US4841311A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser beam printer with compactly arranged photosensitive element, laser beam emitting element and reflective element
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-08-21
•
Granted: 1989-06-20
•
Expires: 2007-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A laser printer, wherein a laser beam emitting element is positioned close to a photosensitive element, employs a solid state deflective element for deflecting the laser beam. A laser beam optical path runs through a space between the laser beam emitting element and a reflective element, from which the optical path turns back to the photosensitive element beyond the laser beam emitting element. Thus, the laser beam can be efficiently deflected within a rather small capacity so that the printer can be small-sized. Additionally, since the printer has no mechanical moving parts, it is light-weight, efficient in operation, and free from mechanical adjustment requirements.
Inventors
- 👤 Makoto Suzuki
- 👤 Satoshi Urukawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:15
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/435; B41J2/447; B41J2/45; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/1204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A laser printer comprising: a laser beam emitting element for emitting a laser beam; a deflective element, with a variable refractive index, fixed to the laser beam emitting element for deflecting the laser beam emitted from the laser beam emitting element; a reflective element for reflecting the laser beam deflected by the deflective element; and a photosensitive element located adjacent the laser beam emitting element and spaced apart from the reflective element for being exposed by the laser beam reflected by the reflective element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A laser printer comprising: a laser beam emitting element for emitting a laser beam; a deflective element, with a variable refractive index, fixed to the laser beam emitting element for deflecting the laser beam emitted from the laser beam emitting element; a reflective element for reflecting the laser beam deflected by the deflective element; and a photosensitive element located adjacent the laser beam emitting element and spaced apart from the reflective element for being exposed by the laser beam reflected by the reflective element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
193 words
A laser printer according to claim 1, wherein the deflective element includes: a first Fresnel lens for collimating the laser beam of the laser beam emitting element; a first optical deflecting part for guiding and deflecting the laser beam collimated by the first Fresnel lens such that the refractive index is varied in response to a distribution of an electrical field; three-dimensional optical guides having entering and ejecting ends for receiving the laser beam passed through the first optical deflecting part into one of the entering ends in accordance with a deflected angle at the first optical deflecting part and guiding the laser beam to a corresponding ejecting end; a second Fresnel lens for refracting the laser beam passed through the three-dimensional optical guides in accordance with the distance between a center line and the position of the ejecting end at which the laser beam is ejected; and a second optical deflecting part including at least one resistor heating element for producing a continuously variable temperature gradient across a path of the laser beam which forms a refractive index gradient by which the laser beam passed through the second Fresnel lens is deflected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A laser printer according to claim 2, wherein each ejecting end of the three-dimensional optical guides is positioned at a different predetermined distance from the center line at the ejecting end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser printer according to claim 1, wherein the reflective element is a plane mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser printer according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam emitting element is a semi-conductor laser element and the deflective element is a solid state deflective element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A laser printer according to claim 5, wherein the semi-conductor laser element and the solid state deflective element are integrally constructed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-19 | 1992-12-19 | 1993-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-12-19 | 1997-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-19 | 2000-12-19 | 2001-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |