Lens Mirror Array Flange Angles Reduce Stray Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lens mirror array in copying machines and scanners suffers from stray light emission due to its transparent resin construction, which deteriorates image quality by causing unnecessary light to be incident on the photoconductive drum or image sensor, leading to noise in the electrostatic latent image and read images.
Innovation Solution
The lens mirror array incorporates a flange portion with a specifically angled and shaped surface, such as a cylindrical or arc-shaped fourth surface, to redirect stray light away from the optical path, ensuring it does not interfere with the image formation process by guiding it to a position deviating from the opening portion, thus preventing it from exiting as stray light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the lens mirror array is formed of transparent resin, then the manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but stray light is emitted through the flange portion causing image quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The flange portion is segmented into multiple surfaces (first surface, second surface, third surface, and fourth surface) with different orientations. This segmentation allows each surface to serve a specific function: the fourth surface is specifically oriented to guide stray light away from the optical path, while other surfaces maintain structural integrity and positioning functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different surfaces of the flange portion are given different local qualities through varied orientations. The fourth surface has a specific orientation angle designed to redirect stray light, while other surfaces have orientations optimized for their respective functions such as structural support and positioning.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If light shielding material is applied to shield stray light, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light shielding function is extracted from a separate material layer and integrated into the geometric design of the flange portion itself. By orienting the fourth surface at a specific angle, the structure passively guides stray light away from the optical path, eliminating the need for additional light shielding materials and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent nature of the resin material, which initially causes stray light transmission, is converted into a benefit by using the resin's optical properties in conjunction with the angled fourth surface design. The resin allows precise geometric shaping of the flange portion while the angled surface redirects stray light, turning the material's transparency from a disadvantage into an opportunity for precise optical path control.
3Ease of manufacture
If the flange portion is formed of transparent resin, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but stray light guidance capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation angle of the fourth surface is optimized as a key parameter to achieve effective stray light guidance. By carefully selecting and controlling this angular parameter during manufacturing, the design achieves precise stray light redirection while maintaining the manufacturing simplicity of using a transparent resin material.
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 effectively reduces stray light emission, enhancing image quality by preventing noise in the electrostatic latent images and read images, and allows for lower manufacturing costs and less stringent attachment accuracy requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the surface of the protrusion portion is arranged at an angle at which unnecessary light incident on the protrusion portion is guided to a position deviating from an opening portion
Implementation Method 2
a lens mirror array that refracts and reflects light based on an image signal incident from a light source
Data Source
AI summary
A lens mirror array includes a plurality of transparent optical elements integrally connected to each other in one direction. Each of the optical elements includes: an incidence side lens surface on which light is incident; an exit side lens surface through which incident light exits; and a flange portion having a surface continuous to the incidence side lens surface. The surface of the flange portion is arranged at an angle at which unnecessary light incident on the flange portion is guided to a position deviating from an slit, the slit allowing transmission of effective light in light that exits through the exit side lens surface.