Lens Mirror Array Wavelength Layout for LED Printer Focusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing LED printers with solid-state scanning type exposure optical systems face challenges in efficiently focusing light from multiple semiconductor light sources onto a photoconductive drum, leading to suboptimal image formation due to limitations in the lens mirror array's optical characteristics and layout.
Innovation Solution
The optical device employs a lens mirror array with multiple optical elements, each having an incident-side lens surface, a first reflection surface, a second reflection surface, and an emission-side lens surface, where light sources emitting different wavelengths are arranged such that those with shorter wavelengths are farther from the second reflection surface, optimizing light focusing and image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a lens mirror array with multiple optical elements is used to focus light from multiple LED light sources onto a photoconductive drum, then the focusing efficiency and image formation quality are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens mirror array is divided into multiple independent optical elements (first optical element, second optical element, third optical element) that can be separately designed and manufactured. Each optical element handles specific light sources, allowing modular assembly and reduced individual component complexity while achieving overall high focusing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different optical elements are designed with specific optical characteristics tailored to their respective light sources. The first optical element has optical characteristics optimized for first light sources, the second for second light sources, and the third for third light sources, allowing each to perform its focusing function with high precision while the entire array maintains manageable complexity through specialization.
2Manufacturing precision
If the optical elements are arranged in the axial direction of the photoconductive drum with specific spacing, then the light focusing performance is improved, but the layout flexibility and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides a general structural framework where the optical elements can be arranged in the axial direction with flexible spacing. The specific spacing values are given as examples, but the structure allows for dynamic adjustment of spacing and positioning to adapt to different light source configurations and focusing requirements while maintaining the core axial arrangement for optimal performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple light sources with different wavelengths are used, then the image formation quality is improved, but the optical characteristic deterioration and focusing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each optical element is designed with optical characteristics specifically optimized for its assigned light sources with particular wavelengths. This localized optimization ensures that each optical element maintains high focusing efficiency and reliability for its specific wavelength range, while the overall system achieves high image formation quality through the combined performance of all optimized elements.
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 configuration enhances the focusing efficiency and flexibility in the layout of light sources and image sensors, allowing for improved image formation and reduced optical characteristic deterioration, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
an incident-side lens surface on which light from the light source is incident
Implementation Method 2
a first reflection surface from which the light incident on the incident surface is reflected, a second reflection surface from which the light reflected by the first reflection surface is further reflected
Implementation Method 3
an emission-side lens surface from which the light made incident via the incident-side lens surface is emitted toward the surface of the photoconductive drum
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device includes a plurality of light sources each configured to emit light having a different wavelength, and a lens mirror array in which a plurality of optical elements is arrayed, each of the plurality of optical elements including an incident surface through which the light emitted from each light source enters the optical element, a first reflection surface from which the light incident on the incident surface is reflected, a second reflection surface from which the light reflected by the first reflection surface is further reflected, and an emission surface through which the light reflected by the second reflection surface exits the optical element. The plurality of light sources is arranged such that a light source that emits light having a shorter wavelength is disposed farther from the second reflection surface.