be directed to the corresponding scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot , respectively. 
     Specifically, the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  can be secured to an optical deflector holder  58  in the same manner as in the second reference example. 
     The wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  (corresponding to the first optical deflector) can be secured to the lower face  58 D of the square pyramid face while being tilted so that the mirror part  202  thereof is positioned in an optical path of the excitation light rays Ray Wide  reflected from the wide-zone reflection surface  60   Wide . Similarly thereto, the middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  (corresponding to the second optical deflector) can be secured to the upper face  58 U of the square pyramid face while being tilted so that the mirror part  202  thereof is positioned in an optical path of the excitation light rays Ray Mid  reflected from the middle-zone reflection surface  60   Mid . Similarly thereto, the hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  (corresponding to the third optical deflector) can be secured to the left face  58 L (when viewed from front) of the square pyramid face while being tilted so that the mirror part  202  thereof is positioned in an optical path of the excitation light rays Ray Hot  reflected from the hot-zone reflection surface  60   Hot . 
     The optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  each can be arranged so that the first axis X 1  is contained in a vertical plane and the second axis X 2  is contained in a horizontal plane. As a result, the above-described arrangement of the optical deflectors  201   Wide ,  201   Mid , and  201   Hot  can easily form (draw) a predetermined light distribution pattern (two-dimensional image corresponding to the required predetermined light distribution pattern) being wide in the horizontal direction and narrow in the vertical direction required for a vehicular headlight. 
     The wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  can draw a first two-dimensional image on the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  (corresponding to the first scanning region) with the excitation light rays Ray Wide  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof, to thereby form a first light intensity distribution on the wide-zone scanning region A Wide . 
     The middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  can draw a second two-dimensional image on the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  (corresponding to the second scanning region) with the excitation light rays Ray Mid  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof in such a manner that the second two-dimensional image overlaps the first two-dimensional image in part, to thereby form a second light intensity distribution on the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  with a higher light intensity than that of the first light intensity distribution. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  can be smaller than the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  in size and overlap part of the wide-zone scanning region A Wide . As a result of the overlapping, the overlapped middle-zone scanning region A Mid  can have the relatively higher light intensity distribution. 
     The hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  can draw a third two-dimensional image on the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  (corresponding to the third scanning region) with the excitation light rays Ray Hot  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof in such a manner that the third two-dimensional image overlaps the first and second two-dimensional images in part, to thereby form a third light intensity distribution on the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  with a higher light intensity than that of the second light intensity distribution. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  can be smaller than the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  in size and overlap part of the middle-zone scanning region A Mid . As a result of the overlapping, the overlapped hot-zone scanning region A Hot  can have the relatively higher light intensity distribution. 
     The shape of each of the illustrated scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  in  FIG. 21  is a rectangular outer shape, but it is not limitative. The outer shape thereof can be a circle, an oval, or other shapes. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  400  can include a phosphor holder  52  to which the wavelength conversion member  18  can be secured as in the second reference example. 
     In the present reference example, the sizes (horizontal length and vertical length) of the scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  can be adjusted by the same technique as in the second reference example. 
     With the vehicle lighting fixture having the above-described configuration in the present reference example, which utilizes a plurality of optical deflectors configured to scan with excitation light in a two-dimensional manner, it is possible to miniaturize its size and reduce the parts number, which has been a cause for cost increase as in the second reference example. 
     With the vehicle lighting fixture having the above-described configuration in the present reference example, which utilizes a plurality of optical deflectors configured to scan with excitation light in a two-dimensional manner, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , a predetermined light distribution pattern P (for example, high-beam light distribution pattern) excellent in far-distance visibility and sense of light distribution can be formed. The predetermined light distribution pattern P of  FIG. 26  can be configured such that the light intensity in part, for example, at the center (P Hot ), is relatively high and the light intensity is gradually lowered from that part, or the center, to the periphery (P Hot →P Mid →P Wide ). 
     According to the present reference example, when compared with the above-described vehicle lighting fixture  300  (lighting unit), although the efficiency may be slightly lowered due to the additional reflection, the vehicle lighting fixture  400  can be miniaturized in the up-down and left-right directions (vertical and horizontal direction). 
     A description will now be given of a modified example. 
     The aforementioned reference examples have dealt with the cases where the semiconductor light emitting elements that can emit excitation light rays are used as the excitation light sources  12  ( 12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot ), but it is not limitative. 
     For example, as the excitation light sources  12  ( 12   Wide ,  12   Mid , and  12   Hot ), output end faces Fa of optical fibers Fb that can output excitation light rays may be used as illustrated in  FIGS. 31 and 36 . 
     In particular, when the output end faces Fa of optical fibers F guiding and outputting excitation light rays are used as a plurality of excitation light sources  12  ( 12   Hot ,  12   Mid , and  12   Wide ), the excitation light source, such as a semiconductor light emitting element (not illustrated), can be disposed at a position away from the main body of the vehicle lighting fixture  10 . This configuration can make it possible to further miniaturize the vehicle lighting fixture and reduce its weight. 
       FIG. 36  shows an example in which three optical fibers F are combined with not-illustrated three excitation light sources disposed outside of the vehicle lighting fixture. Here, the optical fiber F can be configured to include a core having an input end face Fb for receiving excitation laser light and an output end face Fa for outputting the excitation laser light, and a clad configured to surround the core. Note that  FIG. 36  does not show the hot-zone optical fiber F due to the cross-sectional view. 
       FIG. 31  shows an example in which the vehicle lighting fixture can include a single excitation light source  12  and an optical distributor  68  that can divide excitation laser light rays from the excitation light source  12  into a plurality of (for example, three) bundles of laser light rays and distribute the plurality of bundles of light rays. The vehicle lighting fixture can further include optical fibers F the number of which corresponds to the number of division of laser light rays. The optical fiber F can be configured to have a core with an input end face Fb and an output end face Fa and a clad surrounding the core. The distributed bundles of the light rays can be incident on the respective input end faces Fb, guided through the respective cores of the optical fibers F and output through the respective output end faces Fa. 
       FIG. 37  shows an example of an internal structure of the optical distributor  68 . The optical distributor  68  can be configured to include a plurality of non-polarizing beam splitters  68   a , polarizing beam splitter  68   b , a ½λ plate  68   c , and mirrors  68   d , which are arranged in the manner described in  FIG. 37 . With the optical distributor  68  having this configuration, excitation laser light rays emitted from the excitation light source  12  and condensed by the condenser lens  14  can be distributed to the ratios of 25%, 37.5%, and 37.5%. 
     With this modified example, the same or similar advantageous effects as or to those in the respective reference examples can be obtained. 
     Next, a description will be given of, as a fourth reference example, a technique of forming a light intensity distribution having a relatively high intensity region in part (and a predetermined light distribution pattern having a relatively high intensity region in part) by means of an optical deflector  201  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)) in the vehicle lighting fixture  10  (see  FIG. 2 ) as described in the above-mentioned reference example. 
     First, with reference to (a) of  FIG. 38 , a description will be given of a technique of forming a light intensity distribution having a relatively high intensity region B 1  in the vicinity of its center part (see the region surrounded by an alternate dash and long chain line in (a) of  FIG. 38 ) (and a predetermined light distribution pattern having a relatively high intensity region in part) as the light intensity distribution having a relatively high intensity region in part (and the predetermined light distribution pattern having a relatively high intensity region in part in the vicinity of its center part). The technique will be described by applying it to the reference example of  FIG. 2  in order to facilitate the understanding the technique with a simple configuration. Therefore, it should be appreciated that this technique can be applied to any of the vehicle lighting fixtures described above as the reference examples. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  10  in the following description can be configured to include a controlling unit (for example, such as the controlling unit  24  and the MEMS power circuit  26  illustrated in  FIG. 11 ) for resonantly controlling the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  and nonresonantly controlling the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  in order to form a two-dimensional image on the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  by the excitation light rays scanning in a two-dimensional manner by the mirror part  202  of the optical deflector  201  of the one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)). It is assumed that the output (or modulation rate) of the excitation light source  12  is constant and the optical deflector  201  utilizing a 2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination) can be arranged so that the first axis X 1  is contained in a vertical plane and the second axis X 2  is contained in a horizontal plane. 
     The (a) of  FIG. 38  shows an example of a light intensity distribution wherein the light intensity in the region B 1  in the vicinity of the center area is relatively high. In this case, the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  can be scanned by the excitation light rays in the two-dimensional manner by means of the mirror part  202  to draw a two-dimensional image, thereby forming a light intensity distribution image having a relatively high intensity area in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18 . Note that the scanning region A 1  is not limited to the rectangular outer shape as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 38 , but may be a circular, an oval, and other various shapes. 
     The light intensity distribution illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 38  can have a horizontal center region (in the left-right direction in (a) of  FIG. 38 ) with a relatively low intensity (further with relatively high intensity regions at or near both right and left ends) and a vertical center region B 1  (in the up-down direction in (a) of  FIG. 38 ) with a relatively high intensity (further with relatively low intensity regions at or near upper and lower ends). As a whole, the light intensity distribution can have the relatively high intensity region B 1  at or near the center thereof required for use in a vehicle headlamp. 
     The light intensity distribution illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 38  can be formed in the following manner. Specifically, the controlling unit can control the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  to resonantly drive them on the basis of a drive signal (sinusoidal wave) shown in (b) of  FIG. 38  and also can control the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  to nonresonantly drive them on the basis of a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region shown in (c) of  FIG. 38 . Specifically, in order to form the light intensity distribution, the controlling unit can apply the drive voltage according to the drive signal (sinusoidal wave) shown in (b) of  FIG. 38  to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  and also apply the drive voltage according to the drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region shown in (c) of  FIG. 38  to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . The reason therefor is as follows. 
