US5177349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image reading apparatus utilizing a four step or more staircase diffraction grating structure
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1991-05-09
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Granted: 1993-01-05
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Expires: 2011-05-09
Abstract
Abstract An image reading apparatus comprises a plural-line sensor comprising a plurality of one-dimensional sensor arrays disposed on one and the same substrate, an imaging optical system for imaging an object on the sensor, and a brazed diffraction grating disposed in the optical path between the imaging optical system and the sensor for color-resolving a light beam from the object into a plurality of lights and directing the color-resolved lights to the sensor arrays corresponding thereto, the number of steps of the staircase structure of the diffraction grating being four or more.
Inventors
- 👤 Michitaka Setani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/48; H04N1/486; H04N1/488; G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/0025; G02B27/0037; G02B27/10; G02B27/1006; G02B27/1013; G02B27/1086; G02B27/42; G02B27/4205; G02B5/00; G02B5/18; G02B5/1876; G02B5/188; G02B5/1885; G02B5/20; G02B5/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An image reading apparatus comprising: a plural-line sensor comprising a plurality of one-dimensional sensor arrays disposed on one and the same substrate; an imaging optical system for imaging an object on said plural-line sensor; and a brazed diffraction grating, having a staircase structure with a number of steps, disposed in an optical path between said imaging optical system and said plural-line sensor for color-resolving a light beam from said object into a plurality of lights and directing said color-resolved lights to said sensor arrays corresponding thereto, wherein the number of steps of the staircase structure of said diffraction grating is four or more.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image reading apparatus comprising: a plural-line sensor comprising a plurality of one-dimensional sensor arrays disposed on one and the same substrate; an imaging optical system for imaging an object on said plural-line sensor; and a brazed diffraction grating, having a staircase structure with a number of steps, disposed in an optical path between said imaging optical system and said plural-line sensor for color-resolving a light beam from said object into a plurality of lights and directing said color-resolved lights to said sensor arrays corresponding thereto, wherein the number of steps of the staircase structure of said diffraction grating is four or more.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plural-line sensor comprises a plural-line sensor in which said one-dimensional sensor arrays are disposed on a plurality of lines with finite distances therebetween in a direction orthogonal to the array direction of said sensor arrays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brazed diffraction grating color-resolves the light beam from said object into a plurality of lights in a direction orthogonal to the direction of said sensor arrays.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wavelength selective filter characteristic is not added to the sensor surface of said plural-line sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image reading apparatus according-to claim 2, wherein said object is scanned in the sub-scanning direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the array direction of said sensor arrays.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sensor surface of said plural-line sensor is disposed parallel to the sub-scanning direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brazed diffraction grating comprises a one-dimensional brazed diffraction grating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein grating thickness of the staircase structure of said brazed diffraction grating is not uniform for each step of the grating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein grating width of the staircase structure of said brazed diffraction grating is not uniform for each step of the grating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
An image reading apparatus comprising: a plural-line sensor comprising a plurality of one-dimensional sensor arrays disposed on the same substrate; an imaging optical system for imaging an object on said plural-line sensor; and a brazed diffraction grating, having a staircase structure with a number of steps, disposed in an optical path between said imaging optical system and said plural-line sensor, for color-separating a light from said object into a plurality of lights, wherein the number of steps of the staircase structure of said diffraction grating is four or more.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
An image reading apparatus comprising: a plural-line sensor comprising a plurality of one-dimensional sensor arrays disposed on the same substrate; an imaging optical system for imaging an object on said plural-line sensor; and a brazed diffraction grating, having a staircase structure with a number of steps, disposed in an optical path between said imaging optical system and said plural-line sensor, for color-separating a light from said object into a plurality of lights, wherein the number of steps of the staircase structure of said diffraction grating is four or more.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said plural-line sensor comprises a plural-line sensor in which said one-dimensional sensor arrays are disposed on a plurality of lines with finite distances therebetween in a direction orthogonal to the array direction of said sensor arrays.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said brazed diffraction grating color-separates the light from said object into a plurality of lights in a direction orthogonal to the direction of said sensor arrays.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a wavelength selective filter characteristic is not added to the sensor surface of said plural-line sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said object is scanned in the sub-scanning direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the array direction of said sensor arrays.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the sensor surface of said plural-line sensor is disposed parallel to the sub-scanning direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said brazed diffraction grating comprises a one-dimensional brazed diffraction grating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein grating thickness of the staircase structure of said brazed diffraction grating is not uniform for each step of the grating.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein grating width of the staircase structure of said brazed diffraction grating is not uniform for each step of the grating.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-05 | 1996-07-06 | 1997-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-05 | 2000-07-06 | 2001-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-05 | 2004-07-06 | 2005-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |