Specific Optical Structure Patents (Class 347/241)
  • Patent number: 7847940
    Abstract: A multi-channel imaging head is calibrated in accordance with a pre-determined regular pattern to minimize swath-to-swath and inter-swath variations during the imaging of the regular pattern. The imaging parameters of the imaging head are optimized in accordance with the pre-determined regular pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Valentin Karasyuk, Harry R. Zwicker, Wilson D. Cheung, Jonathan V. Caspar, Sina Afrooze
  • Patent number: 7847811
    Abstract: An optical scanner includes a frame, a light source, an optical member, and a spacer. The light source emits a light beam. The optical member is mounted on the frame to guide the light beam to a scanning target. The spacer maintains the optical member at a predetermined position with respect to the frame. The spacer is formed of a photocurable resin that is cured in response to a predetermined light having a wavelength within a prescribed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryota Kato, Yasuo Tamaru, Jun Mihara
  • Patent number: 7848023
    Abstract: An exposure head, includes: a lens array that includes lenses that are arranged in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a light emitting element substrate that is provided with light emitting elements that emit lights to be imaged by the lenses, wherein a relationship defined by a following formula: 1<L1/L2 is satisfied, where the symbol L1 denotes a length of the lens in the first direction and the symbol L2 denotes a length of the lens in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuta Koizumi, Yujiro Nomura, Takeshi Sowa
  • Publication number: 20100295919
    Abstract: Two integrated multi-beam sources are positioned and disposed such that each emits light toward an optical combiner. The combiner is of a type in which the optical paths of said first laser beams and the optical paths of said second laser beams may be made to be generally parallel to one another such that the optical system aperture throughput for the two integrated multi-beam sources is roughly the same as for a single integrated multi-beam source. The combiner may be a splitter such that a portion of the optical energy from each source is directed into an imaging path and a portion of the optical energy is directed toward an optical sensor for, inter alia, controlling the output of the sources. Additional sources and combiners maybe added in series, with the output of one combiner being the input to the additional combiner together with the output from the additional source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Patrick Yasuo Maeda
  • Patent number: 7830545
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical unit adapted to irradiate image exposure light to an image carrier comprises a frame containing optical parts arranged therein and having an opening, and a cover adapted to cover the opening. The cover can be fixed by fixing members to the frame at three points in a first plane including the opening. The cover can further be fixed by fixing members to the frame at a second plane positioned on the frame and being adjacent to the first plane and at a third plane positioned on the frame and being not parallel to the second plane. Thus, an optical unit can be obtained which has high rigidity while, when the cover is attached to the opening, maintaining satisfactory flatness of the cover in a plane including the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiharu Mamiya
  • Patent number: 7816649
    Abstract: A laser patterning apparatus for handling a donor film and improving compression uniformity between the donor film and an acceptor substrate is provided. The laser patterning apparatus includes: a stage that supports an acceptor substrate; a shielding mask that is placed on the acceptor substrate to form a pattern and is attached to a donor film on one surface thereof; a laser gun that is disposed at an upper part of the stage to radiate laser light to a portion of the donor film through the pattern of the shielding mask; a pressing member that corresponds to a portion of the shielding mask; and an actuator that is connected to one side of the pressing member to press the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Do-Young Kim, Tae-Min Kang, Sang-Bong Lee, Seung-Mook Lee, Hee-Cheol Kang, Jin-Won Sun
  • Patent number: 7817176
    Abstract: A disclosed device for optically scanning a target surface includes a light source unit configured to emit a light beam; a light intensity detecting unit; a coupling unit configured to substantially collimate the emitted light beam; a beam limiting unit configured to limit the amount of the collimated light beam; a beam splitting unit configured to split the beam limited light beam and thereby to cause a first portion of the beam limited light beam to enter the light intensity detecting unit, wherein the light intensity detecting unit is configured to detect the intensity of the first portion of the beam limited light beam; and a beam deflecting unit configured to deflect a second portion of the split light beam toward the target surface. In the disclosed device, the beam limiting unit and the beam splitting unit are integrated as a single unitary structure and positioned between the coupling unit and the light deflecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Masuda
  • Patent number: 7800639