     Specifically, assume a case where the optical deflector  201  of one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)) applies the drive voltage according to the drive signal (sinusoidal wave) shown in (b) of  FIG. 38  to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204 . In this case, the reciprocal swing speed (scanning speed in the horizontal direction) around the first axis X 1  of the mirror part  202  can be maximized in the horizontal center region in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  while it can be minimized in both the right and left ends in the horizontal direction. This is because, first, the drive signal shown in (b) of  FIG. 38  is a sinusoidal wave, and second, the controlling unit can control the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  to resonantly drive them on the basis of the drive signal (sinusoidal wave). 
     In this case, the amount of excitation light rays per unit area in the center region is relatively reduced where the reciprocal swing speed around the first axis X 1  of the mirror part  202  is relatively high. Conversely, the amount of excitation light rays per unit area in both the left and right end regions is relatively increased where the reciprocal swing speed around the first axis X 1  of the mirror part  202  is relatively low. As a result, the light intensity distribution as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 38  can have a relatively low intensity horizontal center region while having relatively high intensity regions at or near both right and left ends. 
     In (a) of  FIG. 38 , the distances between adjacent lines of the plurality of lines extending in the vertical direction represent the scanning distance per unit time of the excitation light rays from the excitation light source  12  to be scanned in the horizontal direction by the mirror part  202 . Specifically, the distance between adjacent vertical lines can represent the reciprocal swing speed around the first axis X 1  of the mirror part  202  (scanning speed in the horizontal direction). The shorter the distance is, the lower the reciprocal swing speed around the first axis X 1  of the mirror part  202  (scanning speed in the horizontal direction) is. 
     With reference to (a) of  FIG. 38 , the distance between adjacent vertically extending lines is relatively wide in the vicinity of the center region, meaning that the reciprocal swing speed around the first axis X 1  of the mirror part  202  is relatively high in the vicinity of the center region. Further, the distance between adjacent vertically extending lines is relatively narrow in the vicinity of both the left and right end regions, meaning that the reciprocal swing speed around the first axis X 1  of the mirror part  202  is relatively low in the vicinity of the left and right end regions. 
     Specifically, assume a case where the optical deflector  201  of one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)) applies the drive voltage according to the drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (c) of  FIG. 38  to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 . In this case, the reciprocal swing speed (scanning speed in the vertical direction) around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  can become relatively low in the vertical center region B 1  in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18 . This is because, first, the drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region shown in (c) of  FIG. 38  is a drive signal including a nonlinear region that is adjusted such that the reciprocal swing speed around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  becomes relatively low while the center region B 1  in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  can be scanned by the excitation light rays in the two-dimensional manner by means of the mirror part  202  to draw a two-dimensional image in the region B 1 . Second, the controlling unit can control the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  to nonresonantly drive them on the basis of the drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave). 
     In this case, the amount of excitation light rays per unit area in the center region B 1  is relatively increased where the reciprocal swing speed around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  is relatively low. In addition, the pixels in the center region B 1  are relatively dense to increase its resolution. Conversely, the amount of excitation light rays per unit area in both the upper and lower end regions is relatively decreased where the reciprocal swing speed around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  is relatively high. In addition, the pixels in the upper and lower end regions are relatively coarse to decrease its resolution. As a result, the light intensity distribution as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 38  can have the relatively high intensity vertical center region B 1  while having relatively low intensity regions at or near both upper and lower ends. 
     In (a) of  FIG. 38 , the distances between adjacent lines of the plurality of lines extending in the horizontal direction represent the scanning distance per unit time of the excitation light rays from the excitation light source  12  to be scanned in the vertical direction by the mirror part  202 . Specifically, the distance between adjacent horizontal lines can represent the reciprocal swing speed around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  (scanning speed in the vertical direction). The shorter the distance is, the lower the reciprocal swing speed around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  (scanning speed in the vertical direction) is. Also, the pixels are relatively dense to increase its resolution. 
     With reference to (a) of  FIG. 38 , the distance between adjacent horizontally extending lines is relatively narrow in the vicinity of the center region B 1 , meaning that the reciprocal swing speed around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  is relatively low in the vicinity of the center region B 1 . Further, the distance between adjacent horizontally extending lines is relatively wide in the vicinity of both the upper and lower end regions, meaning that the reciprocal swing speed around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  is relatively high in the vicinity of the upper and lower end regions. 
     In this manner, the light intensity distribution with a relatively high center region B 1  in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  can be formed as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 38 . Since the formed light intensity distribution can have relatively high resolution as well as dense pixels in the vicinity of the center region B 1 , in which the apparent size of an opposing vehicle observed becomes relatively smaller and also can have relatively low resolution as well as coarse pixels in the vicinity of both the left and right end regions, in which the apparent size of an opposing vehicle observed becomes relatively large, it can be suitable for the formation of a high-beam light distribution pattern to achieve ADB. This light intensity distribution ((a) of  FIG. 38 ) having the relatively high intensity region B 1  in the vicinity of the center region can be projected forward by the projector lens assembly  20 , thereby forming a high-beam light distribution pattern with a high intensity center region on a virtual vertical screen. 
     As a comparison,  FIG. 39  shows a case where the controlling unit can apply a drive voltage according to a drive signal shown in (b) of  FIG. 39  (the same as that in (b) of FIG.  38 ) to the first piezoelectric actuators  203  and  204  while applying a drive voltage according to a drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a linear region shown in (c) of  FIG. 39  to the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  in place of the drive signal including a nonlinear region shown in (c) of  FIG. 38 , to thereby obtain the light intensity distribution shown in (a) of  FIG. 39  formed in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     As shown in (a) of  FIG. 39 , the light intensity distribution in the horizontal direction can be configured such that the light intensity in the vicinity of horizontal center (left-right direction in (a) of  FIG. 39 ) is relatively low (thus low in the left and right end regions) while the light intensity between the vertically upper and lower end regions is substantially uniform. This light intensity distribution is thus not suitable for use in a vehicle headlamp. Furthermore, the light intensity distribution in the vertical direction can be configured such that the light intensity between the vertical upper and lower end regions is substantially uniform while the drive signal shown in (c) of  FIG. 39  is not a drive signal including a nonlinear region as shown in (c) of  FIG. 38 , but a drive signal including a linear region. As a result, the scanning speed in the vertical direction becomes constant. 
     As described above, in the vehicle lighting fixture of the present reference example, which utilizes the mirror part  202  of the optical deflector  201  of the one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type (2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination)) (see  FIG. 4 ), the light intensity distribution with a relatively high intensity region in part (for example, in the center region B 1 ) required for use in a vehicle lighting fixture (in particular, vehicle headlamp) can be formed (see (a) of  FIG. 38 ). 
     This is because the controlling unit can control the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206  such that the reciprocal swing speed around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  can be relatively low while the two-dimensional image is drawn in a partial region (for example, the center region B 1 ) of the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  with the excitation light rays scanning in the two-dimensional manner by the mirror part  202 . 
     Further, according to the present reference example that utilizes the optical deflector  201  utilizing a 2-D optical scanner (fast resonant and slow static combination) (see  FIG. 4 ), the predetermined light distribution pattern (for example, high-beam light distribution pattern) having a relatively high light intensity region in part (for example, the center region B 1 ) can be formed. 
     This is because the light intensity distribution having a relatively high intensity region in part (for example, the region B 1  in the vicinity of its center part, as shown in (a) of  FIG. 38 ) can be formed, and in turn, the predetermined light distribution pattern having a relatively high intensity region in part (for example, high-beam light distribution pattern) can be formed by projecting the light intensity distribution having the relatively high intensity region in part (for example, the region B 1  in the vicinity of its center part). 
     Furthermore, according to the present reference example, the light intensity distribution formed in the scanning region A 1  can have relatively high resolution as well as dense pixels in the vicinity of the center region B 1 , in which the apparent size of an opposing vehicle observed becomes relatively smaller and also can have relatively low resolution as well as coarse pixels in the vicinity of both the left and right end regions, in which the apparent size of an opposing vehicle observed becomes relatively large, it can be suitable for the formation of a high-beam light distribution pattern to achieve ADB. 
     Further, by adjusting the drive signal (see (c) of  FIG. 38 ) including a nonlinear region for controlling the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 , a relatively high light intensity distribution with a relatively high intensity region in any optional region other than the center region B 1  can be formed, meaning that a predetermined light distribution pattern having a relatively high intensity region at any optional region can be formed. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 40 , a light intensity distribution having a relatively high intensity region in a region B 2  near its one side e corresponding to its cut-off line (see the region surrounded by alternate dash and dot line in  FIG. 40 ) can be formed, thereby forming a low-beam light distribution pattern with a relatively high intensity region in the vicinity of the cut-off line. This can be easily achieved as follows. Specifically, as the drive signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region shown for controlling the second piezoelectric actuators  205  and  206 , the controlling unit can utilize a drive signal including a nonlinear region that is adjusted such that the reciprocal swing speed around the second axis X 2  of the mirror part  202  becomes relatively low while the region B 2  in the scanning region A 2  of the wavelength conversion member  18  near its side e corresponding to the cut-off line can be scanned by the excitation light rays in the two-dimensional manner by means of the mirror part  202  to draw a two-dimensional image in the region B 2 . 
     Next, a description will be given of, as a fifth reference example, a technique of forming a light intensity distribution having a relatively high intensity region in part (and a predetermined light distribution pattern having a relatively high intensity region in part) by means of an optical deflectors  161  (see  FIG. 16 ) of the two-dimensional nonresonance type in the vehicle lighting fixture  10  (see  FIG. 2 ) as described in the above-mentioned first reference example in place of the optical deflector  201  of one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type. 
