Movable control member having improved planar movement control

Abstract

A light flux deflecting device includes a light flux deflecting unit displacable along a predetermined plane for deflecting light flux, and a support unit for supporting the light flux deflecting unit in such a manner as to allow the light flux deflecting unit to move in a direction along the plane, but to restrain the light flux deflecting unit from moving in a direction vertical to the plane. The support unit includes a support portion comprising (1) at least three hinge portions having short sides arranged to lie in the direction along the plane, and (2) rigid members each positioned between two adjacent hinge portions and having a predetermined width in the direction along the plane. A support mechanism having a small-sized and simple construction is achieved which can support the light flux deflecting unit to be freely movable along the predetermined plane with the smallest possible resistance in driving the light flux deflecting unit for movement, and can hold the light flux deflecting unit in a proper posture or orientation without causing tilting and a play in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane. The light flux deflecting unit may be implemented as any movable unit displacable along the predetermined plane.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.