Optical Scanner Light Reflecting Plate Stiffness Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical scanners face challenges in sufficiently suppressing the bending of light reflecting plates due to insufficient stiffness, which affects their performance during operation.
Innovation Solution
The optical scanner design includes a movable body with a light reflecting plate and a support frame where the support frame's thickness is ten times or less than the light reflecting plate's thickness, connected by multiple sections to increase stiffness, and a drive unit with a permanent magnet and coil to oscillate the movable body, preventing bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the support frame is increased to suppress bending of the light reflecting plate, then the stiffness increases, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the thickness ratio between the support frame and light reflecting plate. The support frame thickness is set to 1/10 to 1/2 of the light reflecting plate thickness, which optimizes the stiffness without requiring excessive thickness. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by achieving sufficient stiffness through precise dimensional control rather than simply increasing thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by forming the support frame and light reflecting plate as an integrated structure with different thickness regions. The support frame and light reflecting plate are formed as a unified component with varying thickness profiles, combining the structural support function with the optical reflection function in a single composite element, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the thickness of the support frame is made equal to the thickness of the light reflecting plate, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the stiffness of the support frame becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the thickness parameter of the support frame to a specific range (1/10 to 1/2 of the light reflecting plate thickness). This parameter optimization ensures that the support frame has sufficient stiffness to prevent light reflecting plate bending while remaining manufacturable through standard fabrication processes.
3Reliability
If a thicker support frame is used to prevent light reflecting plate bending, then the reliability improves, but the moment of inertia increases affecting oscillation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thickness parameter to balance reliability and oscillation performance. By setting the support frame thickness to 1/10 to 1/2 of the light reflecting plate thickness, the design achieves sufficient stiffness to prevent bending while maintaining a reasonable moment of inertia for responsive oscillation. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between reliability and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing varying thickness only where structurally necessary. The support frame has increased thickness specifically at regions requiring structural support, while other areas maintain thinner profiles. This localized thickness optimization ensures sufficient stiffness for reliability without unnecessarily increasing the overall moment of inertia, thereby preserving oscillation 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 configuration effectively suppresses the bending of the light reflecting plate, ensuring reliable operation by increasing the support frame's stiffness relative to the light reflecting plate, allowing for precise oscillation around multiple axes.
Implementation Method 1
a coil that generates a magnetic field by application of voltage
Implementation Method 2
a light reflecting plate provided with a light reflecting section having light reflectivity
Data Source
AI summary
An optical scanner includes: a movable body that is able to oscillate around a first axis; a first shaft member that is connected to the movable body along the first axis; and a drive unit that includes a permanent magnet, a coil that generates a magnetic field by application of voltage, and a voltage applying section that applies a voltage to the coil and oscillates the movable body around the first axis, wherein the movable body includes a light reflecting plate provided with a light reflecting section having light reflectivity, a support frame that surrounds the light reflecting plate and has a thickness that is, ten times or less, larger than the thickness of the light reflecting plate, and a plurality of connecting sections that connects the light reflecting plate and the support frame at a plurality of locations.