Optical Scanner Polygon Mirror Inclination Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical scanning techniques require significant space and increase costs due to the need for multiple light sources and complex control systems, making it difficult to achieve high-speed and high-precision scanning while maintaining space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An optical scanner design featuring multiple independently blinking light sources positioned differently in the sub-scanning direction, a pre-deflection optical system shaping the light flux, and a rotational reflector with varying inclination angles for each reflecting surface to scan light fluxes across multiple photoconductors in the main-scanning direction, reducing the number of optical parts and improving alignment accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple light sources are provided for each photoconductor, then scanning speed and precision are improved, but space requirement and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light sources into a single light source that illuminates multiple photoconductors simultaneously. The optical system is designed so that light from one source is distributed to multiple photoconductors through the scanner mechanism, reducing the total number of light sources from N (where N is the number of photoconductors) to just one, thereby reducing space and cost while maintaining scanning performance
Solution Approach 2:
The single light source is designed to serve multiple functions by illuminating multiple photoconductors in sequence during rotation. The optical system allows this universal light source to perform the scanning function for all photoconductors, making the system more efficient and compact
2Area of stationary object
If one light source is used for multiple photoconductors, then space and cost are reduced, but scanning speed and precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotating scanner mechanism that dynamically switches the single light source across multiple photoconductors. The scanner rotates at high speed to sequentially illuminate different photoconductors, creating the appearance of simultaneous scanning. This dynamic approach allows one light source to serve multiple photoconductors while maintaining high scanning speed and precision through rapid rotation
3Manufacturing precision
If polygon mirror with different inclination angles is used, then scanning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving different inclination angles to different reflecting surfaces of the polygon mirror according to their specific requirements. Each reflecting surface is angled differently to optimize light delivery to its corresponding photoconductor, improving scanning precision for each photoconductor while using a single shared light source and scanner mechanism
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 enables higher-speed and more uniform scanning with improved optical characteristics, reducing the need for multiple light sources and optical parts, thus achieving space savings and cost reduction while maintaining high image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-deflection optical system that shapes the light flux from the light source so that the light flux has a predetermined cross-sectional shape
Implementation Method 2
a rotational reflector that scans the light flux shaped in the pre-deflection optical system in the main-scanning direction by reflecting and deflecting the light flux by a plurality of reflecting surfaces arranged thereon
Data Source
AI summary
An optical scanner capable of achieving a optical scanning processing with higher speed and uniformity in pitches of scan light, while spacing saving and reduction in cost are attempted, is provided. An optical scanner comprising a plurality of the light sources that are allocated in positions different from one another in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main-scanning direction, a pre-deflection optical system, and a polygon mirror that scans the light flux shaped in the pre-deflection optical system in the main-scanning direction by reflecting and deflecting the light flux by a plurality of reflecting surfaces arranged thereon corresponding to each of the plurality of photoconductors in a rotational direction, and an inclination angle of each of the plurality of reflecting surfaces with respect to a rotational axis of the polygon mirror is set to an angle depending on the photoconductor to which each of the reflecting surfaces corresponds.