Optical Fiber Array Angle Adjustment for Scan Line Pitch Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical recording apparatuses using edge-emitting lasers face significant challenges in minimizing errors in scan line pitch due to sloped angle errors, with existing methods either introducing irregularities in optical fiber arrays or reducing light quantity through aperture usage.
Innovation Solution
An optical recording apparatus employing a plurality of laser modules, an optical fiber array unit, and a photosensitive member, where the optical fibers are arranged to maintain a constant pitch and utilize photonic crystal fibers to increase the mode field diameter, thereby reducing magnification and minimizing scan line pitch errors by adjusting the angle of laser beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the pitch of optical fibers in the optical fiber array is reduced to increase the sloped angle, then the scan line pitch error is reduced, but irregularities in the thickness of the clad portion occur due to etching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of optical fiber structure by using photonic crystal fibers with air holes instead of conventional fibers requiring clad etching. This structural parameter change allows achieving the desired sloped angle without compromising clad thickness uniformity, as the air hole pattern inherently provides mechanical support while enabling the required optical properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structure in photonic crystal fibers, combining silica glass matrix with air holes arranged in specific patterns. This composite structure provides both the mechanical strength to maintain uniform thickness and the optical properties to achieve the required sloped angle for accurate scan line pitch
2Manufacturing precision
If an aperture member is introduced to reduce the magnification of the optical system, then the scan line pitch error is reduced, but light quantity is lost due to beam blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameter by using photonic crystal fibers with larger mode field diameters, which naturally reduces the required magnification of the optical system. This parameter change achieves scan line pitch accuracy without needing aperture members that would block light and cause energy loss
3Manufacturing precision
If the mode field diameter of optical fibers is increased to reduce magnification, then scan line pitch errors are minimized, but the optical fiber structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material structure of photonic crystal fibers, combining silica glass with air holes in specific patterns. This composite approach achieves large mode field diameter while maintaining manufacturability through well-established photonic crystal fabrication techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous material structure in the form of air holes within the photonic crystal fiber. These air holes arranged in periodic patterns create the desired optical properties including larger mode field diameter, while the porous structure is manufactured using standard photonic crystal fabrication processes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus achieves high-quality image recording with reduced scan line pitch irregularities, even in the short-wavelength region, by ensuring the mode field diameter of the optical fibers exceeds a certain threshold, thereby alleviating angular errors and maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
optical fiber having an incident face and an output face... receive the laser beam at the incident face
Implementation Method 2
focus and scan the laser beams emitted from the optical fiber array on a scanning surface
Implementation Method 3
The optical fiber is a single-mode optical fiber formed from photonic crystals
Data Source
AI summary
An optical recording apparatus includes a plurality of laser modules, an optical fiber array unit, a photosensitive member, and an optical system. Each laser module includes a light source and an optical fiber. The optical fiber array unit bundles a plurality of optical fibers to form an optical fiber array. The photosensitive member has a photosensitive surface. The optical system scans laser beams outputted from the array of the optical fiber array in a first direction on the photosensitive surface, the laser beams forming dots aligned in a second direction to form an angle with respect to the first direction. A relationship of 2ωF>2ωD(PF/PD)sin[tan−1(2m·Δθ)] is established, where 2ωF is a mode field diameter of the laser beams outputted from the optical fiber array, 2ωD is a spot diameter of the laser beams on the scanning surface, PF is a pitch of the output faces of the optical fibers, PD is a pitch of scan lines on the scanning surface, m is the number of the laser beams, and Δθ is adjusting resolution for the angle of the array of the laser beams on the scanning surface.