    Abstract: Micro-symbols or scenes formed on the optical surfaces of laser diode arrays, MEMS arrays, and optical fiber image tunnel arrays, and the like, allow these devices to function as laser pulse image switches, producing streams of laser pulses, each an image of the micro-symbols or scenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph Dale Udy
  • Publication number: 20100226686
    Abstract: Light sources emit light beams onto deflecting surfaces of a deflecting unit through incident optical systems. The deflecting unit deflects the light beams in a uniform direction to form images onto different surfaces to be scanned through imaging optical systems. An optical path length, or a distance from a deflection point of the deflecting unit to a surface to be scanned, of an imaging optical system to form an image onto a surface to be scanned closest to the deflecting unit is different from that of an imaging optical system to form an image onto a surface to be scanned farthest from the deflecting unit. Also, the following condition is satisfied: 0.85<K1/K2<0.98 where K1 is a K? coefficient of an imaging optical system with a short optical path length, and K2 is that of an imaging optical system with a long optical path length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidekazu Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7791632
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes two scanning units which are disposed opposed to each other with a scanning deflector arranged therebetween, wherein one scanning unit has first and second imaging optical elements while the other scanning unit has third and fourth imaging optical elements, wherein the one scanning unit includes a light blocking member for intercepting unwanted light reflected at an optical surface of the fourth imaging optical element, wherein the third imaging optical element is provided at a light path between the fourth imaging optical element and the first light blocking member, and wherein the third imaging optical element has a positive refracting power in the sub-scan section through which unwanted light reflected at the optical surface of the fourth imaging optical element passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7787005
    Abstract: A print head includes a plurality of light emitting elements grouped into a plurality of light emitting element groups and disposed by the light emitting group, a lens array having optical systems corresponding respectively to the light emitting element groups, each of the optical systems imaging a light beam emitted from the light emitting element group on a scan target surface, and a light shielding member provided with light guide holes corresponding respectively to the light emitting element groups, each of the light guide holes guiding the light beam emitted from the light emitting element group, wherein each of the light emitting element groups is provided with an aperture section disposed at a front focal position of the optical system and a center axis one of substantially identical and identical to an optical axis of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Nomura, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7782353
    Abstract: An image-forming device has cylindrical image-carrying members, and an optical scanning unit. The cylindrical image-carrying members are in a main casing for rotating about respective rotational axes which are parallel to one another and juxtaposed in a single direction. The optical scanning unit is in the main casing and has laser generators, a rotatable polygon mirror, mirrors, and lenses. The laser generators have a one-to-one relationship to the image-carrying members to emit laser beams. The rotatable polygon mirror deflects the respective laser beams to scan the respective image-carrying members. The mirrors have a one-to-one relationship to the image-carrying members to guide the respective laser beams along respective optical paths to the respective image-carrying members. The lenses have a one-to-one relationship to the plurality of image-carrying members provided in the respective optical paths and between the respective mirrors and the respective image-carrying members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryota Kato, Jun Mihara, Yasuo Tamaru
  • Patent number: 7777774
    Abstract: An optical scanning characteristic control method is applied to an optical scanning system in which a beam is deflected, and the deflected beam is converged and directed toward a scanning surface, so that optical scanning of the scanning surface is performed by an optical spot formed thereon by the deflected beam. The method comprising the steps of a) disposing a beam deflection control device on the light path of the beam before it is incident on the scanning surface; and b) controlling a beam deflection amount of the beam deflecting device provide to an incident beam so as to control a scanning characteristic of the optical scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Suzuki, Naoki Miyatake, Taku Amada, Seizo Suzuki, Kazuyuki Shimada, Satoru Itoh
  • Publication number: 20100201778
    Abstract: A line head, includes: a substrate which is provided with a plurality of luminous element groups which respectively include a plurality of luminous elements in a first direction which emit light beams; a lens array which includes a plurality of imaging lenses which are provided corresponding to the plurality of luminous element groups; and a light shielding member which is disposed between the substrate and the lens array and includes a plurality of light guiding holes which correspond to the plurality of luminous element groups, wherein the lens array is away from the light shielding member, an inner diameter of each of the plurality of light guiding holes in the first direction is a first light guiding hole diameter, and a bore diameter of each of the plurality of imaging lenses in the first direction is a first lens diameter, and the first light guiding hole diameter is smaller than the first lens diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yujiro Nomura, Nozomu Inoue, Ryuta Koizumi, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7771057