     First, with reference to (a) of  FIG. 41 , a description will be given of a technique of forming a light intensity distribution having relatively high intensity regions B 1  and B 3  in the vicinity of its center parts (see the regions surrounded by an alternate dash and long chain line in (a) of  FIG. 41 ) (and a predetermined light distribution pattern having relatively high intensity regions in part) as the light intensity distribution having relatively high intensity regions in part (and the predetermined light distribution pattern having relatively high intensity regions in part). The technique will be described by applying it to the reference example of  FIG. 2  in order to facilitate the understanding the technique with a simple configuration. Therefore, it should be appreciated that this technique can be applied to any of the vehicle lighting fixtures described above as the reference examples and their modified examples thereof. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  10  in the following description can be configured to include a controlling unit (for example, such as the controlling unit  24  and the MEMS power circuit  26  illustrated in  FIG. 11 ) for nonresonantly controlling the first piezoelectric actuators  163  and  164  and the second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166  in order to form a two-dimensional image on the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  by the excitation light rays scanning in a two-dimensional manner by the mirror part  162  of the optical deflector  161  of the two-dimensional nonresonance type. It is assumed that the output (or modulation rate) of the excitation light source  12  is constant and the optical deflector  161  of two-dimensional nonresonance type can be arranged so that the third axis X 3  is contained in a vertical plane and the fourth axis X 4  is contained in a horizontal plane. 
     The (a) of  FIG. 41  shows an example of a light intensity distribution wherein the light intensity in the regions B 1  and B 3  in the vicinity of the center areas are relatively high. In this case, the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  can be scanned by the excitation light rays in the two-dimensional manner by means of the mirror part  162  to draw a two-dimensional image, thereby forming a light intensity distribution image having a relatively high intensity area in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18 . Note that the scanning region A 1  is not limited to the rectangular outer shape as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 41 , but may be a circular, an oval, and other various shapes. 
     The light intensity distribution illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 41  can have the horizontal center region B 3  (in the left-right direction in (a) of  FIG. 41 ) with a relatively high intensity (further with relatively low intensity regions at or near both right and left end regions) and the vertical center region B 1  (in the up-down direction in (a) of  FIG. 41 ) with a relatively high intensity (further with relatively low intensity regions at or near upper and lower end regions). As a whole, the light intensity distribution can have the relatively high intensity regions B 1  and b 3  at or near the center thereof required for use in a vehicle headlamp. 
     The light intensity distribution illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 41  can be formed in the following manner. Specifically, the controlling unit can control the first piezoelectric actuators  163  and  164  to nonresonantly drive them on the basis of a first drive signal including a first nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (b) of  FIG. 41  and also can control the second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166  to nonresonantly drive them on the basis of a second drive signal including a second nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (c) of  FIG. 41 . Specifically, in order to form the light intensity distribution, the controlling unit can apply the drive voltage according to the first drive signal including the first nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (b) of  FIG. 41  to the first piezoelectric actuators  163  and  164  and also apply the drive voltage according to the second drive signal including the second nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (c) of  FIG. 41  to the second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166 . The reason therefor is as follows. 
     Specifically, assume a case where the optical deflector  161  of two-dimensional nonresonance type applies the drive voltage according to the first drive signal including the first nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (b) of  FIG. 41  to the first piezoelectric actuators  163  and  164 . In this case, the reciprocal swing speed (scanning speed in the horizontal direction) around the third axis X 3  of the mirror part  162  can be relatively reduced in the horizontal center region B 3  in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18 . This is because, first, the first drive signal including the first nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (b) of  FIG. 41  is a drive signal including a nonlinear region that is adjusted such that the reciprocal swing speed around the third axis X 3  of the mirror part  162  becomes relatively low while the center region B 3  in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  can be scanned by the excitation light rays in the two-dimensional manner by means of the mirror part  162  to draw a two-dimensional image in the region B 3 . Second, the controlling unit can control the first piezoelectric actuators  163  and  164  to nonresonantly drive them on the basis of the first drive signal including the first nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave). 
     In this case, the amount of excitation light rays per unit area in the center region B 3  is relatively increased where the reciprocal swing speed around the third axis X 3  of the mirror part  162  is relatively low. In addition, the pixels in the center region B 3  are relatively dense to increase its resolution. Conversely, the amount of excitation light rays per unit area in both the left and right end regions is relatively decreased where the reciprocal swing speed around the third axis X 3  of the mirror part  162  is relatively high. In addition, the pixels in the left and right end regions are relatively coarse to decrease its resolution. As a result, the light intensity distribution as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 41  can have the relatively high intensity horizontal center region B 3  while having relatively low intensity regions at or near both left and right end regions. 
     In (a) of  FIG. 41 , the distances between adjacent lines of the plurality of lines extending in the vertical direction represent the scanning distance per unit time of the excitation light rays from the excitation light source  12  to be scanned in the horizontal direction by the mirror part  162 . Specifically, the distance between adjacent vertical lines can represent the reciprocal swing speed around the third axis X 3  of the mirror part  162  (scanning speed in the horizontal direction). The shorter the distance is, the lower the reciprocal swing speed around the third axis X 3  of the mirror part  162  (scanning speed in the horizontal direction) is. Also, the pixels are relatively dense to increase its resolution. 
     With reference to (a) of  FIG. 41 , the distance between adjacent vertically extending lines is relatively narrow in the vicinity of the center region B 3 , meaning that the reciprocal swing speed around the third axis X 3  of the mirror part  162  is relatively low in the vicinity of the center region B 3 . Further, the distance between adjacent vertically extending lines is relatively wide in the vicinity of both the left and right end regions, meaning that the reciprocal swing speed around the third axis X 3  of the mirror part  162  is relatively high in the vicinity of the left and right end regions. 
     On the other hand, assume a case where the optical deflector  161  of two-dimensional nonresonance type applies the drive voltage according to the second drive signal including the second nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (c) of  FIG. 41  to the second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166 . In this case, the reciprocal swing speed (scanning speed in the vertical direction) around the fourth axis X 4  of the mirror part  162  can become relatively low in the vertical center region B 1  in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18 . This is because, first, the second drive signal including the second nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (c) of  FIG. 41  is a drive signal including a nonlinear region that is adjusted such that the reciprocal swing speed around the fourth axis X 4  of the mirror part  162  becomes relatively low while the center region B 1  in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  can be scanned by the excitation light rays in the two-dimensional manner by means of the mirror part  162  to draw a two-dimensional image in the region B 1 . Second, the controlling unit can control the second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166  to nonresonantly drive them on the basis of the second drive signal including the second nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave). 
     In this case, the amount of excitation light rays per unit area in the center region B 1  is relatively increased where the reciprocal swing speed around the fourth axis X 4  of the mirror part  162  is relatively low. In addition, the pixels in the center region B 1  are relatively dense to increase its resolution. 
     In this case, the amount of excitation light rays per unit area in the upper and lower end regions is relatively decreased where the reciprocal swing speed around the fourth axis X 4  of the mirror part  162  is relatively high. In addition, the pixels in the upper and lower end regions are relatively coarse to decrease its resolution. As a result, the light intensity distribution as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 41  can have the relatively high intensity vertical center region B 1  while having relatively low intensity regions at or near both upper and lower end regions. 
     In (a) of  FIG. 41 , the distances between adjacent lines of the plurality of lines extending in the horizontal direction represent the scanning distance per unit time of the excitation light rays from the excitation light source  12  to be scanned in the vertical direction by the mirror part  162 . Specifically, the distance between adjacent horizontal lines can represent the reciprocal swing speed around the fourth axis X 4  of the mirror part  162  (scanning speed in the vertical direction). The shorter the distance is, the lower the reciprocal swing speed around the fourth axis X 4  of the mirror part  162  (scanning speed in the vertical direction) is. Also, the pixels are relatively dense to increase its resolution. 
     With reference to (a) of  FIG. 41 , the distance between adjacent horizontally extending lines is relatively narrow in the vicinity of the center region B 1 , meaning that the reciprocal swing speed around the fourth axis X 4  of the mirror part  162  is relatively low in the vicinity of the center region B 1 . Further, the distance between adjacent horizontally extending lines is relatively wide in the vicinity of both the upper and lower end regions, meaning that the reciprocal swing speed around the fourth axis X 4  of the mirror part  162  is relatively high in the vicinity of the upper and lower end regions. 
     In this manner, the light intensity distribution with the relatively high center regions B 1  and B 3  in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  can be formed as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 41 . Since the formed light intensity distribution can have relatively high resolution as well as dense pixels in the vicinity of the center region B 1 , in which the apparent size of an opposing vehicle observed becomes relatively smaller and also can have relatively low resolution as well as coarse pixels in the vicinity of both the left and right end regions, in which the apparent size of an opposing vehicle observed becomes relatively large, it can be suitable for the formation of a high-beam light distribution pattern to achieve ADB. This light intensity distribution ((a) of  FIG. 41 ) having the relatively high intensity regions B 1  and B 3  in the vicinity of the center regions can be projected forward by the projector lens assembly  20 , thereby forming a high-beam light distribution pattern with a high intensity center region on a virtual vertical screen. 
     As a comparison,  FIG. 42  shows a case where the controlling unit can apply a drive voltage according to a drive signal including a linear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (b) of  FIG. 42  to the first piezoelectric actuators  163  and  164  in place of the first drive signal including the first nonlinear region shown in (b) of  FIG. 41 . Furthermore, in this case, the controlling unit can apply a drive signal including a linear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown in (c) of  FIG. 42  to the second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166  in place of the second drive signal including the second nonlinear region shown in (c) of  FIG. 41 , to thereby obtain the light intensity distribution shown in (a) of  FIG. 42  formed in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     As shown in (a) of  FIG. 42 , the light intensity distribution in the horizontal direction can be configured such that the light intensity between the left and right end regions is substantially uniform in the horizontal direction (in the left-right direction in (a) of  FIG. 42 ) and the light intensity between vertically upper and lower end regions is substantially uniform. This light intensity distribution is thus not suitable for use in a vehicle headlamp. Furthermore, the light intensity distribution in the horizontal direction can be configured such that the light intensity between left and right end regions is substantially uniform while the drive signal shown in (b) of  FIG. 42  is not a drive signal including a nonlinear region as shown in (b) of  FIG. 41 , but a drive signal including a linear region. As a result, the scanning speed in the horizontal direction becomes constant. Similarly, the light intensity distribution in the vertical direction can be configured such that the light intensity between the vertical upper and lower end regions is substantially uniform while the drive signal shown in (c) of  FIG. 42  is not a drive signal including a nonlinear region as shown in (c) of  FIG. 41 , but a drive signal including a linear region. As a result, the scanning speed in the vertical direction becomes constant. 
