Optical Scanning Device With Adhesive-Free Sheet Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Incorporating sheet-type wavelength plates in optical scanning devices is challenging due to their instability and difficulty in stable fixation, leading to increased assembly time and potential adhesive contamination, which compromises optical performance.
Innovation Solution
The use of a holder that engages both ends of bendable optical sheets with elastic deformation, allowing them to be superimposed with a gap, ensuring stable fixation without adhesives, thereby reducing assembly time and maintaining optical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sheet-type wavelength plates are used to reduce costs, then device cost is reduced, but stable fixation becomes difficult and assembly manhour increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sheet-type wavelength plates that are inherently flexible and thin, allowing them to be bent and conform to curved surfaces. This flexibility enables direct bonding to holders without requiring rigid support structures, thereby reducing assembly complexity and time while maintaining the cost advantage of using sheet-type plates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies adhesive in advance on the holder surface before positioning the wavelength plate. This preliminary adhesive application ensures immediate and stable bonding upon placement, eliminating the need for complex fixation mechanisms and reducing assembly time while maintaining secure attachment
2Ease of manufacture
If sheet-type wavelength plates are used to reduce costs, then device cost is reduced, but adhesive may adhere to undesired parts and optical performance cannot be sufficiently exerted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies adhesive selectively only to the holder surface areas that require bonding, rather than covering the entire surface. This localized adhesive application prevents contamination of undesired parts while ensuring sufficient bonding areas for stable attachment, thereby maintaining optical performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the curved surface of the holder to guide and contain the adhesive application. The curvature naturally confines the adhesive to appropriate areas through gravity and surface tension, preventing spread to undesired parts while ensuring adequate bonding areas for the wavelength plate
3Reliability
If quarter wavelength plates are used to align deflection states, then optical performance is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid quarter wavelength plates with flexible sheet-type wavelength plates that can be bent to match the holder's curvature. This flexibility eliminates the need for complex rigid mounting structures while maintaining the optical alignment function, thereby reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the wavelength plate to be bent and conform to the holder's surface. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise optical alignment without requiring complex fixed structures, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining optical performance
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 method allows for cost-effective assembly of optical sheets by eliminating the need for adhesives, reducing assembly time, and maintaining optical performance by ensuring proper alignment and fixation.
Implementation Method 1
The holder includes a pair of engaging sections with which both end portions in a bending direction of the first optical sheet are engaged by a restoration force based on the elastic deformation of the first optical sheet and with which both end portions in a bending direction of the second optical sheet are engaged by a restoration force based on the elastic deformation of the second optical sheet
Data Source
AI summary
An optical scanning device according to an embodiment includes a light source, a first optical sheet, a second optical sheet, a holder, and a polygon mirror. The light source emits light. The first optical sheet is disposed on an optical path of the light emitted from the light source. The second optical sheet is disposed on the optical path. The holder includes a pair of engaging sections with which both end portions in a bending direction of the first optical sheet are engaged and with which both end portions in a bending direction of the second optical sheet are engaged. The holder holds the first optical sheet and the second optical sheet. The polygon mirror reflects the light from the light source guided via the first optical sheet and the second optical sheet and rotates to scan a scan surface present in a reflecting direction of the light.