    Abstract: A device for projection of an operations panel includes a printer portion, a media feedpath extending through the printer portion having a media input and a media output, an image projector forming an image on one of the media input or an image receiving surface, the image projector defining an operations panel for making operation selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Lee Combs, William Henry Reed, Maini Helena Williams
  • Patent number: 7764429
    Abstract: A lens array, includes: a plurality of lens substrates which include a plurality of lenses arranged in a first direction; and a support member which supports the plurality of lens substrates arranged in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 7750931
    Abstract: Light sources emit light beams onto deflecting surfaces of a deflecting unit through incident optical systems. The deflecting unit deflects the light beams in a uniform direction to form images onto different surfaces to be scanned through imaging optical systems. An optical path length, or a distance from a deflection point of the deflecting unit to a surface to be scanned, of an imaging optical system to form an image onto a surface to be scanned closest to the deflecting unit is different from that of an imaging optical system to form an image onto a surface to be scanned farthest from the deflecting unit. Also, the following condition is satisfied: 0.85<K1/K2<0.98 where K1 is a K? coefficient of an imaging optical system with a short optical path length, and K2 is that of an imaging optical system with a long optical path length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidekazu Shimomura
  • Publication number: 20100165067
    Abstract: An exposure head, includes: a first imaging optical system and a second imaging optical system which are arranged in a first direction; a light emitting element which emits light to be imaged by the first imaging optical system; and a light emitting element which emits light to be imaged by the second imaging optical system, wherein an inter-optical-system distance in the first direction between the first imaging optical system and the second imaging optical system satisfies the following expression: m1·L1+m2·L2>2P1?(m1·dp1+m2·dp2) where m1 represents an absolute value of the optical magnification of the first imaging optical system, L1 represents a width in the first direction of the light emitting element to be imaged by the first imaging optical system, dp1 represents a pitch between the light emitting element in the first direction in the light emitting element to be imaged by the first imaging optical system, m2 represents an absolute value of the optical magnification of the second imaging optical
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yujiro NOMURA, Ken IKUMA
  • Patent number: 7733364
    Abstract: A line head, includes: a substrate which is provided with a plurality of luminous element groups which respectively include a plurality of luminous elements in a first direction which emit light beams; a lens array which includes a plurality of imaging lenses which are provided corresponding to the plurality of luminous element groups; and a light shielding member which is disposed between the substrate and the lens array and includes a plurality of light guiding holes which correspond to the plurality of luminous element groups, wherein the lens array is away from the light shielding member, an inner diameter of each of the plurality of light guiding holes in the first direction is a first light guiding hole diameter, and a bore diameter of each of the plurality of imaging lenses in the first direction is a first lens diameter, and the first light guiding hole diameter is smaller than the first lens diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Nomura, Nozomu Inoue, Ryuta Koizumi, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7714884
    Abstract: An optical multi-beam scanning device has a plurality of pre-deflection optical units, an optical path synthesizing member and an excessive light processing member. The excessive light processing member processes excessive light emitted from an excessive light emitting surface with is not an incident surface nor an emitting surface of the optical path synthesizing member. The excessive light processing member has a multi-stage taper constitution with a plurality of taper surfaces having different tilt angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 7697022
    Abstract: An electro-optical device includes a light source array having a plurality of light-emitting devices arranged on a substrate in a direction, a lens array having a plurality of lens elements arranged in the direction, each lens element forming an image on an image carrier using light from the light-emitting element, and a first light transmissible member and a second light transmissible member disposed between the light source array and the lens array so as to be in contact with the light source array and the lens array, in which the first light transmissible member and the second light transmissible member are arranged in continued manner in the direction, and wherein the first light transmissible member and the second light transmissible member are different in any one or more characteristics of refractive index, elastic modulus and light transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsugio Gomi
