Multi-Laser Printer Assembly with Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser printers face limitations in achieving high print resolutions due to the characteristics of single lasers, which result in low print quality and inefficient toner usage, as they cannot power on and off quickly enough to create fine charge zones on the photo drum, leading to resolutions of 3600 dots per inch (DPI) or less.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a laser assembly with a plurality of lasers that emit photons, a prism to redirect these photons, and a collimator lens to focus them, along with a processor-controlled timing schedule for activating and deactivating the lasers to generate a photon beam with adjustable intensity, allowing for higher print resolutions by creating finer charge zones on the photo drum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single laser is used to emit photons toward the photo drum, then the device complexity is low, but the print resolution is limited to 3600 DPI or less due to inability to power on and off quickly enough
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single laser system into multiple lasers (first laser and second laser) that operate in sequence. Each laser emits photons during different time intervals, allowing the system to create finer charge zones on the photo drum by controlling the timing and duration of each laser's operation, thereby achieving higher print resolution beyond 3600 DPI
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic activation of multiple lasers where the first laser emits photons during a first time interval and the second laser emits photons during a second time interval. This periodic action allows precise control over the timing of photon emission, enabling the creation of finer charge zones and achieving higher print resolution
2Loss of substance
If a single laser is used, then the device structure is simple, but the toner usage efficiency is low due to inability to create fine charge zones
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the laser emission into multiple sequential lasers with controlled time intervals, the system creates more precise and finer charge zones on the photo drum. This precision ensures that toner particles are attracted only to the intended pixel locations, reducing wasted toner and improving toner usage efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic activation of multiple lasers with controlled time intervals enables precise control over charge zone creation. This ensures that toner is deposited only where needed on the photo drum, minimizing toner waste and improving overall toner usage efficiency
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple lasers are activated simultaneously, then the photon beam intensity is high, but the print resolution decreases due to inability to create fine charge zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action by activating the first laser during a first time interval and the second laser during a second time interval, rather than simultaneously. This temporal separation allows each laser to create distinct, fine charge zones on the photo drum, achieving high print resolution while maintaining sufficient photon beam intensity through sequential emission
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the photon emission into sequential time intervals with different lasers, the system maintains high photon beam intensity during each interval while creating fine, precise charge zones. The segmentation in time allows precise control over where and when photons strike the photo drum, achieving both high intensity and high precision
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 approach enables laser printers to achieve print resolutions greater than 3600 DPI, conserving toner and improving print quality by attracting fewer toner particles per pixel, thus enhancing the overall printing efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
a prism to redirect the respective photons from the plurality of lasers toward the collimator lens
Implementation Method 2
a collimator lens to focus them, along with a processor-controlled timing schedule for activating and deactivating the lasers to generate a photon beam
Implementation Method 3
a photo drum, where the respective photons, redirected through the collimator lens, are combinable for generating a photon beam to create a charge zone on the photo drum
Data Source
AI summary
An example laser assembly for a laser printer may include a plurality of lasers to emit respective photons; a prism to redirect the respective laser beams emitted from the plurality of lasers toward a collimator lens of the laser printer to generate a photon beam; and one or more processors to: determine a timing schedule for individually activating the plurality of lasers based on a resolution setting of the laser printer, and when printing at a resolution corresponding to the resolution setting, control activation of each of the plurality of lasers to emit the respective photons according to the timing schedule to form the photon beam.