Optical scanning system and imaging apparatus for using same
View Patent ↗A scanning system includes a scanning member having at least one reflective surface and at least one light source for emitting at least one light beam to be incident on the at least one reflective surface of the scanning member during a scanning operation. At least one curved synchronization mirror deflects and focuses at least a portion of the at least one light beam that is deflected by the scanning member to indicate at least one of a start and an end of a scan line operation of the scanning operation. A sensor receives the at least one light beam deflected and focused by the at least one curved synchronization mirror.
1. A scanning system, comprising:
a scanning member having at least one reflective surface;
at least one light source for emitting at least one light beam to be incident on the at least one reflective surface of the scanning member during a scanning operation;
at least one curved synchronization mirror for deflecting and focusing at least a portion of the at least one light beam that is deflected by the scanning member to indicate at least one of a start and an end of a scan line operation of the scanning operation; and
a sensor for receiving the at least one light beam deflected and focused by the at least one curved synchronization mirror.
2. The scanning system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one scan lens for focusing portions of the at least one light beam containing image data onto a surface, wherein the at least one curved synchronization mirror is positioned between the at least one scan lens and the scanning member.
3. The scanning system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one curved synchronization mirror is positioned proximate an end portion of the at least one scan lens.
4. The scanning system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one curved synchronization mirror includes a first curved synchronization mirror positioned proximate a first end portion of the at least one scan lens, and a second curved synchronization mirror positioned proximate a second end portion of the at least one scan lens, the first and second curved synchronization mirrors for deflecting and focusing a first portion and a second portion of the at least one light beam to indicate the start and the end of the scan line operation, respectively, onto the sensor.
5. The scanning system of claim 2 , wherein the surface is a photoconductive surface of a photoconductive member.
6. The scanning system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one curved synchronization mirror has a substantially toroidal surface.
7. The scanning system of claim 1 , wherein the scanning member and the at least one curved synchronization mirror define therebetween at least a portion of an optical path of the at least one light beam, the portion of the optical path having no optical component therealong.
8. The scanning system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one curved synchronization mirror and the sensor define therebetween at least a portion of an optical path of the at least one light beam, the at least a portion of the optical path having no optical component therealong.
9. A scanning system, comprising:
at least one light source for emitting at least one light beam;
a scanning member having at least one reflective surface for repeatedly deflecting the at least one light beam between a first position and a second position during a scanning operation;
at least one scan lens for focusing onto a surface portions of the at least one light beam containing image data and deflected by the scanning member;
a curved synchronization mirror disposed proximate an end portion of the at least one scan lens, the curved synchronization mirror for receiving and deflecting at least a portion of the at least one light beam deflected at the first position so as to indicate a start of a scan line operation of the scanning operation; and
a sensor positioned to receive the at least one light beam deflected by the curved synchronization mirror.
10. The scanning system of claim 9 , wherein the curved synchronization mirror is disposed between the at least one scan lens and the scanning member.
11. The scanning system of claim 9 , wherein the curved synchronization mirror and the sensor define at least a portion of an optical path for the at least one light beam, the at least one light beam traversing along the at least a portion of the optical path without passing through or being deflected by other optical components.
12. The scanning system of claim 9 , wherein the curved synchronization mirror has a substantially toroidal surface from which the at least one light beam is deflected.
13. The scanning system of claim 9 , further comprising a second curved synchronization mirror disposed proximate a second end portion of the at least one scan lens, the second curved synchronization mirror for receiving and deflecting at least a second portion of the at least one light beam deflected at the second position to indicate an end of the scan line operation of the scanning operation.
14. The scanning system of claim 13 , wherein the second curved synchronization mirror has a substantially toroidal surface for deflecting the at least one light beam.
15. The scanning system of claim 13 , wherein the second curved synchronization mirror is disposed between the at least one scan lens and the scanning member.
16. The scanning system of claim 9 , wherein the surface is a surface of a photoconductive member.
17. An imaging device, comprising:
at least one photoconductive member for being impinged with at least one light beam; and
a scanning unit for generating the at least one light beam and repeatedly scanning the at least one light beam across the at least one photoconductive member to form scan lines thereon, the scanning unit including;
at least one light source for emitting the at least one light beam;
a scanning member having at least one reflective surface for receiving and deflecting the at least one light beam emitted by the at least one light source;
at least one scan lens for focusing onto the at least one photoconductive member portions of the at least one light beam containing image data and deflected by the scanning member;
a synchronization mirror disposed at a first position proximate an end portion of the at least one scan lens and between the at least one scan lens and the scanning member, the synchronization mirror for receiving and deflecting at least a first portion of the at least one light beam deflected by the scanning member at the first position; and
a sensor positioned to receive the at least one light beam deflected by the synchronization mirror.
18. The imaging device of claim 17 , wherein the synchronization mirror is a curved synchronization mirror such that the at least one light beam incident thereon is deflected and focused onto the sensor.
19. The imaging device of claim 18 , wherein the curved synchronization mirror and the sensor define therebetween a portion of an optical path of the at least one light beam, the portion of the optical path having no optical component.
20. The imaging device of claim 17 , wherein the synchronization mirror has a substantially concave toroidal surface.
21. The imaging device of claim 17 , further comprising a second synchronization mirror disposed at a second position proximate a second end portion of the at least one scan lens and between the at least one scan lens and the scanning member, the synchronization mirror deflecting the first portion of the at least one light beam toward the sensor to indicate a start of a scan line operation, and the second synchronization mirror deflecting toward the sensor a second portion of the at least one light beam deflected by the scanning member at the second position to indicate an end of the scan line operation.
22. The imaging device of claim 17 , wherein the scanning unit includes a housing having an opening, the scan lens being disposed to cover the opening to prevent contaminants from entering the scanning unit.