Patent ID: 8786656

Claim:
A lens array comprising: an image side lens array unit in which a plurality of lens cells are arranged in at least one line in an arrangement direction; a columnar light blocking unit provided on an incidence surface of the image side lens array unit, the light blocking unit having light transmission regions, through which light is transmitted toward each lens cell of the image side lens array unit, and light blocking regions in regions other than the light transmission regions; and a light source side lens array unit spaced apart from the image side lens array unit by the light blocking unit, wherein the light blocking regions include partition walls, by which the light transmission regions are partitioned, wherein the light source side lens array unit includes a plurality of lens cells arranged in at least one line in the arrangement direction, wherein one of the plurality of lens cells of the image side lens array unit, one of the plurality of lens cells of the light source side lens array unit and one of the light transmission regions share a common one of the optical axes and each has a square effective optical region perpendicular to the common axis, wherein cross sections perpendicular to the common optical axis of the one of the lens cells of the image side lens array unit, the one of the lens cells of the light source side lens array unit and the one of the light transmission regions are square, and wherein the light transmission regions face directly light emitting surfaces of the lens cells of the light source side lens array unit and light incident surfaces of the lens cells of the image side lens array unit, respectively.