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Patent EP0009983A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
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EP0009983A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical beam splitting apparatus

Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1979-10-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 1999-10-05
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Abstract

Abstract An optical beam-splitting apparatus for generating multiple linear images of an illuminated object line (20) and focusing the images (A", B") onto an image plane. The multiple images are generated on the object side of the lens (26) using an optical beam-splitting arrangement such as mirros (24,25). In a preferred embodiment, the images are converted into electrical signals after focusing onto photosensor arrays (27,28).

Inventors

  • 👤 Ned J. Seachman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 07:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/106; G02B27/1066; G02B27/14; G02B27/143; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/19; H04N1/191; H04N1/192; H04N1/193; H04N1/1934; H04N1/1935; H04N1/1937

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
An optical beam-splitting apparatus wherein a lens is arranged to focus light reflected from an object plane onto an image plane and wherein at least two images of the object are formed, characterized by optical means arranged on the object side of the lens (26) to create at least two identical images of an illuminated object line (20), said lens focusing at least a portion of each of said identical images onto separate portions of said image plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 78 words
An optical beam-splitting apparatus wherein a lens is arranged to focus light reflected from an object plane onto an image plane and wherein at least two images of the object are formed, characterized by optical means arranged on the object side of the lens (26) to create at least two identical images of an illuminated object line (20), said lens focusing at least a portion of each of said identical images onto separate portions of said image plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 including at least two photosensor arrays (27, 28) disposed in the image plane, each array comprising a plurality of photosensitive elements which are individually addressable, said arrays providing electrical signals in response to said images focused thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 67 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein an apparent object plane (29) is located perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens (26) and wherein said optical means comprises at least two mirrors (24, 25) arranged to fold distinct, parallel, apparent object lines (A, B) lying on said apparent object plane onto a common object line (20) lying on the real object plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said apparent object lines (A, B) are disposed symmetrically on either side of said optical axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein said mirrors (24, 25), produce an angular orientation between principal rays (PR1, PR2) of the object line (20) of less than 5°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said mirrors (24, 25) are joined together, their joined edges lying on the lens optical axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 80 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said object plane is perpendicular to the lens optical axis so that a first central image of said object line (42) is directly transmitted into the lens (46), said optical means comprising a mirror (40) mounted in parallel with the optical axis so as to reflect towards the lens a second image of said object line which apparently originated from a line on the object plane distinct from the real object line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 51 words
• 8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said optical means includes a second mirror (41) mounted in opposing parallel relation with the first mirror (40), said mirror (41) reflecting towards said lens an image of a second line on the object plane distinct from the real object line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said optical means includes a blocking element (49) to prevent said central image from reaching the lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 103 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said optical means includes a prism (32) centered on the optical axis of the lens (33), two outer surfaces of said prism having reflective properties, such that principal rays propagating from said object line (30) are reflected in a direction normal to said optical axis; and a pair of mirrors (35, 36) interposed in the path of said reflected principal rays, each mirror reflecting a separate image of said object line towards said lens, said reflected images having their apparent originsat lines (37, 38) in an apparent object plane parallel with the real object plane.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE697039C Cited
US3170980A Cited
FR2010939A1 Cited
US3674339A Cited
GB1395580A Cited
US4009388A Cited
DE2722804A1 Cited

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