     As described above, in the vehicle lighting fixture of the present reference example, which utilizes the mirror part  162  of the optical deflector  161  of the two-dimensional nonresonance type (see  FIG. 16 ), the light intensity distribution with a relatively high intensity region in part (for example, in the center regions B 1  and B 3 ) required for use in a vehicle lighting fixture (in particular, vehicle headlamp) can be formed (see (a) of  FIG. 41 ). 
     This is because the controlling unit can control the first and second piezoelectric actuators  163 ,  164 ,  165 , and  166  such that the reciprocal swing speed around the third and fourth axes X 3  and X 4  of the mirror part  162  can be relatively low while the two-dimensional image is drawn in a partial region (for example, the center regions B 1  and B 3 ) of the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  with the excitation light rays scanning in the two-dimensional manner by the mirror part  162 . 
     Further, according to the present reference example that utilizes the optical deflector  161  of two-dimensional nonresonance type (see  FIG. 16 ), the predetermined light distribution pattern (for example, high-beam light distribution pattern) having the relatively high light intensity regions in part (for example, the center regions B 1  and B 3 ) can be formed. 
     This is because the light intensity distribution having the relatively high intensity regions in part (for example, the regions B 1  and B 3  in the vicinity of its center part as shown in (a) of  FIG. 41 ) can be formed, and in turn, the predetermined light distribution pattern having the relatively high intensity regions in part can be formed by projecting the light intensity distribution having the relatively high intensity regions in part (for example, the regions B 1  and B 3  in the vicinity of its center part). 
     Furthermore, according to the present reference example, the light intensity distribution formed in the scanning region A 1  can have relatively high resolution as well as dense pixels in the vicinity of the center region B 1 , in which the apparent size of an opposing vehicle observed becomes relatively smaller and also can have relatively low resolution as well as coarse pixels in the vicinity of both the left and right end regions, in which the apparent size of an opposing vehicle observed becomes relatively large, it can be suitable for the formation of a high-beam light distribution pattern to achieve ADB. 
     Further, by adjusting the first and second drive signals including a nonlinear region for controlling the first and second piezoelectric actuators  163 ,  164 ,  165 , and  166 , a relatively high light intensity distribution with a relatively high intensity region in any optional region other than the center regions B 1  and B 3  can be formed, meaning that a predetermined light distribution pattern having a relatively high intensity region at any optional region can be formed. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 40 , a light intensity distribution having a relatively high intensity region in a region B 2  near its one side e corresponding to its cut-off line (see the region surrounded by alternate dash and dot line in  FIG. 40 ) can be formed, thereby forming a low-beam light distribution pattern with a relatively high intensity region in the vicinity of the cut-off line. This can be easily achieved as follows. Specifically, as the second drive signal including the second nonlinear region (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) shown for controlling the second piezoelectric actuators  165  and  166 , the controlling unit can utilize a drive signal including a nonlinear region that is adjusted such that the reciprocal swing speed around the fourth axis X 4  of the mirror part  162  becomes relatively low while the region B 2  in the scanning region A 2  of the wavelength conversion member  18  near its side e corresponding to the cut-off line can be scanned by the excitation light rays in the two-dimensional manner by means of the mirror part  162  to draw a two-dimensional image in the region B 2 . 
     Next, as another reference example, a description will be given of a light intensity distribution shown in (a) of  FIG. 43  in the vehicle lighting fixture  10  of the first reference example (see  FIG. 2 ) that utilizes an optical deflector  201 A of two-dimensional resonance type (see  FIG. 17 ) in place of the optical deflector  201  of one-dimensional nonresonance/one-dimensional resonance type. Specifically, the light intensity distribution (see (a) of  FIG. 43 ) can be formed in the scanning region A 1  of the wavelength conversion member  18  by the controlling unit that applies a drive voltage according to a drive signal (sinusoidal wave) shown in (b) of  FIG. 43  to the first piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa and  15 Ab and applies a drive voltage according to a drive signal (sinusoidal wave) shown in (c) of  FIG. 43  to the second piezoelectric actuators  17 Aa and  17 Ab. 
     Specifically, the vehicle lighting fixture  10  in the following description can be configured to include a controlling unit (for example, such as the controlling unit  24  and the MEMS power circuit  26  illustrated in  FIG. 11 ) for resonantly controlling the first piezoelectric actuators  15 Aa and  15 Ab and the second piezoelectric actuators  17 Aa and  17 Ab in order to form a two-dimensional image on the scanning region A of the wavelength conversion member  18  by the excitation light rays scanning in a two-dimensional manner by the mirror part  13 A of the optical deflector  201 A of the two-dimensional resonance type. It is assumed that the output (or modulation rate) of the excitation light source  12  is constant and the optical deflector  201 A of two-dimensional resonance type can be arranged so that the fifth axis X 5  is contained in a vertical plane and the sixth axis X 6  is contained in a horizontal plane. 
     In this case, the light intensity distribution shown in (a) of  FIG. 43  can include a horizontal center region (in the left-right direction in (a) of  FIG. 43 ) with a relatively low intensity (further include relatively high intensity regions at or near both right and left ends) and a vertical center region (in the up-down direction in (a) of  FIG. 43 ) with a relatively low intensity (further include relatively high intensity regions at or near upper and lower ends). Accordingly, the resulting light intensity distribution is not suitable for use in a vehicle headlamp. 
     A description will now be given of a technique for forming a high-beam light distribution pattern P Hi  (see  FIG. 44D ) as a sixth reference example. Here, the high-beam light distribution pattern P Hi  can be formed by overlaying a plurality of irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  to form non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  illustrated in  FIGS. 44A to 44C . 
     Hereinafter, a description will be given of an example in which the high-beam light distribution pattern P Hi  (see  FIG. 44D ) is formed by the vehicle lighting fixture  300  as illustrated in the second reference example (see  FIGS. 21 to 25 ). It should be appreciated that the vehicle lighting fixture may be any of those described in the third reference example or may be a combination of a plurality of lighting units for forming the respective irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide . The number of the irradiation patterns for forming the high-beam light distribution pattern P Hi  is not limited to three, but may be two or four or more. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  300  can be configured to include an irradiation-prohibitive object detection unit configured to detect an object to which irradiation is prohibited such as a pedestrian and an opposing vehicle in front of a vehicle body in which the vehicle lighting fixture  300  is installed. The irradiation-prohibitive object detection unit may be configured to include an imaging device and the like, such as a camera  30  shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 44A  shows an example of an irradiation pattern P Hot  in which the non-irradiation region C 1  is formed,  FIG. 44B  an example of an irradiation pattern P Mid  in which the non-irradiation region C 2  is formed, and  FIG. 44C  an example of an irradiation pattern P Wide  in which the non-irradiation region C 3  is formed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 44D , the plurality of irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  can be overlaid on one another to overlay the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  thereby forming a non-irradiation region C. 
     The non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  each can have a different size, as illustrated in  FIGS. 44A to 44D . By this setting, even when the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  formed by the respective irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  are displaced from one another due to controlling error in the respective optical deflectors  201   Hot ,  201   Mid , and  201   Wide , displacement of the optical axes, as shown in  FIG. 45 , the area of the resulting non-irradiation region C (see the hatched region in  FIG. 45 ) can be prevented from decreasing. As a result, any glare light to the irradiation-prohibitive object can be prevented from being generated. This is because the sizes of the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  formed in the respective irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  can be different from one another. 
     The non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  (or the non-irradiation region C) can be formed in respective regions of the plurality of irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  corresponding to the irradiation-prohibitive object detected by the irradiation-prohibitive object detection unit. Specifically, the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  (or the non-irradiation region C) can be formed in a different region corresponding to the position where the irradiation-prohibitive object is detected. As a result, any glare light to the irradiation-prohibitive object such as a pedestrian, an opposing vehicle, etc. can be prevented from being generated. 
     The plurality of irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  can have respective different sizes, and can have a higher light intensity as the size thereof is smaller. By doing so, the vehicle lighting fixture  300  can be configured to form a high-beam light distribution pattern (see  FIG. 44D ) excellent in far-distance visibility and sense of light distribution. The predetermined light distribution pattern can be configured such that the center light intensity (P Hot ) is relatively high and the light intensity is gradually lowered from the center to the periphery (P Hot →P Mid →P Wide ). 
     The non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  can have a smaller size as the irradiation pattern including the non-irradiation region is smaller. Therefore, the relation in size of the non-irradiation region C 1 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 2 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 3  may hold. Therefore, the smallest non-irradiation region C 1  can be formed in the smallest irradiation pattern P Hot  (with the maximum light intensity). This means that the irradiation pattern P Hot  can irradiate with light a wider region brighter when compared with the case where a smallest non-irradiation region C 1  is formed in the irradiation patterns P Mid  and P Wide  other than the smallest irradiation pattern P Hot . Furthermore, since the smallest non-irradiation region C 1  is formed in the smallest irradiation pattern P Hot  with the maximum light intensity, the bright/dark ratio near the contour of the non-irradiation region C can become relatively high (see  FIG. 45 ) when compared with the case where a smallest non-irradiation region C 1  is formed in the irradiation patterns P Mid  and P Wide  other than the smallest irradiation pattern P Hot . As a result, the sharp and clear contour of the non-irradiation region C can be formed. It should be appreciated that the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  may have respective different sizes and the relation in size of the non-irradiation region C 1 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 2 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 3  is not limitative. In order to blur the contour of the non-irradiation region C, the relation in size of the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  can be controlled as appropriate in place of the relationship described above. 
