GB2317293A - Dual-mirror multi-reflection optical path folding apparatus - Google Patents
Dual-mirror multi-reflection optical path folding apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2317293A GB2317293A GB9707772A GB9707772A GB2317293A GB 2317293 A GB2317293 A GB 2317293A GB 9707772 A GB9707772 A GB 9707772A GB 9707772 A GB9707772 A GB 9707772A GB 2317293 A GB2317293 A GB 2317293A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- reflection
- optical path
- folding apparatus
- light
- path folding
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/12—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using the sheet-feed movement or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement as the slow scanning component, e.g. arrangements for the main-scanning
- H04N1/121—Feeding arrangements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B17/00—Systems with reflecting surfaces, with or without refracting elements
- G02B17/004—Systems comprising a plurality of reflections between two or more surfaces, e.g. cells, resonators
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B17/00—Systems with reflecting surfaces, with or without refracting elements
- G02B17/02—Catoptric systems, e.g. image erecting and reversing system
- G02B17/023—Catoptric systems, e.g. image erecting and reversing system for extending or folding an optical path, e.g. delay lines
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
- H04N1/191—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a one-dimensional array, or a combination of one-dimensional arrays, or a substantially one-dimensional array, e.g. an array of staggered elements
- H04N1/192—Simultaneously or substantially simultaneously scanning picture elements on one main scanning line
- H04N1/193—Simultaneously or substantially simultaneously scanning picture elements on one main scanning line using electrically scanned linear arrays, e.g. linear CCD arrays
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Facsimile Scanning Arrangements (AREA)
Abstract
A dual-mirror multi-reflection optical path folding apparatus for optical scanner includes a light source 20, a reflection means 30, a lens set 40, and a charged coupled device (CCD) 50. The reflecting means consists of two spaced mirrors facing each other at a selected angle so that an incident light beam will reflect on each mirrors at least two times before projecting on the lens set 40 for forming a light image. The light image then falls upon the CCD 50 for converting to digital signal for computer storing and process. The optical path folding apparatus has few components and is simple in structure. It is compact particularly when the angle of incidence of the light beam is less than 10 degrees, and low cost in production and assembly.
Description
DUAL-MIRROR MULTI-REFLECTION OPTICAL PATH
FOLDING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dual-mirror multi-reflection "optical path folding apparatus" and particularly to an "optical path folding apparatus" having two reflecting mirrors for using in an optical scanner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An optical scanner employs a principle of using an "optical path folding apparatus" to transform light into a light image via a lens set, and using a charged coupled device (CCD) to convert the light image to digital signal for computer storing and processing. In a conventional "optical path folding apparatus", because of lens focusing limitation and quality requirement, the total track (TT) of the optical path is usually set to a fixed value. In order to reduce the size ofthe "optical path folding apparatus", conventional approach is using a plural number of reflection mirrors to make the TT reaching a required value before focusing. The number, size and relative positions of the mirrors determine the size and weight of the optical path folding apparatus. It also directly affects the structural complexity and assembly difficulty of an optical scanner and the cost thereof.
A conventional optical scanner usually has three or four pieces of reflection mirrors for reflecting light rays or four times thereupon before focusing and reaching a CCD. Each reflection mirror is for one time light reflection use. Such structure contains many components and is complex, large sized and heavy. It is also difficult to produce and assemble and high cost. In an era which demands the electronic products to be compact and light-weighted, there is still a room for improvement in the optical scanner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this present invention to provide a dual-mirror multi-reflection optical path folding apparatus for optical scanner. The optical path folding apparatus according to the present invention includes two reflection mirrors which are singularly positioned so that each reflection mirror has two or more light reflections taking place thereupon before an image is formed. Therefore the present invention has the advantages of containing fewer components, simple in structure, easy to assemble and position, small size and low cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIGS. 1, the optical path folding apparatus 10 of the present invention includes a light source 20, a reflection means 30, a lens set 40, and a charged coupled device (CCD) 50. The light source 20 provides light for forming image. The reflection means 30 includes a first reflection mirror 31 and a second reflection mirror 32, and allow light reflection for four or more times before going through the lens set 40 to form an image on the CCD 50 which converts it into digital signals. The reflection mirrors 31 and 32 are positioned at a selected angle against each other so that light rays can reflect on each mirror two or more times. Therefore the optical path folding apparatus 10 may have fewer components, and is simple in structure and easy to assemble, and thus is low cost to produce.