  • Patent number: 7687752
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a focus detection device capable of reading a plurality of focus detection outputs in parallel. As an exemplary structure, the focus detection device includes a focus detection sensor having a plurality of output terminals for outputting, in parallel, analog data corresponding to focus states of multiple points in the field of a viewfinder, a multiplexer for arranging and outputting, in series order on the one terminal, the analog data output in parallel from the plurality of output terminals of the focus detection sensor, and an A/D converter for converting, to digital data, the analog data arranged in series order on the one terminal through and output from the multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignees: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Kikuchi, Kosei Tamiya
  • Patent number: 7683922
    Abstract: An exposure head, includes: a first imaging optical system and a second imaging optical system which are arranged in a first direction; a light emitting element which emits light to be imaged by the first imaging optical system; and a light emitting element which emits light to be imaged by the second imaging optical system, wherein an inter-optical-system distance in the first direction between the first imaging optical system and the second imaging optical system satisfies the following expression: m1·L1+m2·L2>2P1?(m1·dp1+m2·dp2) where m1 represents an absolute value of the optical magnification of the first imaging optical system, L1 represents a width in the first direction of the light emitting element to be imaged by the first imaging optical system, dp1 represents a pitch between the light emitting element in the first direction in the light emitting element to be imaged by the first imaging optical system, m2 represents an absolute value of the optical magnification of the second imaging optical
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Nomura, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7679635
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: plural image carriers; and plural exposure apparatuses that are arranged corresponding to the plural image carriers respectively. The exposure apparatus has a light emitting element member that exposes the image carrier and is arranged on a substrate. A predetermined exposure apparatus among the plural exposure apparatuses includes a heating unit that heats the substrate, and other exposure apparatus other than the predetermined exposure apparatus does not include the heating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Taira, Youji Houki, Yukihiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7671883
    Abstract: A laser beam emitted from each semiconductor laser 27 is guided by a step index type multi-mode optical fiber, a graded index type multi-mode optical fiber deformable and movable with movement of a recording head, and a step index type multi-mode optical fiber, to be emitted from a light emitter toward an imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Oka, Takeshi Katayama
  • Patent number: 7667726
    Abstract: An optical writing unit, e.g., that can be included in an image forming apparatus includes a housing within which are disposed additional components of the optical writing unit including the following, a plurality of optical elements, a polygon mirror configured to deflect a laser light beam, and a collecting member configured to collect dust in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Shoji, Takeshi Yamakawa, Hiroshi Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7667727
    Abstract: A printing system includes a multiple-beam generator array configured to generate multiple beams. A collimator lens is positioned to receive the multiple beams, and an aperture stop is located where the multiple beams are spatially coincident with each other. A scanning optical system is positioned to receive the beams from the aperture stop, and a recording medium receives the beams from the scanning optical system. A filter is located where the multiple beams are spatially coincident with each other, whereby each of the multiple beams may be filtered by the supplied filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Loce, Beilei Xu, Patrick Y. Maeda
  • Patent number: 7659918
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for adjusting the resonant frequency, scan velocity or other parameters of a pivotally functional surface such as an oscillating mirror used as the scanning engine of a laser printer or projection display. The selected parameter is adjusted by the application of tensional or compression stress to the torsional hinges of the mirror. According to one embodiment, the appropriate stress is generated by a slice of piezoelectric material bonded to the mirror device itself or to other portions of the support structure of the scanning engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Arthur Monroe Turner
  • Publication number: 20100013902