     The non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  formed in the respective irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  can have a similarity shape. Even when the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  formed by the respective irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  are displaced from one another, the area of the resulting non-irradiation region C (see the hatched region in  FIG. 45 ) can be prevented from decreasing. As a result, any glare light to the irradiation-prohibitive object can be prevented from being generated. It should be appreciated that the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  may have a shape other than a similarity shape as long as their sizes are different from each other. Furthermore, the shape thereof is not limited to a rectangular shape as shown in  FIGS. 44A to 44D , but may be a circular shape, an oval shape, or other outer shapes. 
     The high-beam light distribution pattern P Hi  shown in  FIG. 44D  can be formed on a virtual vertical screen by projecting the light intensity distributions formed by the respective scanning regions A Hot , A Mid , and A Wide  by the projector lens assembly  20 . 
     The light intensity distributions can be formed in the respective scanning regions A Hot , A Mid , and A Wide  by the following procedures. 
     The wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  can draw a first two-dimensional image on the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  (see  FIG. 21 ) (two-dimensional image corresponding to the irradiation pattern P Wide  shown in  FIG. 44C ) with the excitation light rays Ray Wide  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof, to thereby form a first light intensity distribution on the wide-zone scanning region A Wide  (the light intensity distribution corresponding to the irradiation pattern P Wide  shown in  FIG. 44C ). 
     The middle-zone optical deflector  201   Mid  can draw a second two-dimensional image on the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  (see  FIG. 21 ) (two-dimensional image corresponding to the irradiation pattern P Mid  shown in  FIG. 44B ) with the excitation light rays Ray Wide  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof in such a manner that the second two-dimensional image overlaps the first two-dimensional image in part, to thereby form a second light intensity distribution on the middle-zone scanning region A Mid  (the light intensity distribution corresponding to the irradiation pattern P Mid  shown in  FIG. 44B ). Here, the light intensity of the second light intensity distribution is higher than that of the first light intensity distribution. 
     The hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  can draw a third two-dimensional image on the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  (see  FIG. 21 ) (two-dimensional image corresponding to the irradiation pattern P Hot  shown in  FIG. 44A ) with the excitation light rays Ray Hot  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof in such a manner that the third two-dimensional image overlaps the first and second two-dimensional images in part, to thereby form a third light intensity distribution on the hot-zone scanning region A Hot  (the light intensity distribution corresponding to the irradiation pattern P Hot  shown in  FIG. 44A ). Here, the light intensity of the third light intensity distribution is higher than that of the second light intensity distribution. 
     It should be appreciated that the first to third light intensity distributions can be formed in the respective scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  so as to include the non-irradiation region corresponding to the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  by overlaying the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  to form the non-irradiation region. 
     As described above, the light intensity distributions formed in the respective scanning regions A Wide , A Mid , and A Hot  can be projected forward by the projector lens assembly  20 , to thereby form the high-beam light distribution pattern P Hi  on a virtual vertical screen as shown in  FIG. 44D . 
     As described above, the present reference example can provide a vehicle lighting fixture configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern (for example, a high-beam light distribution pattern) by overlaying a plurality of irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  including the respective non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3 . Thus, even when the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  formed in the respective irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide  are displaced from one another (as shown in  FIG. 45 ), the area of the resulting non-irradiation region C (the shaded region in  FIG. 45 ) can be prevented from decreasing, and as a result, any glare light toward irradiation-prohibitive objects can be prevented from occurring. 
     This can be achieved by designing the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  to have respective different sizes to be formed in the respective irradiation patterns P Hot , P Mid , and P Wide . 
     It should be appreciated that two vehicle lighting fixtures  300  can be used to form a single high-beam light distribution pattern P Hi  (illustrated in  FIG. 46C ) by overlaying two high-beam light distribution patterns PL Hi  and PR Hi  as shown in  FIGS. 46A and 46B . 
       FIG. 46A  shows an example of the high-beam light distribution pattern PL Hi  formed by a vehicle lighting fixture  300 L disposed on the left side of a vehicle body front portion (on the left side of a vehicle body), and  FIG. 46B  an example of the high-beam light distribution pattern PR Hi  formed by a vehicle lighting fixture  300 R disposed on the right side of the vehicle body front portion (on the front side of the vehicle body). It should be appreciated that the high-beam light distribution patterns PL Hi  and PR Hi  are not limited to those formed by overlaying a plurality of irradiation patterns (irradiation patterns PL Hot , PL Mid , and PL Wide  and irradiation patterns PR Hot , PR Mid , and PR Wide ), but may be formed by a single irradiation pattern or by a combination of two or four or more irradiation patterns overlaid with each other. 
     The high-beam light distribution patterns PL Hi  and PR Hi , as illustrated in  FIG. 46C , can be overlaid on each other so that the non-irradiation region C (non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3 ) and non-irradiation region C 4  are overlaid on each other to form a non-irradiation region CC. 
     The non-irradiation region C (non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , and C 3 ) and non-irradiation region C 4  can have respectively different sizes as illustrated in  FIGS. 46A to 46C . For example, the relationship of the non-irradiation region C 1 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 2 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 3 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 4  may hold. Therefore, the smallest non-irradiation region C 1  can be formed in the smallest irradiation pattern P Hot  (with the maximum light intensity). This means that the irradiation pattern P Hot  can irradiate with light a wider region brighter when compared with the case where a smallest non-irradiation region C 1  is formed in the irradiation patterns P Mid  and P Wide  other than the smallest irradiation pattern P Hot . Furthermore, since the smallest non-irradiation region C 1  is formed in the smallest irradiation pattern P Hot  with the maximum light intensity, the bright/dark ratio near the contour of the non-irradiation region CC can become relatively high (see  FIG. 45 ) when compared with the case where a smallest non-irradiation region C 1  is formed in the irradiation patterns P Mid  and P Wide  other than the smallest irradiation pattern P Hot . As a result, the sharp and clear contour of the non-irradiation region CC can be formed. It should be appreciated that the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4  may have respective different sizes and the relation in size of the non-irradiation region C 1 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 2 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 3 &lt;the non-irradiation region C 4  is not limitative. In order to blur the contour of the non-irradiation region CC, the relation in size of the non-irradiation regions C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4  can be controlled as appropriate in place of the relationship described above. 
     A description will now be given of a vehicle lighting fixture according to a first exemplary embodiment configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern, wherein the predetermined light distribution can be formed with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
       FIG. 47  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle lighting fixture  500  according to the first exemplary embodiment made in accordance with the principles of the presently disclosed subject matter. 
     The basic configuration of the vehicle lighting fixture  500  according to this exemplary embodiment can be the same as or similar to the configuration of the vehicle lighting fixture  10  according to the first reference example. As shown in  FIG. 47 , the vehicle lighting fixture  500  can include an excitation light source  12 , a condenser lens  14 , an optical deflector  201 , a multifocal lens  502 , a wavelength conversion member  18  (corresponding to the screen member in the presently disclosed subject matter), a projector lens assembly  20 , etc. Here, the optical deflector  201  can be configured to include a mirror part  202  and scan with excitation light, having been emitted from the excitation light source  12  and condensed by the condenser lens  14 , in a two-dimensional manner (in horizontal and vertical directions). The excitation light two-dimensionally scanning by the optical deflector  201  can pass through the multifocal lens  502  and form a luminance distribution in the wavelength conversion member  18  corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern. The luminance distribution formed in the wavelength conversion member  18  can be projected forward of a vehicle body by the projector lens assembly  20  as an optical system configured to form the predetermined light distribution pattern. The vehicle lighting fixture  500  can include the multifocal lens  502 , which is the different point from the vehicle lighting fixture  10  of the first reference example. 
     Hereinbelow, a description will be given of the different point of the present exemplary embodiment from the first reference example, and the same or similar components of the present exemplary embodiment as those in the first reference example will be denoted by the same reference numerals and a description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 
       FIG. 48  is a schematic diagram illustrating essential parts of the vehicle lighting fixture  500  including the wavelength conversion member  18  and the multifocal lens  502  illustrated in  FIG. 47 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 48 , the optical deflector  201  can be configured to scan excitation light rays Ray in a two dimensional manner by the mirror part  202  in the horizontal and vertical directions ( FIG. 48  shows the state in the horizontal direction), so that the excitation light rays Ray passing through the multifocal lens  502  can form a luminance distribution in the wavelength conversion member  18 . Specifically, the luminance distribution can be formed with varied resolution, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high (fine) at the center area (in the vicinity of the intersection of the wavelength conversion member  18  and the reference axis AX) and is gradually lowered (coarse) toward the outer periphery from the center area (in the right and left directions in  FIG. 48 ).  FIG. 48  shows the excitation light rays Ray only on the left side with respect to the reference axis AX for convenience sake, but in actual cases, the excitation light rays Ray can scan bisymmetrically with respect to the reference axis AX. 
     The luminance distribution formed in the wavelength conversion member  18  can be projected by the projector lens assembly  20  forward in front of the vehicle body, so that the predetermined light distribution pattern can be formed to have a high resolution at the center area in the horizontal direction and gradually lower resolution outward from the center area. 
     The luminance distribution (predetermined light distribution pattern) with the high center resolution in the horizontal direction and lowered resolution toward the outer periphery from the center area can be achieved by the multifocal lens  502 . 
