Optical Scanning Device Housing Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical scanning devices face challenges in reducing the thickness of the housing while maintaining the strength of the attachment device for the fθ lens, which can lead to failures in toner image superposition during the scanning process.
Innovation Solution
The optical scanning device incorporates a lower housing with a raised area and a coupler that holds the fθ lens, allowing it to be suspended below the raised area, and uses a plate spring and screw for secure attachment, along with lead-out openings to guide the beam effectively, thereby reducing the housing thickness while ensuring the strength of the attachment device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the housing thickness is reduced, then the overall device size is decreased, but the strength of the attachment device for the fθ lens is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional horizontal attachment structure to a vertical suspension structure. The fθ lens is suspended below the raised area by a holder extending downward, utilizing the vertical dimension (thickness direction) for attachment rather than the horizontal plane. This dimensional change allows the optical path to be configured vertically, enabling thinner housing while maintaining attachment strength through the plate spring and screw mechanism in the vertical direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is divided into a lower housing with an opened upper part and an upper housing that covers it. The attachment structure is segmented into a raised area, a holder extending downward, and a suspension mechanism (plate spring and screw). This segmentation allows the attachment device to be independently optimized for strength while the overall housing thickness is reduced, as each component serves a specific function in the vertical arrangement.
2Device complexity
If the attachment device structure is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positional stability of the fθ lens may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The plate spring provides self-adjusting elastic force that automatically maintains the fθ lens in the correct position. The elastic nature of the plate spring allows it to compensate for minor positional variations and maintain stable contact between the lens and the holder, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms while ensuring positional stability through the self-service elastic property.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic parameter of the plate spring to achieve positional stability. By selecting appropriate material and dimensional parameters for the plate spring, it provides sufficient elastic force to maintain the fθ lens position without requiring complex mechanical constraints. The screw parameter is also optimized to provide appropriate clamping force, achieving stability through parameter optimization rather than structural complexity.
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 allows for a thinner housing while maintaining the structural integrity of the fθ lens attachment, preventing positional displacement and ensuring accurate toner image superposition and scanning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating polygon mirror that reflects the beam emitted from the light source
Implementation Method 2
an fθ lens on which the beam reflected by the rotating polygon mirror is incident
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an optical scanning device including a lower housing including an opened upper part, an upper housing that covers the upper part of the lower housing, and an fθ lens on which a beam reflected by a rotating polygon mirror is incident. The lower housing includes a raised area being raised upward from a lower housing bottom surface. The fθ lens is mounted to face a bottom side of the raised area.