Optical Scanning Device Lateral Magnification Error Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-density two-dimensionally arranged light emitting elements in optical scanning devices face challenges in uniformly adjusting scanning line intervals during γ-rotation, leading to precision issues in achieving high-quality images due to non-uniform changes in intervals between light emitting elements.
Innovation Solution
An optical scanning device with a light source and a pre-deflector optical system that includes movable optical elements, allowing for adjustment of the first and second optical elements along the light path to reduce lateral magnification errors and achieve a desired beam pitch on the assessing image plane, thereby focusing light beams with high precision on the scan target.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a light source with a plurality of light emitting elements arranged two-dimensionally in high density is used, then high density writing capability is improved, but uniform adjustment of scanning line intervals during γ-rotation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a γ-rotation mechanism that dynamically adjusts the angular position of the light source around the optical axis. By rotating the light source by a predetermined angle γ, the system dynamically changes the projection of light emitting element intervals onto the scanning line direction, enabling uniform scanning line intervals on the scan target despite the non-uniform two-dimensional arrangement of elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms a two-dimensional arrangement problem into a three-dimensional solution by adding the rotation dimension. The light source is rotated around the optical axis (adding a rotational degree of freedom), which converts the non-uniform two-dimensional element spacing into uniform projected spacing in the scanning direction, effectively using dimensional transformation to resolve the contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional optical elements are used to adjust lateral magnification error, then device complexity increases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces lateral magnification error by changing the angular parameter γ of the light source rotation rather than introducing additional optical elements. By optimizing the rotation angle parameter, the system achieves lateral magnification error reduction through parameter adjustment alone, avoiding increased device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In an optical scanning device, a lateral magnification in a direction corresponding to a sub scanning direction of an optical system is adjusted to be small by a coupling optical system that includes a first lens and a second lens. As a result, scanning by a plurality of light beams can be performed with high precision while avoiding high costs.