Lens mirror array and image forming apparatus using the same
A lens mirror array includes a plurality of optical elements connected to each other and aligned along one direction. Each of the optical elements comprises a first lens surface on which light is incident, a first reflection surface on which the incident light is reflected within the optical element, a second reflection surface on which the reflected light is further reflected within the optical element, a second lens surface through which the light reflected by the second reflection surface is emitted outside the optical element, and a protruding portion having a plurality of surfaces and connected to the first lens surface and the second reflection surface. One of the surfaces of the protruding portion inclined with respect to a direction of light incident on the protruding portion has a prism structure.
1. A lens mirror array comprising:
a plurality of optical elements connected to each other and aligned along one direction, wherein
each of the optical elements comprises
a first lens surface on which light is incident;
a first reflection surface on which the incident light is reflected within the optical element;
a second reflection surface on which the reflected light is further reflected within the optical element;
a second lens surface through which the light reflected by the second reflection surface is emitted outside the optical element;
a protruding portion having a plurality of surfaces and connected to the first lens surface and the second reflection surface; and
a prism structure provided on one of the surfaces of the protruding portion, that is inclined with respect to a direction of light incident on the protruding portion and connected to the second reflection surface.
2. The lens mirror array according to claim 1 , wherein
the prism structure is provided on a surface of the protruding portion that reflects light passing through the protruding portion towards an inner side of the optical element.
3. The lens mirror array according to claim 1 , wherein
a vertex angle of a prism element of the prism structure is a right angle.
4. The lens mirror array according to claim 1 , wherein
the surface connected to the second reflection surface is substantially parallel to a surface of the protruding portion connected to the first lens surface.
5. The lens mirror array according to claim 4 , wherein
light reflected by the surface connected to the second reflection surface goes towards a direction of the first reflection surface.
6. The lens mirror array according to claim 1 , wherein
the prism structure is further provided on a surface of the protruding portion connected to the first lens surface.
7. The lens mirror array according to claim 1 , wherein
the prism structure is further provided on a first surface that is connected to the first lens surface, and a second surface that is connected to the first surface.
8. The lens mirror array according to claim 1 , wherein
a light shielding material is applied to a plurality of surfaces of the optical element.
9. The lens mirror array according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a comb-like groove between the first reflection surfaces of the adjacent optical elements.
10. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a light source configured to emit light based on an image signal; and
a lens mirror array recited in claim 1 and configured to guide light from the light source, wherein
a photoconductive medium is irradiated with light based on the image signal which is guided by the lens mirror array to form an image thereon.
11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an illuminating device configured to irradiate a document;
a lens mirror array configured to guide light reflected by the document;
an image sensor configured to receive the guided light to output an image signal; and
an image forming unit configured to form an image based on the image signal output from the image sensor, wherein
the lens mirror array further comprises a plurality of optical elements connected to each other and aligned along one direction, wherein each of the optical elements comprises
a first lens surface on which light is incident;
a first reflection surface on which the incident light is reflected within the optical element;
a second reflection surface on which the reflected light is further reflected within the optical element;
a second lens surface through which the light reflected by the second reflection surface is emitted outside the optical element;
a protruding portion having a plurality of surfaces and connected to the first lens surface and the second reflection surface; and
a prism structure provided on one of the surfaces of the protruding portion, that is inclined with respect to a direction of light incident on the protruding portion and connected to the second reflection surface.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the prism structure is provided on a surface of the protruding portion that reflects light passing through the protruding portion towards an inner side of the optical element.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
a vertex angle of a prism element of the prism structure is a right angle.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the surface connected to the second reflection surface is substantially parallel to a surface of the protruding portion connected to the first lens surface.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein
light reflected by the surface connected to the second reflection surface goes towards a direction of the first reflection surface.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the prism structure is further provided on a surface of the protruding portion connected to the first lens surface.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the prism structure is further provided on a first surface that is connected to the first lens surface, and a second surface that is connected to the first surface.
18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a light source configured to emit light based on an image signal;
a lens mirror array configured to guide light from the light source;
a photoconductor irradiated with light based on the image signal which is guided by the lens mirror array to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; and
a developing device configured to supply a developer to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor to develop the electrostatic latent image,
wherein
the lens mirror array further comprises
a plurality of optical elements connected to each other and aligned along one direction, each of the optical elements comprising
a first lens surface on which light is incident;
a first reflection surface on which the incident light is reflected within the optical element;
a second reflection surface on which the reflected light is further reflected within the optical element;
a second lens surface through which the light reflected by the second reflection surface is emitted outside the optical element;
a protruding portion having a plurality of surfaces and connected to the first lens surface and the second reflection surface; and
a prism structure provided on one of the surfaces of the protruding portion, that is inclined with respect to a direction of light incident on the protruding portion and connected to the second reflection surface.