    Abstract: Disclosed are a print head and an image forming apparatus employing the same. The print head, which irradiates light to multiple locations of a photosensitive medium to form pixels of electrostatic latent image, includes an array of light sources corresponding to the pixels, a distributed Bragg reflector disposed adjacent the surface of the light source array from which the light source array output light, and a light focusing unit which focuses the light that have passed through the distributed Bragg reflector onto the locations of photosensitive medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Woon-ho Seo
  • Patent number: 7643048
    Abstract: The image transfer apparatus includes a transmission type image display device, a light source and a parallel rays generating element, and light that is irradiated from the light source, made into substantially parallel rays by the parallel rays generating element, and transmitted through the image display device to expose a photosensitive recording medium and a display image displayed on the image display screen is transferred to the photosensitive recording medium. This apparatus further includes a moving device for moving the parallel rays generating element and the image display device relatively during the transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Chino, Yasunori Tanaka, Yasuhito Hiraki
  • Patent number: 7612865
    Abstract: Light irradiation is performed on a strip region on a photosensitive material by main scanning of an irradiation region group on the photosensitive material where light emitted from a micromirror group of a DMD is directed and light is applied to a plurality of strip regions partially overlapping in a sub scan direction in turn while repeating the main scanning, to write a pattern on the photosensitive material. When a preceding irradiation region group and a following irradiation region group pass over an overlapping area, a part of micromirrors corresponding to the overlapping area, out of the micromirror group, are made inactivated. As a result, a cumulative passage time in which the preceding irradiation region group and the following irradiation region group pass each position of the overlapping area is shorter than a passage time where the preceding irradiation region group passes each position of a non-overlapping area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Hisaoka, Hiroyuki Shirota
  • Patent number: 7598008
    Abstract: Methods for imaging regular patterns are provided. A multi-channel imaging head is configured in accordance with the repeat of a pre-determined regular pattern such that no swath boundaries appear within the visibly imaged features of the pattern. The imaged articles have reduced visible banding due to the elimination of swath boundaries in the imaged features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada Company
    Inventors: Jonathan V. Caspar, Harry Richard Zwicker
  • Publication number: 20090244253
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to realize a multi-beam optical scanning device which is suitable for high speed and high recording density by almost completely offsetting and correcting a deviation of focusing positions in a main scanning direction of plural spots in an entire surface to be scanned without deteriorating focusing properties at all.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ishibe
  • Patent number: 7589756
    Abstract: A beam detecting unit detects at least one of a position of an optical beam in a sub scanning direction and a position of the optical beam in a main scanning direction. A color-misalignment correcting unit changes an optical-beam irradiating position on a photosensitive element based on a result of detection by the beam detecting unit. The beam detecting unit is arranged between an optical element that is closest to a corresponding photosensitive element and the corresponding photosensitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Iwao Matsumae, Yoshinobu Sakaue, Kazunori Bannai
  • Patent number: 7580053
    Abstract: An image data processing section subjects input image data to image processing, and outputs first to fourth image data. First to fourth pulse width modulation circuits are PWM circuits in each of which a plurality of reference positions are set in one pixel, and output pulses corresponding to the first to fourth image data. A synthesis circuit synthesizes the pulses output from the first to fourth pulse width modulation circuits, and a laser emits a light beam in accordance with the synthesized pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Ishikawa, Koji Tanimoto, Kenichi Komiya, Yuji Inagawa
  • Patent number: 7564535
    Abstract: A lithographic scanning apparatus includes a light projection device for seamlessly and uniformly projecting a scanning light onto a light exposing area. The light projecting device further includes an array of micromirrors having a predefined distribution pattern of reflectance variations for reflecting an incident light onto the light exposing area to seamlessly and uniformly scanning a reflecting light over the light exposing area. In one of a lithographic scanning apparatus, the micromirrors of the micromirror array are coated with a reflective coating of different reflectance to provide the predefined distribution pattern of reflectance variations. In another lithographic scanning apparatus, the micromirrors of the micromirror array are coated with stripes of reduced reflectance whereby each micromirror may have predefined total reflectance to provide the predefined distribution pattern of reflectance variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventor: Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 7564474
