Optical scanning apparatus

Details Optical scanning apparatus Optical scanning apparatus

2001-08-24

2003-01-21

Spyrou, Cassandra (Department: 2872)

Optical: systems and elements

Deflection using a moving element

Using a periodically moving element

C359S198100, C347S260000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06509997

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2000-55200, filed on Sep. 20, 2000, in the Korean Industrial Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical scanning apparatus, and more particularly, to an optical scanning apparatus for scanning using a beam scattered by a bubble which moves at a predetermined speed within a fluid pipe.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical scanning apparatuses are employed in printers and emit, for example, laser beams to scan a photosensitive medium, such as a photoreceptor belt, to form an electrostatic latent image. In particular, as demand for color printing increases, interest in employing scanning apparatuses in color printers has increased. Color laser printers typically include scanning apparatuses for four colors, i.e., yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (BK), respectively.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional optical scanning apparatus includes a light source
100
, a rotary polygon mirror
105
rotated by a motor (not shown) for reflecting light emitted from the light source
100
, an f-&thgr; lens
115
for allowing the light reflected by the rotary polygon mirror
105
to form appropriate spots on a scanning line
118
of a photosensitive medium, for example, a photoreceptor belt
110
, and a reflecting mirror
120
disposed on an optical path between the f-&thgr; lens
115
and the photoreceptor belt
110
, for reflecting incident light so that the path of the light transmitted by the f-&thgr; lens
115
is directed toward the scanning line
118
on the photoreceptor belt
110
. A predetermined electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor belt
110
by turning the light source
100
on and off.
Meanwhile, a collimating lens
122
for converting incident light into parallel light and a cylindrical lens
135
for forming a linear image on the reflecting surface of the rotary polygon mirror
105
are disposed on the optical path between the light source
100
and the rotary polygon mirror
105
. Reference numeral
125
denotes a sensor for detecting the position at which the scanning line
118
begins.
Here, light emitted from the light source
100
is converted into parallel light by the collimating lens
122
. The parallel light is transmitted by the cylindrical lens
135
and then reflected by the rotary polygon mirror
105
. The light reflected by the rotary polygon mirror
105
is transmitted by the f-&thgr; lens
115
and redirected by the reflecting mirror
120
so that a spot is formed at a certain portion on the scanning line
118
of the photoreceptor belt
110
.
As described above, a conventional optical scanning apparatus including the f-&thgr; lens
115
and the rotary polygon mirror
105
has a complex structure and is quite large. In addition, f-&thgr; lenses are mostly aspheric so that it is very difficult to manufacture the lenses and the lenses are very expensive. Since it is difficult to manufacture, the percentage of defects of products is high. This brings about a drop in color registration performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an optical scanning apparatus in which a bubble circulates in a closed loop fluid pipe at a constant speed and in which scanning is performed using a beam scattered by the bubble, thereby reducing volume, facilitating manufacturing and decreasing manufacturing costs.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
Accordingly, to achieve the above and other object of the invention, there is provided an optical scanning apparatus including a light source for emitting light; a closed loop fluid pipe; a fluid contained in the fluid pipe, transmitting the light emitted from the light source; at least one bubble contained in the fluid pipe, scattering the light emitted by the light source; a pump installed at one side of the fluid pipe, circulating the bubble at a predetermined speed; and an image formation lens focusing the light emitted by the light source and scattered by the at least one bubble to form an image on a predetermined scanning line.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5953116 (1999-09-01), Ohtomo et al.
patent: 6248989 (2001-06-01), Ohishi

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