     Specifically, the vehicle lighting unit  500  can form groups of spots SP of excitation light rays Ray scanning in a two-dimensional manner by the optical deflector  201  on the wavelength conversion member  18 . The multifocal lens  502  can be an optical controlling member configured to change a pitch between spots SP in a group of spots SP among the groups of spots SP of light. As illustrated in  FIG. 48 , the multifocal lens  502  can be a lens member having an incident surface  502   a  on which the scanning excitation light rays Ray are incident to enter the multifocal lens  502  and a light exiting surface  502   b  opposite thereto. The multifocal lens  502  can be molded by a glass material, a transparent resin such as an acrylic resin or a polycarbonate resin, and the like. 
     The incident surface  502   a  can be composed of, for example, a first incident surface  502   a   1 , a second incident surface  502   a   2 , and a third incident surface  502   a   3 . In this case, the first incident surface  502   a   1  can receive the excitation light rays within a first range (±θ1, for example, ±0° to 8°) of a swing angle of scanning in the horizontal direction by the optical deflector  201 . The second incident surface  502   a   2  can receive the excitation light rays within a second range (±θ2, for example, ±8° to 15°) of a swing angle of scanning in the horizontal direction by the optical deflector  201 . The third incident surface  502   a   3  can receive the excitation light rays within a third range (±θ3, for example, ±15° to 20°) of a swing angle of scanning in the horizontal direction by the optical deflector  201 . 
       FIG. 55  is a perspective view of the multifocal lens  502 . 
     As illustrated, the multifocal lens  502  can be configured to include a first lens portion  504 A between the first incident surface  502   a   1  and the light exiting surface  502   b , a second lens portion  504 B between the second incident surface  502   a   2  and the light exiting surface  502   b , and a third lens portion  504 C between the third incident surface  502   a   3  and the light exiting surface  502   b.    
       FIG. 49A  is a diagram illustrating a state (simulation result) in which excitation light rays directed from an optical deflector  201  and passing through a single focus lens  506 A (having a focal point F 506A ) forms a high-resolution region by a group of spots SP of light in the horizontal direction on the wavelength conversion member  18  at a pitch p 1 . Here, suppose that the first lens portion  504 A is configured as a single focus lens having the same focal distance as that of the single focus lens  506 A (focal distance F=−100 mm, being a concave lens). In this case, the excitation light rays Ray directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through the first lens portion  504 A can form a high-resolution region by a group of spots SP of light in the horizontal direction on the wavelength conversion member  18  at the pitch p 1  in the same manner as the excitation light rays directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through the single focus lens  506 A of  FIG. 49A . The range (width of the high-resolution region) may be widened as appropriate in order to correspond to the case of swivel operation of the vehicle lighting fixture  500  in addition to normal operations. Note that such a swivel operation is performed when an automobile is turned right or left, so that the vehicle lighting fixture can project light with a high luminance and wide high-resolution pattern controlled with high precision to the right or left road surface and/or pedestrian to be irradiated with light. 
       FIG. 49B  is a diagram illustrating a state (simulation result) in which excitation light directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through a single focus lens  506 B (having a focal point F 506B ) forms a middle-resolution region by a group of spots SP of light in the horizontal direction on the wavelength conversion member  18  at a pitch p 2 . Here, suppose that the second lens portion  504 B is configured as a single focus lens having the same focal distance as that of the single focus lens  506 B (focal distance F=−50 mm, being a concave lens), which is shorter than that of the single focus lens  506 A. In this case, the excitation light rays Ray directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through the second lens portion  504 B can form a middle-resolution region by a group of spots SP of light in the horizontal direction on the wavelength conversion member  18  at the pitch p 2  (p 2 &gt;p 1 ) in the same manner as the excitation light rays directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through the single focus lens  506 B of  FIG. 49B . 
       FIG. 49C  is a diagram illustrating a state (simulation result) in which excitation light directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through a single focus lens  506 C (having a focal point F 506C ) forms a low-resolution region by a group of spots SP of light in the horizontal direction on the wavelength conversion member  18  at a pitch p 3 . Here, suppose that the third lens portion  504 C is configured as a single focus lens having the same focal distance as that of the single focus lens  506 C (focal distance F=−25 mm, being a concave lens), which is shorter than that of the single focus lens  506 B. In this case, the excitation light rays Ray directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through the third lens portion  504 C can form a low-resolution region by a group of spots SP of light in the horizontal direction on the wavelength conversion member  18  at the pitch p 3  (p 3 &gt;p 2 ) in the same manner as the excitation light rays directed from the optical deflector  201  and passing through the single focus lens  506 C of  FIG. 49C . 
     As described above, the multifocal lens  502  can be configured by the first, second, and third lens portions  504 A,  504 B, and  504 C such that the lens portion through which the excitation light rays directed by a larger swing angle in the horizontal direction can pass can have a shorter focal distance (the focal distance of the first lens portion  504 A&gt;the focal distance of the second lens portion  504 B&gt;the focal distance of the third lens portion  504 C). With this configuration, the vehicle lighting fixture  500  can achieve the luminance distribution (predetermined light distribution pattern) with the high resolution at the center area in the horizontal direction and lowered resolution toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     The varied resolution being high at the center area and low at the peripheral area can provide the following advantageous effects. 
     When the resolution in the horizontal direction is maintained at a constant and relatively low level as the same level as that shown in  FIG. 49C , for example, a non-irradiation region D 1  with respect to an irradiation-prohibitive object such as a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle located farther away from the vehicle body with the vehicle lighting fixture as illustrated in  FIG. 50B  relatively becomes large. Accordingly, the vehicle lighting fixture with this configuration cannot brightly irradiate a wide range with light, resulting in failure of securing favorable field of view. 
     On the other hand, when the resolution in the horizontal direction is maintained at a constant and relatively high level as the same level as that shown in  FIG. 49A , for example, the non-irradiation region D 1  with respect to an irradiation-prohibitive object such as a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle located farther away from the vehicle body with the vehicle lighting fixture as illustrated in  FIG. 50C  relatively becomes small. Accordingly, the vehicle lighting fixture with this configuration can relatively brightly irradiate a wide range with light, but the swing angle in the horizontal direction by the excitation light rays scanning by the optical deflector  201  should be controlled to be relatively larger, resulting in reducing the reliability of the optical deflector  201 . 
     On the contrary to these cases, when the resolution in the horizontal direction is maintained at a high level at the center area and gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area as shown in  FIGS. 48 and 50A , for example, the non-irradiation region D 1  with respect to an irradiation-prohibitive object such as a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle located farther away from the vehicle body with the vehicle lighting fixture as illustrated in  FIG. 50C  relatively becomes small. Accordingly, the vehicle lighting fixture with this configuration can relatively brightly irradiate a wide range with light. In this case, it is not necessary that the swing angle (for example, an angle α in  FIG. 48 ) in the horizontal direction by the excitation light rays scanning by the optical deflector  201  is controlled to be relatively larger, but it is possible to scan the same angle range (for example, an angle β in  FIG. 48 ) as that when the swing angle in the horizontal direction by the excitation light rays scanning by the optical deflector  201  is controlled to be relatively larger. This can be achieved by the action of the multifocal lens  502  that can deflect the excitation light rays from the optical deflector  201  more outward. As a result, it is possible to scan the same angle range (for example, the angle β in  FIG. 48 ) as that when the swing angle in the horizontal direction by the excitation light rays scanning by the optical deflector  201  is controlled to be relatively larger without increasing the swing angle (or the movable range of the mirror part  202  of the optical deflector  201 ) in the horizontal direction by the excitation light rays scanning by the optical deflector  201 . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the reliability of the optical deflector  201  from decreasing. 
     The incident surface  502   a  can be configured by a curved surface concave toward the optical deflector  201  in the horizontal direction (in the horizontal cross section) form the viewpoint of suppressing the spherical aberration. The incident surface  502   a  is not curved in the vertical direction (do not show a curved line in the vertical cross section). The light exiting surface  502   b  can be configured by a planar surface perpendicular to the reference axis AX extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. 
     A description will now be given of an example of a system configuration of the vehicle lighting fixture  500 . 
       FIG. 51  is a block diagram schematically illustrating the system configuration of the vehicle lighting fixture  500 . 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  500  can include an optical unit  510 , an imaging engine CPU  512 , a storage device  514 , the wavelength conversion member  18  (phosphor plate, for example), the projector lens assembly  20 , an imaging device  516  such as a CCD as a detection unit configured to detect an irradiation-prohibitive object(s) in front of the vehicle body. 
     The optical unit  510  can include the excitation light source  12 , the optical deflector  201 , a deflector driving unit/synchronous signal controlling unit  518 , a laser driving unit  520 , etc. 
     The storage device  514  can store basic light distribution data, data relating to voltage-swing angle characteristics (for example, see  FIGS. 28A and 28B ), data relating to current-luminance characteristics, swing angle data (for example, 40 degrees in the lateral direction and 20 degrees in the vertical direction), etc. 
     The basic light distribution data stored in the storage device  514  in advance can include a luminance image(s) represented by a plurality of bits for respective pixels (luminance values). For example, the luminance image may be a luminance distribution having a maximum luminance value at or near the center area and lowered luminance values toward respective sides (upper, lower, right, and left sides). The basic light distribution data may be generated by predetermined calculation. For example, the basic light distribution data can be generated by predetermined calculation so as to have a maximum luminance value at a position in accordance with the rotation direction and angle of a steering wheel. 
     The imaging engine CPU  512  can control the deflector driving unit/synchronous signal controlling unit  518  on the basis of the basic light distribution data (and also swing angle data and data of voltage-swing angle characteristics) so as to adjust a drive voltage and apply the drive voltage to the optical deflector  201 . Here, the drive voltage can be controlled such that the vertical and horizontal widths of the luminance distribution d (see  FIG. 52 ) to be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  coincide with those of the luminance distribution (light intensity distribution) represented by the basic light distribution data (or swing angle data). In this manner, the imaging engine CPU  512  can output a drive signal to the deflector driving unit/synchronous signal controlling unit  518 . 