    Abstract: A line head module includes a line head in which a plurality of organic EL elements is arranged, a lens array made by arranging lens elements that form an image of light from the line head. A first chamber formed on the side of the lens array of the line head is sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7557820
    Abstract: The present invention can be adapted to improve optical efficiency even when a light source is disposed without restricting a polarization direction or an orthogonal direction with respect to an optical axis of a light beam from the light source. A multi-beam optical scanning device of the present invention includes a single optical deflecting device, a pre-deflection optical system that allows light beams from a plurality of light sources to enter the optical deflecting device, and a post-deflection optical system that focuses each reflecting light beam from the optical deflecting device on a scanned surface of each light beam. The pre-deflection optical system includes a polarizing beam splitter that synthesizes optical paths of two light beams, and the first half-wave retardation plate and a second half-wave retardation plate that change a polarization direction with respect to each light beam on two incident surfaces of the polarizing beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7545403
    Abstract: An optical system has an image direction modulator and a laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) apparatus includes the optical system. The optical system includes a laser source for producing laser beams, and the image direction modulator has a first mode in which an image direction of the laser beams is modulated relative to a first direction and a second mode in which the image direction of the laser beams is modulated relative to a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Min Kang, Myung-Won Song, Jae-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7542063
    Abstract: Provided are a laser irradiation apparatus and method of fabricating an organic light emitting display using the same. The laser irradiation apparatus includes a mask positioned below the laser generator, and the mask is patterned such that lengths of an upper portion and a lower portion of a mask pattern are patterned longer than a length of a middle portion of the mask pattern with respect to the scanning direction. The method of fabricating an organic light emitting display includes scanning a laser beam on a predetermined region of the donor substrate using the laser irradiation apparatus to form an organic layer pattern on the substrate. When the organic layer pattern is formed using a laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) method, the transfer may be carried out using a laser beam having low energy, laser beam efficiency may be enhanced, the organic layer may be less damaged, and the quality of the organic layer pattern to be transferred may also be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Ho Lee, Tae-Min Kang, Seong-Taek Lee, Jin-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7532227
    Abstract: An optical scanner is capable of effectively correcting a difference with respect to the sub-scanning direction between the positions of optical spots for scanning photoconductor drums of a tandem type color image forming apparatus. The optical scanner includes an optical axis adjusting part. The optical axis adjusting part uses a deflecting mirror or a wedge-shaped prism to deflect the optical axis of an optical beam with respect to the sub-scanning direction. As a result, it is possible to accurately correct a resist difference among individual image forming stations and form a high-quality color image without any color displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakajima, Akira Kojima, Ikuko Yamashiro, Seizo Suzuki, Taku Amada, Yoshinori Hayashi, Kazuyuki Shimada
  • Patent number: 7528855
    Abstract: A light scanning device for performing laser beam scanning, which includes a polygon scanner configured to deflect a laser beam; an optical device configured to guide the deflected laser beam; a case in which the polygon scanner and the optical device are arranged; a transparent covering member which is provided on the case to cover an opening and which transmits the laser beam to perform laser beam scanning; and a cleaner which is detachably attached to the light scanning device and which includes an elastic cleaning member on one side of a body of the cleaner for cleaning a surface of the transparent covering member, wherein the body of the cleaner has a recessed portion on the one side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventor: Masanori Namba
  • Publication number: 20090109273
    Abstract: An optical scanner forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member by scanning the photosensitive member with a light beam. The optical scanner includes: an incident optical system which at least comprises: a light beam emission device configured to emit a light beam; and a cylindrical lens configured to condense the light beam emitted from the light beam emission device, and a scanning optical system which at least comprises: a light deflecting device configured to reflect the light beam having passed through the cylindrical lens to deflect the light beam in a main scanning direction for scanning the photosensitive member; and a scanning lens configured to focus the light beam deflected by the light deflecting device on the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. The incident optical system and the scanning optical system are divided by a light shielding wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryota KATO
