Modularized light-guiding apparatus and manufacturing method

Abstract

A modularized light-guiding apparatus and manufacturing method, which may make the light of a light source proceed at least twice light reflections of predetermined directions. The light-guiding apparatus includes a plurality of modularized reflection elements, which may be differentiated to several different types of reflection element. Each type of each reflection element all has substantially same adjoining device and edge size for providing to be adjoined and piled-up with another reflection element. But, the reflection element of different type individually has different number of reflection plane for providing the light to proceed different times of light reflection. It may determined the light reflection times and light-path length for the light-guiding apparatus, by choosing several different types of reflection element among plural reflection elements to proceed the piling-up for the light-guiding apparatus.

Description

[0001]More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,807. The reissue applications are application Ser. No. 11 / 796,694 (the present divisional reissue application), and Ser. No. 11 / 229,450, all of which are reissues of U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,807.<?insert-end id="INS-S-00001" ?>FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a modularized light-guiding apparatus and manufacturing method, especially to a kind adapted for use in a light-guiding apparatus for an optical scanning apparatus, and to proceed modularization and design for the reflection elements in the light-guiding apparatus to facilitate manufacture and assembly, and to be able to transform out modularized light-guiding apparatus with different light-path lengths, and the corresponding manufacturing method.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows an embodiment for a typical flat bed optical scanner 1 seen in current market. Mainly, a docum...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a modularized light-guiding apparatus and manufacturing method with several reflection elements in modularized design. Each reflection element has two reflection planes and can provide at least twice reflection for light, which increases the length of light-path route provided by a single reflection element. The apparatus can have different total tracks by simply choosing reflection elements with different numbers of reflection planes for connection and assembly. The reflection elements have substantially same edge size and adjoining plane, and no additional position mechanism is needed to proceed the position between them. A position plate can be used to fix each reflection element. The directions and positions for light entering into and emitting away the reflection elements are all the same."

Problems solved by technology

Not only theThe positioning elements of additional spring pieces 146 and fixture mechanism would directly cause thean increase of parts number and production cost and raise the assembly time and manpower cost., but alsoAdditionally, even if plenty number of assembly parts is existed, then the occupying volume is caused to increasemust be increased, and it is unavoidable to happen the situation that the parts loosemay loosen or create uneven holding strength would causecausing position bias for the reflection mirror 143 and lower downdecrease the quality of image scanning.

Twice reflections proceeded on one single mirror would cause the area increase for the reflection mirror or raise the complexity on the designs of light-path routes.

And, the increase of the number of reflection mirrors would then cause the raise forincrease both difficulty and cost in element assembly and mirror positioning for the optical chassis 14.

All these arrangements are not the perfect solution methods.

Not only would any errors on any position angle would cause the lowering-downa decrease of scanning quality, but also for the needs of different resolution, different outer sizes of optical chassis, different scanning paper sizes (the sizes of A3 or A4), or other needs for different light-path routes or total track of optical chassis, a set of position device is designed from the beginning to change the inter-position between each reflection mirror 143, and the usage is very inefficient.

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