Patent ID: 8545027

Claim:
A light control apparatus that controls an amount of light passing therethrough by blocking part of an incident light flux in a light blocking area, the apparatus comprising: a pair of pivotal members having pivotal axes extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the light flux; and a pair of light blocking members held by the pair of pivotal members, and blocking the incident light flux in the light blocking area, a size of the light blocking area changing as the pair of pivotal members pivot, the pivotal axes being located in positions that overlap with an area where the light flux passes, the pair of light blocking members being located in positions that do not overlap with the pivotal axes, the pair of light blocking members being located on an upstream side of the pivotal axes in an optical path direction of the light flux when the light blocking area is maximized, the pair of light blocking members being moved outward with respect to the light flux passing area as the light blocking area becomes smaller, and each of the pair of light blocking members including: a first portion having a plate-like shape and extending along the pivotal axes; and a second portion extending in a direction that intersects the direction in which the first portion extends, the second portion being bent along an edge of the first portion closest to the central axis of the light flux, and being oriented toward a downstream side of the optical path of the light flux when the light blocking area is maximized, the second portion having a cutout at an edge located on the downstream side of the optical path of the light flux.