Laser Scanner Driver Circuit Time-Division Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of multiple light sources in electrophotographic imaging devices increases manufacturing costs, power dissipation, and circuit size due to the need for additional channels and interfaces in the ASIC and laser drivers, making it inefficient to communicate video information effectively.
Innovation Solution
A driver circuit is used to control multiple light sources with a reduced interface, employing differential signal channels to capture and transmit bits simultaneously, allowing the light sources to be driven based on captured bits at the same time, thereby reducing the number of required channels and interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple light sources are used to improve throughput, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases due to more channels and interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple video data signals into a single time-division multiplexed bit stream. Instead of having separate channels for each laser diode, the invention multiplexes data for multiple lasers onto one serial communication interface, reducing the number of interfaces and channels while maintaining the ability to control multiple light sources simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The single communication interface and driver circuit are designed to handle multiple laser diodes through time-division multiplexing. The same interface and circuitry serve multiple functions by sequentially transmitting data to different lasers within a scan cycle, eliminating the need for dedicated channels for each light source
2Productivity
If multiple channels are added to control multiple light sources, then productivity improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple separate communication channels into a single time-division multiplexed interface. This reduces the number of physical channels, connectors, and interface circuits that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while still supporting multiple light sources for high throughput
3Productivity
If more interfaces are implemented for multiple light sources, then productivity increases, but power dissipation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple interface circuits into a single time-division multiplexed communication interface. Since each additional interface circuit consumes power, reducing the number of interfaces from multiple separate channels to a single multiplexed interface significantly reduces power dissipation while maintaining the capability to drive multiple high-power laser diodes
4Productivity
If additional channels are used to accommodate connections, then productivity improves, but the size of circuitries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple parallel data channels into a single serial time-division multiplexed channel. This eliminates the need for multiple parallel signal paths, reducing the area occupied by trace routing, connectors, and interface circuits on the PCB and within the ASIC, while still enabling control of multiple laser diodes for high throughput operation
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning system for use in an imaging apparatus includes a first light source and a second light source for emitting light beams for generating an image. A driver circuitry has first and second outputs connected to the first and second light sources, respectively, for controlling the first and second light sources. A signal transmitter includes a first interface for communicating a clock signal to the driver circuitry and a second interface for communicating an image information signal to the driver circuitry. During a clock cycle of the clock signal, the driver circuitry captures a first bit information from the image information signal at a rising edge of the clock signal and a second bit information from the image information signal at a falling edge of the clock signal. Thereafter, the driver circuitry drives the first and second light sources based on the first and second bit information captured, respectively.