When in use, a scanned document 4 is carried by the rollers 6a and 6b to a scanning zone which is over a transparent glass 8. The light source 20 emits light upon the scanned document 4. The reflected light then projects upon the first reflection mirror 31 which is position at a small angle toward the glass 8. The second reflection mirror 32 is also positioned at a small angle against the first reflection mirror 31. Therefore the reflected light rays bounces back and forth between the two reflection mirrors 31 and 32 four times before projecting upon the lens set 40. The TT value thus can reach the desired value. If the first and the second reflection mirrors 31 and 32 to be designated as M1 and M2 respectively, the total optical path of the reflection means 30 can be summed up as: the scanning document
the lens set.
FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. It is generally structured like the one shown in FIG. 1 except that the image light reflecting more than four times between the two mirrors 31 and 32. With a given TT value, the distance between mirrors 31 and 32 can be made even smaller and thus the optical path folding means can be made more compact. However, because of the resolution and focus capability of a lens set has practical limitation, and the light intensity diminishes after a number of reflections, the light reflection time should generally be limited to no more than six times. Another consideration is that if the light reflection between the two mirrors is more than six times, the size of the mirrors will have to increase too. In order to keep the size of the reflection mirrors small, the incident light angle of the mirrors should be as small as possible.
It is suggested to be ten degrees or less.
In summary, this invention offers the following advantages:
1. Only two reflection mirrors are needed to get good reflection and image formation results.
2. Since it takes fewer reflection mirrors and fewer parts in the associated positioning mechanism, the optical path folding means can be made smaller size.
3. As fewer components are needed, the whole structure is simpler and easier to assemble.
The production cost is therefore lower.
Claims (4)
1. A dual-mirror multi-reflection optical path folding apparatus for optical scanner comprising:
a light source for providing light to a scanned object;
a reflection means including two spaced reflection mirrors which are so positioned that an incident light is capable of reflecting therebetween at least four times before reflecting out;
a lens set for converging the light coming from the reflection means into a light image; and a charged coupled device for converting the light image to digital signals for computer storing and processing.
2. An optical path folding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two spaced reflection mirrors includes a first mirror M1 and a second mirror M2, reflection of the incident light between the M1 and M2 is four times, and optical path in the reflection means is: the scanning document
the lens set.
3. An optical path folding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two spaced reflection mirrors includes a first mirror M1 and a second mirror M2, reflection of the incident light between the M1 and M2 is six times, and optical path in the reflection means is: the scanning document
the lens set.
4. An optical path folding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the incident light reflects a plural number of times on the two reflection mirrors, and the incident angle of the incident light is less than ten degrees.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US71373896A | 1996-09-13 | 1996-09-13 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9707772D0 GB9707772D0 (en) | 1997-06-04 |
| GB2317293A true GB2317293A (en) | 1998-03-18 |
Family
ID=24867328
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9707772A Withdrawn GB2317293A (en) | 1996-09-13 | 1997-04-17 | Dual-mirror multi-reflection optical path folding apparatus |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN2321020Y (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2317293A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103115928A (en) * | 2013-02-05 | 2013-05-22 | 深圳市华星光电技术有限公司 | Device, machine and method for checking foreign substances on surfaces of glass |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0153002A2 (en) * | 1984-01-27 | 1985-08-28 | Unisys Corporation | Apparatus for controlling light distribution in line scan optical imaging systems |
| US5136415A (en) * | 1990-07-31 | 1992-08-04 | Xerox Corporation | Multi-reflection scanner |
| GB2260200A (en) * | 1991-10-04 | 1993-04-07 | Avision Inc | Light beam folding device using parallel mirrors |
-
1997
- 1997-04-17 GB GB9707772A patent/GB2317293A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-05-15 CN CN97215693U patent/CN2321020Y/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0153002A2 (en) * | 1984-01-27 | 1985-08-28 | Unisys Corporation | Apparatus for controlling light distribution in line scan optical imaging systems |
| US5136415A (en) * | 1990-07-31 | 1992-08-04 | Xerox Corporation | Multi-reflection scanner |
| GB2260200A (en) * | 1991-10-04 | 1993-04-07 | Avision Inc | Light beam folding device using parallel mirrors |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CN2321020Y (en) | 1999-05-26 |
| GB9707772D0 (en) | 1997-06-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |