Patent ID: 7619798

Claim:
An optical deflector for scanning light beam, comprising: an optical element which rotationally vibrates about a rotation axis; a vibration member which includes the optical element; a drive element for driving the vibration member by deforming the vibration member, the drive element being provided on the vibration member and constituted of a rectangular electromechanical transducer with a longer side thereof being in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis; a control element that is adapted to generate an electric charge as a result of a deformation thereof caused by the deformation of the vibration member, the control element being provided on the vibration member at a position where the vibration member is deformed by the drive element, and being constituted of a rectangular electromechanical transducer with a longer side thereof being in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis; and a voltage control element for controlling an amount of a difference in potential across the control element, such potential resulting from the electric charge generated by the deformation of the control element.