Optical Scanning Device Wall Structure for Dust and Heat Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanning optical devices face issues with temperature rise around the deflector due to blocked spaces, leading to potential thermal deformation and misalignment of optical components, which results in color misalignment and deteriorated image quality.
Innovation Solution
The scanning optical device incorporates a design with a lid member and optical box featuring opening portions and wall portions that allow laser light passage while minimizing dust entry and temperature rise by strategically positioning dust proof walls and stray light prevention walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the space around the deflector is hermetically blocked by the cover, walls, condensed light lens and scanning lens, then dust entry is prevented, but ambient temperature around the deflector rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the enclosure into multiple sections using partition walls. The first partition wall is positioned between the deflector and the cover, creating separate zones. This segmentation allows selective control of dust protection and heat dissipation in different regions, resolving the contradiction between preventing dust entry and maintaining temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the enclosure. The first partition wall creates a dust-proof zone around the deflector while allowing heat to dissipate through strategically positioned openings. The second partition wall provides additional dust protection without completely sealing the thermal path, enabling local optimization of both dust prevention and temperature management.
2Ease of operation
If the driver IC generates heat during deflector operation, then the deflector is driven, but thermal deformation of the frame and fluctuation of optical component positions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the internal space to isolate the heat-generating driver IC and deflector from the precision optical components. By creating separate zones with partition walls, the thermal effects are localized and prevented from affecting the overall frame stability and optical alignment, allowing continuous operation without thermal deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls act as intermediary structures between the heat-generating components and the precision optical system. These walls provide thermal isolation while maintaining structural integrity, serving as a buffer that prevents heat transfer to the frame and optical components, thus preventing thermal deformation and position fluctuations.
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 effectively suppresses temperature rise and prevents dust accumulation, maintaining optical component alignment and image quality by reducing dust contamination and thermal deformation.
Implementation Method 1
a deflector including a rotatable polygon mirror for deflecting and scanning a plurality of laser lights emitted from the plurality of the light sources in a main scanning direction
Implementation Method 2
a beam detector configured to receive the laser light deflected by the deflector and output a signal
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning optical device includes a deflector including a polygon mirror for deflecting and scanning emitted laser lights in a scanning direction, a beam detector, an optical box and a lid. The optical box or the lid includes openings for permitting passing the laser lights. As viewed in the scanning direction, a wall is provided between first opening disposed closest to the deflector and the deflector. The wall is constituted by a first wall extended from the optical box toward the lid and a second wall extended from the lid toward the bottom surface. The wall portion is provided with a light passing portion for permitting passing the laser light deflected by the deflector. As the wall is viewed in an alignment direction of the openings, in a space between the lid and the bottom surface, substantially all areas excluding the light passing portion are covered by the wall.