IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,444,073
Granted Patent B1
US 10,444,073 · App. 16/447,056 · Granted Oct 15, 2019

Frame, spectroscope, spectrometry unit, and image forming apparatus

Inventors: Hidetaka Noguchi (Hyogo, JP); Junichi Azumi (Miyagi, JP); Hidenori Kato (Hyogo, JP); Masayuki Fujishima (Kanagawa, JP); Masashi Suematsu (Hyogo, JP)
Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
G01J3/20G01J3/04G01J2003/1842
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,444,073
App. No.
16/447,056
Granted
Oct 15, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A frame, a spectroscope, a spectrometry unit, and an image forming apparatus. The frame has hollow structure and includes at least four apertures including a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture through which light enters the frame, and a fourth aperture, a concave diffraction grating disposed at a position of the first aperture, and a movable reflector disposed at a position of the second aperture to reflect light dispersed by the concave diffraction grating and change a reflection angle of the reflected light. Through the fourth aperture of the frame, the light reflected by the movable reflector exits the frame. The spectroscope includes the frame, and the frame further includes an optical entrance disposed at a position of the third aperture, and an optical exit disposed at a position of the fourth aperture.

Claims (37)

1. A frame having hollow structure, the frame comprising:

at least four apertures including a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture through which light enters the frame, and a fourth aperture;

a concave diffraction grating disposed at a position of the first aperture; and

a movable reflector disposed at a position of the second aperture to reflect light dispersed by the concave diffraction grating and change a reflection angle of the reflected light,

wherein, through the fourth aperture, the light reflected by the movable reflector exits the frame.

2. The frame according to claim 1 , wherein the concave diffraction grating and the movable reflector are disposed outside the frame.

3. The frame according to claim 1 ,

wherein the third aperture is disposed on a Rowland circle, and

wherein the concave diffraction grating has a concave surface and the concave surface of the concave diffraction grating is a part of a circumference of the Rowland circle.

4. The frame according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical entrance disposed at a position of the third aperture,

wherein, through the optical entrance, light enters the frame.

5. The frame according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical exit disposed at a position of the fourth aperture,

wherein, through the optical exit, the light reflected by the movable reflector exits the frame.

6. A spectroscope comprising a frame having hollow structure, the frame comprising:

at least four apertures including a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture through which light enters the frame, and a fourth aperture;

a concave diffraction grating disposed at a position of the first aperture;

a movable reflector disposed at a position of the second aperture to reflect light dispersed by the concave diffraction grating and change a reflection angle of the reflected light;

an optical entrance disposed at a position of the third aperture; and

an optical exit disposed at a position of the fourth aperture,

wherein, through the third aperture and the optical entrance, light enters the frame, and

wherein, through the fourth aperture and the optical exit, the light reflected by the movable reflector exits the frame.

7. The spectroscope according to claim 6 , further comprising a driver configured to drive the movable reflector.

8. A spectrometry unit comprising:

a spectroscope comprising a frame having hollow structure, the frame including

at least four apertures including a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture through which light enters the frame, and a fourth aperture,

a concave diffraction grating disposed at a position of the first aperture,

a movable reflector disposed at a position of the second aperture to reflect light dispersed by the concave diffraction grating and change a reflection angle of the reflected light,

an optical entrance disposed at a position of the third aperture; and

an optical exit disposed at a position of the fourth aperture;

a photodetector configured to receive the light exited through the optical exit and output a signal according to the received light; and

circuitry configured to obtain a spectrum based on the signal output from the photodetector,

wherein, through the third aperture and the optical entrance, light enters the frame, and

wherein, through the fourth aperture and the optical exit, the light reflected by the movable reflector exits the frame.

9. The spectrometry unit according to claim 8 , further comprising a light source configured to irradiate an object with light.

10. The spectrometry unit according to claim 8 , further comprising an outer frame to accommodate the spectroscope,

wherein the outer frame has a tapered bore formed with a prescribed taper angle, and the tapered bore guides extraneous light from an outside of the outer frame to the optical entrance.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising the spectrometry unit according to claim 8 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2019
From: NOGUCHI, HIDETAKA; AZUMI, JUNICHI; KATO, HIDENORI; FUJISHIMA, MASAYUKI; SUEMATSU, MASASHI
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 049538/0005 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-120206 · Jun 25, 2018 · national
Cited By (3)
US 12,379,247 US 12,523,773 US 12,571,961