Patent ID: 8085262

Claim:
An image display apparatus comprising: a light source emitting a light beam which is modulated based on image information; a scanner scanning a surface to be scanned with the light beam two-dimensionally; at least one synchronization light detector that detects the light beam scanned by the scanner to obtain a synchronization signal related to a scanning start position of the scanner, and is disposed at a position conjugate to the light source; and an optical system, wherein the scanner forms an image on the surface to be scanned with the light beam, wherein the image formed on the surface to be scanned is observable through the optical system, wherein the at least one synchronization light detector is provided on the surface to be scanned, but outside an effective area, or on a surface optically conjugate with the surface to be scanned, but outside the effective area, wherein the scanner comprises a reflection type deflector which is capable of resonating, and forms the image on the surface to be scanned in an outward path and a homeward path, which are caused by an oscillation due to resonance of the reflection type deflector, wherein the at least one synchronization light detector comprises an area sensor including a plurality of pixels and obtains the synchronization signal using information on position where the scanned light beam is incident on a surface of the area sensor in the outward path and information on position where the scanned light beam is incident on a surface of the area sensor in the homeward path, and wherein a start writing position in each of the outward path and the homeward path of the scanner on the effective area of the surface to be scanned is controlled using the synchronization signal in each of the outward path and the homeward path from the at least one synchronization light detector, respectively.