     Furthermore, the imaging engine CPU  512  can control the laser driving unit  520  on the basis of the basic light distribution data (and also data of current-luminance characteristics) so as to adjust a drive current and apply the drive current to the excitation light source  12 . Here, the drive current can be controlled such that the luminance distribution d to be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  coincides with the luminance distribution (light intensity distribution) represented by the basic light distribution data. In this manner, the imaging engine CPU  512  can output a drive signal to the laser driving unit  520 . 
     The deflector driving unit/synchronous signal controlling unit  518  can apply the drive voltage to the optical deflector  201 , where the drive voltage has been controlled such that the vertical and horizontal widths of the luminance distribution d to be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  coincide with those of the luminance distribution (light intensity distribution) represented by the basic light distribution data (or swing angle data) in accordance with the control (drive signal) from the imaging engine CPU  512 . In this manner, for example, the deflector driving unit/synchronous signal controlling unit  518  can apply the drive voltage for resonantly driving or for nonresonantly driving (for example, see  FIG. 12 ). 
     The laser driving unit  520  can apply the drive current that has been controlled such that the luminance distribution d to be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  coincides with the luminance distribution represented by the basic light distribution data in accordance with the control (drive signal) from the imaging engine CPU  512 . In this manner, for example, the laser driving unit  520  can apply the drive current to the excitation light source  12 . 
     A brief description will now be given of an operation example of the vehicle lighting fixture  500  with the above-described configuration. 
     The following processing can be achieved by causing the imaging engine CPU  512  to read a predetermined program from the storage device  514  into a not-illustrated RAM and execute the program. 
     First, a not-illustrated headlamp turn-on switch is turned on to read basic light distribution data from the storage device  514 . Here, the basic light distribution data may be generated through a predetermined calculation. 
     Next, the imaging device  516  such as a CCD, which is electrically connected to the imaging engine CPU  512 , can capture an image in front of the vehicle body including a preceding vehicle(s), an oncoming vehicle(s), a pedestrian(s), etc., which are irradiation-prohibitive objects. On the basis of the data of the image, if the image includes any of such an oncoming vehicle(s), a pedestrian(s), etc., updated basic light distribution data can be generated to include an unirradiation region(s) where the irradiation-prohibitive objects are present and thus the luminance value thereof is 0 (zero). This updated basic light distribution data can be generated by performing a predetermined calculation using the read-out basic light distribution data and mask data as illustrated in  FIG. 53 . 
     Next, the data of voltage-swing angle characteristics can be read out from the storage device  514 . If the voltage-swing angle characteristics are varied with time, the data thereof may be appropriately updated. 
     Then, the imaging engine CPU  512  can control the excitation light source  12  and the optical deflector  201  to form the luminance distribution d (see  FIG. 52 ) including the non-irradiation region D 1  on the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     Specifically, the imaging engine CPU  512  can control the deflector driving unit/synchronous signal controlling unit  518  on the basis of the basic light distribution data (and also swing angle data and data of voltage-swing angle characteristics) so as to adjust a drive voltage and apply the drive voltage to the optical deflector  201 . Here, the drive voltage can be controlled such that the vertical and horizontal widths of the luminance distribution d to be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  coincide with those of the luminance distribution (light intensity distribution) represented by the basic light distribution data (or swing angle data). In this manner, the imaging engine CPU  512  can output a drive signal to the deflector driving unit/synchronous signal controlling unit  518 . 
     In addition thereto, the imaging engine CPU  512  can control the laser driving unit  520  on the basis of the basic light distribution data (and also data of current-luminance characteristics) so as to adjust a drive current and apply the drive current to the excitation light source  12 . Here, the drive current can be controlled such that the luminance distribution d (including the unirradiation region d 1 ) to be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  coincides with the luminance distribution (including the unirradiation region) represented by the basic light distribution data. In this manner, the imaging engine CPU  512  can output a drive signal to the laser driving unit  520 . 
     Then, the deflector driving unit/synchronous signal controlling unit  518  can apply the drive voltage the optical deflector  201 , where the drive voltage has been controlled such that the vertical and horizontal widths of the luminance distribution d to be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  coincide with those of the luminance distribution represented by the basic light distribution data (or swing angle data) in accordance with the control (drive signal) from the imaging engine CPU  512 . In this manner, for example, the deflector driving unit/synchronous signal controlling unit  518  can apply the drive voltage for resonantly driving or for nonresonantly driving (for example, see  FIG. 12 ). 
     In synchronization with the above-mentioned process, the laser driving unit  520  can apply the drive current that has been controlled such that the luminance distribution d (including the unirradiation region d 1 ) to be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  coincides with the luminance distribution (including the unirradiation region) represented by the basic light distribution data in accordance with the control (drive signal) from the imaging engine CPU  512 . In this manner, for example, the laser driving unit  520  can apply the drive current to the excitation light source  12 . 
     As described above, the excitation light source  12  and the optical deflector  201  can be controlled in synchronization with each other to two-dimensionally scan with the excitation light rays by the mirror part  202  of the optical deflector  201  in the horizontal and vertical directions. In this manner, the luminance distribution d including the unirradiation region d 1  can be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  as illustrated in  FIG. 52 . Thus, the imaging engine CPU  512  can function as a controller configured to control the lighting state of the excitation light source  12  so as to form the unirradiation region d 1  corresponding to the irradiation-prohibitive object(s) such as an oncoming vehicle detected by the imaging device  516  serving as a detector, in the luminance distribution d. 
     In this case, since the excitation light rays two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the optical deflector  201  can pass through the multifocal lens  502 , the luminance distribution d including the unirradiation region d 1  formed in the wavelength conversion member  18  can be formed with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     This luminance distribution d including the unirradiation region d 1  formed in the wavelength conversion member  18  can be projected forward by the projector lens assembly  20  so as to form the predetermined light distribution pattern P (including the unirradiation region D 1 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 50A and 52 ) on a virtual vertical screen with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     As described above, according to this exemplary embodiment, the excitation light source  12  and the optical deflector  201  can be controlled in synchronization with each other to two-dimensionally scan with the excitation light rays by the mirror part  202  of the optical deflector  201 . In this manner, the luminance distribution d including the unirradiation region d 1  can be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  and projected forward by the projector lens assembly  20  so as to form the predetermined light distribution pattern P corresponding to the luminance distribution d. Thus the vehicle lighting fixture  500  with this configuration can form the luminance distribution and the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     This can be achieved by providing the vehicle lighting fixture  500  with the multifocal lens  502  configured to change a pitch between spots in a group of spots SP among the groups of spots of light on the wavelength conversion member  18  wherein the optical deflector  201  can two-dimensionally scan with the excitation light rays. 
     Furthermore, according to this exemplary embodiment, the excitation light rays two-dimensionally scanning by the mirror part  202  of the optical deflector  201  can form the luminance distribution d including the unirradiation region d 1  on the wavelength conversion member  18 , which is further projected forward by the projector lens assembly  20  so as to form the predetermined light distribution pattern corresponding to the luminance distribution d. Thus the vehicle lighting fixture  500  with this configuration can form the luminance distribution and the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. This can be achieved by the provision of the multifocal lens  502  that is configured by the first, second, and third lens portions  504 A,  504 B, and  504 C such that the lens portion through which the excitation light rays directed by a larger swing angle in the horizontal direction can pass can have a shorter focal distance (the focal distance of the first lens portion  504 A&gt;the focal distance of the second lens portion  504 B&gt;the focal distance of the third lens portion  504 C). 
     According to this exemplary embodiment, it is possible to scan the same angle range (for example, the angle β in  FIG. 48 ) as that when the swing angle in the horizontal direction by the excitation light rays scanning by the optical deflector  201  is controlled to be relatively larger without increasing the swing angle (for example, the angle α in  FIG. 48 ) in the horizontal direction by the excitation light rays scanning by the optical deflector  201 . This can be achieved by the action of the multifocal lens  502  that can deflect the excitation light rays from the optical deflector  201  more outward. As a result, it is possible to scan the same angle range (for example, the angle β in  FIG. 48 ) as that when the swing angle in the horizontal direction by the excitation light rays scanning by the optical deflector  201  is controlled to be relatively larger without increasing the swing angle (or the movable range of the mirror part  202  of the optical deflector  201 ) in the horizontal direction by the excitation light rays scanning by the optical deflector  201 . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the reliability of the optical deflector  201  from decreasing. 
     Next, modified examples will be described. 
     In the previous exemplary embodiment, the vehicle lighting fixture  500  can be configured to form the luminance distribution and the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. When the multifocal lens can be configured such that the lens portion through which the excitation light rays directed by a larger swing angle in the vertical direction (and also in the horizontal direction) can pass can have a shorter focal distance. In this case, the vehicle lighting fixture  500  can be configured to form the luminance distribution and the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the vertical direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area in the vertical direction. Thus, the resolutions in the vertical direction can also be controlled. In this case, the region where the resolution is high can be relatively wider in order to cope with the case of levelling of the vehicle lighting fixture  500 . 
     The number of the lens portions provided to the multifocal lens  502  can be changed to 2 or 4 or more although the three lens portions  504 A to  504 C are described in the previous exemplary embodiment. Also in this case, the lens portion through which the excitation light rays directed by a larger swing angle in the horizontal direction can pass can have a shorter focal distance to achieve the formation of the luminance distribution and the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  500  according to the previous exemplary embodiment can have the multifocal lens  502  with the incident surface  502   a  thereof being a curved surface concave toward the optical deflector. However, the shape of the incident surface  502   a  may be a curved surface convex toward the optical deflector  201  or a planar surface shape. 
     The vehicle lighting fixture  500  according to the previous exemplary embodiment can have the multifocal lens  502  with the light exiting surface  502   b  thereof being a planar surface perpendicular to the reference axis AX extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. However, the light exiting surface  502   b  may be a curved surface. 