  • Patent number: 7525563
    Abstract: A laser irradiation apparatus and method of fabricating an organic light emitting display using the same are provided. The laser irradiation apparatus includes: a laser generator; a mask having means for changing a propagation path of a laser beam; and a projection lens. The method of fabricating an organic light emitting display includes: irradiating a laser beam on an edge of an irradiated region of a donor substrate using the laser irradiation apparatus with high intensity to form an organic layer pattern on a substrate. The laser beam having low intensity can perform a transfer process to improve laser beam efficiency. In addition, it is possible to reduce damage on the organic layer, and improve quality of the transferred organic layer pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Ho Lee, Tae-Min Kang, Seong-Taek Lee
  • Patent number: 7505060
    Abstract: A light scanning apparatus that scans a scanned face with a light beam includes an adjusting unit that adjusts the position of a light spot of the light beam formed on the scanned face, and a compensating unit that compensates the light intensity of the light beam at the scanned face due to change caused by the adjustment of the position of the light spot. Accordingly, the light scanning apparatus can reduce or eliminate the deviation in exposure between scan lines of the multi-beam scan method and the deviation in exposure between photosensitive bodies of the tandem type image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Amada, Takeshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 7502046
    Abstract: According to the present invention, highly accurate adjustment of the angles and positions of optical elements constituting an optical scanning unit can be easily performed. The optical scanning unit comprises: a first mirror that reflects the light beams emitted from Y, C and M laser diodes; a second mirror that reflects the light beam emitted from a K laser diode and the light beams reflected by the first mirror; a cylindrical lens that acts on the light beams reflected by the second mirror; and a third mirror that reflects the light beams emitted from the cylindrical lens toward a polygon mirror. The second mirror is provided with an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the light beams in the main scanning direction, and the third mirror is provided with an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the light beams in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ono, Masaki Saka, Ayumu Oda, Takahisa Narikiyo
  • Patent number: 7499071
    Abstract: An exposure device includes a transmissive member and a shutter. The transmissive member allows passage therethrough of a light beam directed toward a scanning object. The shutter is mounted so as to be pivotable around a pivot shaft between a closed position and an open position. The shutter has a first member and a second member. In the closed position, the first member shields the transmissive member, and, in the open position, unshields the transmissive member so as to allow the light beam to pass through the transmissive member. In the closed position, the second member is positioned above the first member so as to extend at least beyond peripheral ends, including a free end, of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Nakamura, Kohichi Yamauchi, Shinichi Takeda, Shigenori Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20090046137
    Abstract: Described herein is a light source apparatus in which wasteful cost increases can be suppressed during the manufacture of various types of light source apparatuses and replacement of a broken light source can be performed at low cost, a recording apparatus using the light source apparatus, and an image forming apparatus comprising the recording apparatus, a plurality of optical units comprising optical members (a light source element and a lens) for outputting a single beam are combined separably in row form, and a holder used as means for holding the optical units in row form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Minoru MORIKAWA, Shinichi Suzuki, Kazumi Ishima
  • Patent number: 7486306
    Abstract: A plurality of photo emitters are arrayed on a transparent substrate in a first direction to form at least one photo emitter array. An electrode is provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the photo emitters in common. A dimension of the electrode in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than a dimension of the substrate in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tsujino, Yujiro Nomura, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7474324
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printing apparatus using an order-separation type optical modulator. The printing apparatus includes an illumination lens system, a diffraction type optical modulator, a filter system, and a projection system. The illumination lens system converts light, which is output from a light source, into linear light and outputs linear, parallel light, the diffraction type optical modulator performs desired modulation on the linear, parallel light emitted from the illumination lens system and forms diffracted light having a plurality of diffraction orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haeng Seok Yang