Miniaturized Spectral Colorimeter with Adjustable Linear Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining color consistency due to variations in drum sensitivity, toner charge capacity, and paper type, leading to tint deviations in color images, which are difficult to correct with existing spectral colorimetric systems due to the complexity of miniaturizing the apparatus while ensuring accurate positioning and orientation of optical components.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized spectral colorimetric apparatus with a configuration that includes a light-emitting diode, light guide optical member, concave surface reflection type diffraction grating, and linear sensor, where the linear sensor is held outside the housing to allow for precise adjustment and bonding to the housing, ensuring accurate detection and correction of color tint deviations without compromising productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the illumination optical system, light guide optical system, and dispersing optical system are contained in one housing to miniaturize the apparatus, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the space for tool insertion and multi-axial adjustment becomes narrowly limited, making adjustment operations difficult and reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into a housing and a separate detector unit. The detector unit can be adjusted independently outside the housing, allowing tool insertion and multi-axial adjustment without spatial constraints from other optical members. This segmentation enables both miniaturization of the main housing and efficient adjustment operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the detector is fixed to a level baseplate with pre-positioning devices, then the detector is positioned in a defined position, but the detector cannot be adjusted for multi-axial positioning and orientation with high accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The detector unit is designed to be dynamically adjustable through multi-axial rotation mechanisms. The unit can be rotated around multiple axes to achieve precise orientation and positioning. After adjustment, the detector unit is fixed to the housing, combining the benefits of adjustability during operation with stability during use.
3Volume of moving object
If the spectral colorimetric apparatus is miniaturized, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the accuracy of adjustment of position and orientation of optical members becomes more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment process utilizes multi-axial rotation to provide additional degrees of freedom for positioning. By adjusting the detector unit's orientation around multiple axes, high positioning accuracy is achieved even in a miniaturized apparatus configuration. The multi-dimensional adjustment space compensates for the reduced physical size.
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
The solution enables precise color calibration and maintenance of color consistency in image formation by allowing for accurate adjustment and bonding of optical components, enhancing the productivity and accuracy of the spectral colorimetric apparatus while maintaining miniaturization.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide optical member for guiding to a diffraction grating a light beam reflected from a test surface
Implementation Method 2
a dispersing optical system including a concave surface reflection type diffraction grating for acquiring a spectral intensity distribution by dispersing the guided light beam
Implementation Method 3
a dispersing optical system including a concave surface reflection type diffraction grating
Implementation Method 4
a spectral colorimetric apparatus that detects a light beam dispersed using a reflection type diffraction element, using a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in an array
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A spectral colorimetric apparatus includes a concave surface reflection type diffraction element configured to disperse an incident light beam; a sensor including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, wherein the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements is arranged in a direction parallel to a tangential line of a Rowland circle of the concave surface reflection type diffraction element, each photoelectric conversion elements being configured to receive the light beam dispersed by the concave surface reflection type diffraction element; a housing configured to support the concave surface reflection type diffraction element and the sensor; and a bonding portion provided on the housing, wherein the sensor is fixed to the housing with an adhesive provided between the bonding portion and the sensor. The bonding portion is provided only at a position corresponding to a center of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements of the sensor in the direction in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements is arranged.