Patent US5023448A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5023448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Beam position sensor for a light beam scanner
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1989-10-16
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Granted: 1991-06-11
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Expires: 2009-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A beam position sensor for a beam scanner is disclosed for use in a laser printer. The printer comprises three diode lasers each of which emits at a different wavelength. The beams from the three lasers are combined by the use of dichroic plates to form one combined beam. The combined beam is scanned onto a receiving medium by a polygon. The beam position sensor of the present invention is adapted to sense the position of the polygon in order to provide a synchronizing signal which will insure that each raster line in the printer is started at the proper position. The beam position sensor includes a diode laser and optics for projecting a beam from the laser onto the polygon. The beam is reflected back from the polygon into a photodetector which effects the start of a new raster line at the appropriate time.
Inventors
- 👤 David Kessler
- 👤 Roger E. Baldwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/047; H04N1/113; H04N1/1135; H04N1/12; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/024; H04N2201/02406; H04N2201/02439; H04N2201/028; H04N2201/03; H04N2201/031; H04N2201/03104; H04N2201/0315; H04N2201/03158; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/047; H04N2201/04701; H04N2201/0471; H04N2201/04715; H04N2201/04724; H04N2201/04725; H04N2201/04729; H04N2201/04731; H04N2201/04732; H04N2201/04737; H04N2201/04739; H04N2201/04744; H04N2201/04753; H04N2201/04758; H04N2201/04767; H04N2201/04789; H04N2201/04794
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A beam position sensor for a light beam scanner, said scanner having a plurality of scanning surfaces, said sensor comprising: means for directing a first input beam of light at one of said scanning surfaces to produce a first reflected beam of light which is scanned through a first angle to define a scan plane, said means for directing said first input beam of light including a first light source; means for directing a second input beam of light at said one surface to produce a second reflected beam of light which is scanned through a second angle to define a second plane which forms an angle with said scan plane, said means for directing said second input beam of light including a second light source which is located at one side of said scan plane and a means for receiving the second reflected beam of light from said surface which is located at a side of said scan plane opposite said one side; and means for detecting said second reflected beam at a position thereof which corresponds to a predetermined position of said first reflected beam and for generating a synchronizing signal upon the detection of said second reflected beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A beam position sensor for a light beam scanner, said scanner having a plurality of scanning surfaces, said sensor comprising: means for directing a first input beam of light at one of said scanning surfaces to produce a first reflected beam of light which is scanned through a first angle to define a scan plane, said means for directing said first input beam of light including a first light source; means for directing a second input beam of light at said one surface to produce a second reflected beam of light which is scanned through a second angle to define a second plane which forms an angle with said scan plane, said means for directing said second input beam of light including a second light source which is located at one side of said scan plane and a means for receiving the second reflected beam of light from said surface which is located at a side of said scan plane opposite said one side; and means for detecting said second reflected beam at a position thereof which corresponds to a predetermined position of said first reflected beam and for generating a synchronizing signal upon the detection of said second reflected beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A beam position sensor, as defined in claim 1, wherein said scanner is a polygon and each of said scanning surfaces is a mirror facet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A beam position sensor, as defined in claim 2, wherein said polygon is operable in said scan plane, and said second light source is a diode laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A beam position sensor, as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for directing said second input beam includes a prism which receives said second input beam of light from said diode laser and directs said second input beam of light onto a mirror facet of said polygon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A beam position sensor, as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for receiving said second reflected beam of light is a retroreflective mirror located to direct the second reflected beam beam back onto the polygon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A beam position sensor, as defined in claim 5, wherein said beam directed back to said polygon passes through said prism and is directed by a beam splitter to a photodetector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A beam position sensor, as defined in claim 6, wherein said second input beam and said second reflected beam each form an angle of about 45° with the mirror facet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
A beam position sensor for a light beam scanner, said scanner having a plurality of mirror facets, said sensor comprising: a diode laser for providing a first beam of light; means for directing said first beam of light to one of said mirror facets to produce a first reflected beam of light which is scanned through a first angle to define a scan plane; a second diode laser for providing a second input beam of light, said second diode laser being located at one side of said scan plane; means for directing said second input beam of light at said one mirror facet to produce a second reflected beam of light which is scanned through a second angle to define a second plane which forms an angle with said scan plane, said means for directing said second input beam of light including reflecting means located at a side of said scan plane opposite said one side; and means for detecting said second reflected beam at a position thereof which corresponds to a predetermined position of said first reflected beam and for generating a synchronizing signal upon the detection of said second reflected beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
193 words
A beam position sensor for a light beam scanner, said scanner having a plurality of mirror facets, said sensor comprising: a diode laser for providing a first beam of light; means for directing said first beam of light to one of said mirror facets to produce a first reflected beam of light which is scanned through a first angle to define a scan plane; a second diode laser for providing a second input beam of light, said second diode laser being located at one side of said scan plane; means for directing said second input beam of light at said one mirror facet to produce a second reflected beam of light which is scanned through a second angle to define a second plane which forms an angle with said scan plane, said means for directing said second input beam of light including reflecting means located at a side of said scan plane opposite said one side; and means for detecting said second reflected beam at a position thereof which corresponds to a predetermined position of said first reflected beam and for generating a synchronizing signal upon the detection of said second reflected beam.
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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) | 1994-06-10 | 1994-12-10 | 1995-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-10 | 1998-12-10 | 1999-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-10 | 2002-12-10 | 2003-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |