Image Forming Apparatus Bi-Telecentric Optical System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving uniform magnification and bi-telecentricity when light emitting point groups are not on the same plane, leading to potential image defects and reduced light emitting point life due to variations in light emitting point size.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a photoconductor with a surface conveyed orthogonally to a main direction, a light emitting substrate with two-dimensionally arrayed light emitting point groups, and multiple imaging optical systems with parallel optical axes, ensuring equal magnification. This configuration includes first and second lens arrays and apertures, with central points on distinct planes, forming specific angles relative to the optical axis direction to maintain bi-telecentricity and reduce magnification variation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional optical system is used with light emitting point groups not on the same plane, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and uniform magnification deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple imaging optical systems, each responsible for imaging a specific light emitting point group. Each imaging optical system includes dedicated imaging lenses and diaphragms, allowing independent optimization for each point group while maintaining overall system uniformity through the shared light emitting substrate plane constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetric plane arrangements where the light emitting substrate plane and the imaging lenses plane are deliberately positioned at different orientations. This asymmetric configuration enables the system to accommodate light emitting point groups at different locations while achieving uniform magnification through the specific geometric relationship between these planes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light emitting point groups are positioned at different distances from the lens array, then the adaptability is improved, but the imaging precision and beam positional accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an optical equipotential condition by constraining all light emitting point groups to lie on the same plane. This ensures that all points have equivalent optical path characteristics relative to the imaging lenses, eliminating positional variations that would cause beam accuracy deterioration while still allowing flexible positioning within the plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the optical system by introducing inclined planes with specific angle relationships. The light emitting substrate plane and imaging lenses plane are positioned at defined angles to each other, creating a parameterized configuration that maintains beam accuracy while accommodating different light emitting point group arrangements.
3Reliability
If a bi-telecentric optical system is applied, then the reliability of beam positioning is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple lens arrays and apertures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional elements into a coordinated system where imaging lenses from the first lens array, imaging lenses from the second lens array, and diaphragms work together as an integrated bi-telecentric configuration. This merging achieves reliable beam positioning through the combined effect of these components while sharing common structural support and alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-plane to a multi-plane configuration by introducing the light emitting substrate plane and the imaging lenses plane at different orientations. This dimensional change enables the bi-telecentric system to achieve superior beam positioning reliability by controlling light paths in three-dimensional space rather than confined to a single plane.
4Stability of the object's composition
If uniform magnification is achieved across all lenses, then the consistency of light emitting point size is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to strict plane positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality control by ensuring that each imaging optical system, while positioned at different locations, maintains the same magnification characteristic. This is achieved by constraining corresponding imaging lenses to lie on the same plane, creating local uniformity that propagates to global consistency across the entire optical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates preliminary design constraints by pre-defining the geometric relationships between the light emitting substrate plane and imaging lenses plane. These predetermined plane configurations are built into the system design before manufacturing, allowing uniform magnification to be achieved through precise initial positioning rather than requiring complex post-manufacturing adjustments.
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
This solution allows for consistent magnification across imaging systems while ensuring bi-telecentricity, reducing image defects and extending the life of light emitting points by minimizing size variations, thus enhancing the overall image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
a light beam emitted from a light emitting point goes through an imaging lens to be formed into a desired beam spot at a desired position on a photoconductor
Implementation Method 2
JP 2009-51194 A provides a bi-telecentric optical system in which decentering of lens surface would not easily cause beam positional deviation. Furthermore, this optical system achieves uniform magnification of lenses
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a light emitting substrate, and imaging optical systems, wherein an optical axis of the imaging optical systems are parallel, imaging magnifications of the imaging optical systems are substantially equal for the light emitting point groups, the imaging optical systems includes a first lens array, a second lens array, and apertures, central points of the light emitting point group exist in a first plane, central points of the imaging lenses exist in a second plane, central points of the apertures exist in a third plane, central points of the imaging lenses exist in a fourth plane, the first plane forms a non-zero predetermined angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to an optical axis direction, and the angle formed with respect to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction is greater in the order of the first, second, third, and the fourth plane.