Optical Scanning Device Temperature Control for Uniform Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical scanning devices face challenges in maintaining uniform optical characteristics among light-emitting elements due to temperature differences, leading to potential color misregistration and uneven toner density in images, especially when increasing the rotation speed of the polygon mirror generates additional heat, causing temperature variations among optical elements.
Innovation Solution
An optical scanning device with a light source controller that monitors temperatures of optical elements and adjusts the supply current for light-emitting elements or the temperature of corresponding optical elements to maintain a temperature difference within an allowable range, using a temperature monitor and temperature difference adjuster to ensure consistent performance across all light-emitting elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotation speed of the polygon mirror is increased to enhance productivity, then the processing speed improves, but additional heat is generated causing temperature variations among optical elements which deteriorates optical characteristics uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the drive current supplied to each light-emitting element based on its individual temperature characteristics. The light source controller modifies operational parameters (current amounts) to compensate for temperature variations, thereby maintaining uniform optical characteristics even when the polygon mirror rotates at high speeds and generates additional heat
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control through the light source controller that continuously monitors and adjusts the drive current for each light-emitting element. By using temperature characteristics information and dynamically modifying current supply, the system creates a closed-loop control mechanism that maintains optical uniformity despite heat generation from increased polygon mirror rotation speed
2Illumination intensity
If the drive current is increased to compensate for temperature-induced optical characteristic degradation, then the light amount is maintained, but additional heat is generated which further increases temperature differences among optical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely adjusting the drive current for each light-emitting element based on its specific temperature characteristics. Rather than uniformly increasing current to all elements, the controller modifies current amounts individually to compensate for temperature-induced optical degradation while minimizing additional heat generation through optimized current distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing customized current adjustment for each light-emitting element based on its individual temperature characteristics. Each element receives a tailored current amount that accounts for its specific thermal environment, allowing precise compensation of optical characteristic variations without uniformly increasing heat generation across all 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 solution maintains excellent optical properties and prevents color misregistration and uneven toner density by controlling temperature differences, enhancing image quality and productivity in optical scanning devices.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature monitor that monitors temperatures of the optical elements, the temperatures varying due to heat transfer from at least one of the polygon mirror, the motor, and an air passage
Implementation Method 2
light-emitting elements that each emit a light amount according to a supply current amount
Implementation Method 3
laser diodes (LDs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Implementation Method 4
a polygon mirror that cyclically deflects the light shaped by the source-side optical system
Implementation Method 5
an image-side optical system that condenses the light deflected by the polygon mirror on a surface of the photoreceptor
Implementation Method 6
temperatures varying due to heat transfer from at least one of the polygon mirror, the motor, and an air passage through which an external air flows to release heat from the polygon mirror and the motor
Data Source
AI summary
An optical scanning device that scans a photoreceptor with light, the device includes: a light emitter that emits light according to a supply current amount; a source-side optical system that includes an optical element corresponding to the light emitter, the optical element transmitting and shaping the light emitted from the corresponding light emitter; a polygon mirror that cyclically deflects the light shaped by the source-side optical system; an image-side optical system that condenses the light deflected by the polygon mirror on a surface of the photoreceptor; a motor that rotates the polygon mirror; and a light source controller that: monitors a temperature of the optical element; and adjusts the supply current amount for the light emitter or adjusts the temperature of the optical element corresponding to the light emitter to make a temperature difference between the light emitter and the corresponding optical element fall within an allowable range.