     In the previous exemplary embodiment, the vehicle lighting fixture  500  can be configured to include the wavelength conversion member  18  and the projector lens assembly  20 . In a modified example thereof, as illustrated in  FIG. 54 , the wavelength conversion member  18  and the projector lens assembly  20  may be omitted. Even in this modified example, the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area can be formed. 
     Furthermore, the multifocal lens  502  of the previous exemplary embodiment may be replaced with an optical controlling mirror having the same or similar function as or to that of the multifocal lens  502 . 
     As another exemplary embodiment, a description will now be given of a variable light-distribution vehicle lighting fixture  600  (variable light-distribution headlamp) using an optical controlling mirror, as illustrated in  FIG. 56 . 
     As shown in the drawing, the vehicle lighting fixture  600  of the present exemplary embodiment can be configured to be different from the vehicle lighting fixture  500  of the previous exemplary embodiment in which optical controlling mirror  602   Wide  and  602   Hot  are used in place of the multifocal lens  502  to form the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. 
     Hereinafter, a different point of the present exemplary embodiment will be described and the same or similar components as or to those of the vehicle lighting fixture  500  will be omitted here while the same reference numerals are assigned thereto. 
     The basic configuration of the vehicle lighting fixture  600  according to this exemplary embodiment can be the same as or similar to the configuration of the vehicle lighting fixture  500  according to the previous exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 56 , the vehicle lighting fixture  600  can include two excitation light sources  12   Hot  and  12   Wide ; two optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide  each including a mirror part  202  and provided corresponding to the two excitation light sources  12   Hot  and  12   Wide , respectively; two optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide  provided corresponding to the two optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide , respectively; a wavelength conversion member  18 ; a projector lens assembly  20 ; etc. In the wavelength conversion member  18 , a luminance distribution can be formed by excitation light rays reflected by the optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide . The luminance distribution formed in the wavelength conversion member  18  can be projected forward of a vehicle body by the projector lens assembly  20  as an optical system configured to form the predetermined light distribution pattern. The number of the excitation light sources  12 , the optical deflectors  201 , and the optical controlling mirrors is not limited to 2 (two), but may be 1 (one) or 3 (three) or more. 
     As illustrated, the projector lens assembly  20 , the wavelength conversion member  18 , the optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide , the optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide , and the excitation light sources  12   Hot  and  12   Wide  can be disposed in this order along a reference axis AX (or referred to as an optical axis). These members can be disposed and secured to a predetermined holder member (not illustrated) as in the aforementioned reference examples and exemplary embodiment(s). With this configuration, the common holding member holding the respective components together with the excitation light sources  12   Hot  and  12   Wide  can reduce the parts number and the assembling error. 
     The excitation light sources  12   Hot  and  12   Wide  can be disposed to surround the reference axis AX with a posture positioned in such a manner that excitation light rays Ray Hot  and Ray Wide  are directed forward. 
     The excitation light rays Ray Hot  and Ray Wide  from the excitation light sources  12   Hot  and  12   Wide  can be condensed (or, for example, collimated) by respective condenser lenses  14  disposed in front of the respective excitation light sources  12   Hot  and  12   Wide  and then be incident on the respective mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide . 
     The optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide  can be disposed to surround the reference axis AX with a posture tilted in such a manner that the excitation light rays emitted from the excitation light sources  12   Hot  and  12   Wide  and incident on the mirror parts  202  thereof can be reflected by the same and directed rearward and toward the reference axis AX. 
     Furthermore, the optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide  can be disposed to surround the reference axis AX and be closer to the reference axis AX than the optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide . Specifically, the optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide  can be disposed with a posture tilted to be closer to the reference axis AX and also the excitation light rays reflected by the corresponding mirror parts  202  of the optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide  can be incident on the corresponding optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide , and reflected by the same to be directed to the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     As described above, the optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide  can be disposed behind the respective optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide  so as to irradiate the wavelength conversion member  18 , which is disposed forward of these members, with the excitation light rays. This configuration can prevent the size of the vehicle lighting fixture  600  even with the optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide  in the front-rear direction from increasing. 
     The optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide  each can be arranged so that the first axis X 1  is contained in a vertical plane containing the reference axis AX and the second axis X 2  is contained in a horizontal plane (see  FIG. 4 ). The resulting arrangement of the optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide  can facilitate the formation (drawing) of a predetermined light distribution pattern (two-dimensional image corresponding to the required predetermined light distribution pattern) being wide in the horizontal direction and narrow in the vertical direction required for a vehicular headlight. 
     The wide-zone optical deflector  201   Wide  can draw a first two-dimensional image on the wavelength conversion member  18  with the excitation light rays Ray Wide  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof. In this manner, a first light intensity distribution (luminance distribution) can be formed on the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     The hot-zone optical deflector  201   Hot  can form a second two-dimensional image on the wavelength conversion member  18  with the excitation light rays Ray Hot  two-dimensionally scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions by the mirror part  202  thereof in such a manner that the second two-dimensional image overlaps the first two-dimensional image in part, to thereby form a second light intensity distribution (luminance distribution) with a higher luminance than the first light intensity distribution on the wavelength conversion member  18 . 
     Here, the optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide  can be a reflecting surface made of aluminum or the like metal deposition. 
     Here, the size of the optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide  can be reduced more as the distance thereof from the optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide  is smaller. Therefore, it is desirable to dispose the optical controlling mirrors  602   Hot  and  602   Wide  in the vicinity of the optical deflectors  201   Hot  and  201   Wide . 
       FIGS. 57A and 57B  are each a perspective view of each of the optical controlling mirrors  602   Wide  and  602   Hot . 
     The optical controlling mirrors  602   Wide  and  602   Hot  can be an optical controlling member configured to change a pitch between spots SP in a group of spots SP among the groups of spots SP of light on the wavelength conversion member  18  two-dimensionally scanned with the excitation light rays by the optical deflectors  201 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 57A and 57B , each of the optical controlling mirrors  602   Wide  and  602   Hot  can be formed as a reflecting surface in which the center portion thereof can be made flat and both end portions can be curved with respect to the horizontal direction (horizontal cross section as indicated by an arrow in each of the drawings), for example, be convex toward the wavelength conversion member  18 . Further, each of the optical controlling mirrors  602   Wide  and  602   Hot  is not configured to include a curved cross section in the vertical direction in the illustrated embodiment. 
     The surface shape of each of the optical controlling mirrors  602   Wide  and  602   Hot  can be adjusted to achieve the formation of the luminance distribution and the predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area as in the previous exemplary embodiment. It is desired that the optical controlling mirrors  602   Wide  and  602   Hot  should be subjected to surface treatment such as aluminum deposition or increased reflection coating (such as a multilayered coating of SiO 2  and TiO 2 ) in order to reduce the optical loss by reflection. 
     Note that if the optical controlling mirrors  602   Wide  and  602   Hot  can be flat at a center portion and curved surfaces at both end portions in the vertical direction (convex toward the wavelength conversion member  18 , for example), the vehicle lighting fixture with this configuration can form a luminance distribution and a predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part in the vertical direction, for example, in which the resolution in the vertical direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area in the vertical direction. 
     As described above, the provision of the optical controlling member such as a multifocal lens configured to change a pitch between spots in a group of spots among groups of spots of light that two-dimensionally scans can achieve the formation of a predetermined light distribution pattern with resolutions different in part, for example, in which the resolution in the horizontal direction is high at the center area and is gradually lowered toward the outer periphery from the center area. This essential configuration can be adopted by any types of vehicle lighting fixtures configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern with light rays two-dimensionally scanning. Examples of the vehicle lighting fixtures may include those of the first to sixth reference examples and those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-222238. 
     In the above-described exemplary embodiments and reference examples, the luminance distribution formed on the wavelength conversion member  18  (screen member) by the excitation thereof by the excitation light rays from the excitation light source  12  is a white image (white light or pseudo white light). However, the excitation light source  12  can be replaced with a white light source such as a white laser light source. In this case, the white laser light source can be composed of RGB laser light sources RGB light rays of which are combined by introducing them to a single optical fiber. In another modified example, the light source can be configured to include a blue LD element and a yellow wavelength conversion member such as a YAG phosphor used in combination. 
     When a white light source is used in place of the excitation light source  12 , there is no need to wavelength convert the light. Thus, a diffusion member can be used in place of the wavelength conversion member  18 . In this case, the white laser light rays emitted from the white laser light source and two-dimensionally scanning by the optical deflector  201  can form a white image (luminance distribution) on the diffusion member (corresponding to the screen member in the presently disclosed subject matter) corresponding to a predetermined light distribution pattern. 
     The material for the diffusion member may be any material as long as the diffusion member can diffuse the laser light rays like the wavelength conversion member  18  and can be formed in the same shape as or similar to the shape of the wavelength conversion member  18 . Examples of the material for the diffusion member may include a composite material (sintered body) containing YAG (for example, 25%) and alumina (Al 2 O 3 , for example, 75%) without any dopant such as Ce, a composite material containing YAG and glass, a material of alumina in which air bubbles are dispersed, and a glass material in which air bubbles are dispersed. 
     Also the combination of the white light source and the diffusion member in place of the excitation light source and the wavelength conversion member can be applied to any of the above-described exemplary embodiments and reference examples, to thereby form a luminance distribution on the diffusion member being the screen member. As a result, the same advantageous effects can be provided. 
     Furthermore, the numerical values shown in the exemplary embodiments, modified examples, examples, and reference examples are illustrative, and therefore, any suitable numerical value can be adopted for the purpose of the achievement of the vehicle lighting fixture in the presently disclosed subject matter. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed subject matter without departing from the spirit or scope of the presently disclosed subject matter. Thus, it is intended that the presently disclosed subject matter cover the modifications and variations of the presently disclosed subject matter provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. All related art references described above are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.