Optical scanner unit having recursive optical system

• US 5,457,550 A
• Filed: 02/26/1992
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Inokuchi, Toshiyuki, Baba, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARSONS, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/841,541
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 359/17, 359/18, 359/201, 359/202, 359/204, 359/212, 359/216, 359/217, 359/15
• US Class Current: 359/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/106 having diffraction gratings as scanning elements, e.g. holographic scanners holographic optical elements G02B5/32, holography G03H

Abstract

An optical scanner unit for scanning a document includes a laser unit for emitting a laser beam used for scanning the document, an optical system in which the laser beam emitted from the laser unit travels to the document and a reflection light beam obtained by reflection of the laser beam on the document can turn back through the optical system, the optical system having a scanning device for moving the laser beam which passes through the optical system so that a two dimensional scanning of the document is carried out by the light beam, and an optical sensor for detecting the reflection light beam turning back through the optical system, wherein an image formed on the document is read based on results obtained by the optical sensor.

Claims

1. An optical scanner unit for scanning a document comprising:

light source means for emitting a light beam used for scanning the document;

an optical system in which the light beam emitted from said light source means travels to the document and a reflection light beam obtained by reflection of the light beam on the document returns back through said optical system, said optical system having scanning means for moving the light beam which passes through said optical system so that a two dimensional scanning of the document is carried out by the light beam; and

detection means, coupled to said optical system, for detecting the reflection light beam returning back through said optical system;

wherein an image formed on the document is read based on results obtained by said detection means.

2. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning means comprises first scanning means for moving the light beam on the document in a first direction and second scanning means for moving the light beam in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.

3. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first scanning means comprises a polygonal mirror rotated at a predetermined speed, the light beam, reflected by said polygonal mirror, being swung within a predetermined angle range in synchronism with the rotation of said polygonal mirror so that the light beam is moved on the document in the first direction.

4. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 2, said second scanning means comprises optical elements for moving the light beam, supplied from said first scanning means under, a condition in which an optical length in said optical system is maintained at a constant value.

5. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said optical elements include an anamorphic optical element.

6. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said optical elements include a hologram plate through which the light beam passes, so that an aberration of said optical system with respect to the light beam is corrected.

7. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said hologram plates has anamorphic characteristic.

8. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first scanning means comprises a hologram disk rotated at a predetermined speed, said hologram disk having a plurality of holograms, the light beam, diffracted by said hologram disk, being swung within a predetermined angle range in synchronism with the rotation of said hologram disk so that the light beam is moved on the document in the first direction.

9. An optical scanner unit for scanning a document comprising:

light source means for emitting a plurality of light beams whose wavelengths differ from each other, said plurality of light beams being used for scanning the document;

an optical system in which said plurality of light beams emitted from said light source means travel to the document, said optical system having scanning means for moving said plurality of light beams which pass through said optical system so that a two dimensional scanning of the document is carried out by said plurality of light beams; and

detection means, coupled to said optical system, for detecting reflection light beams obtained by reflection of said plurality of light beams;

wherein an image formed on the document is read based on results obtained by said detection means; and

wherein said optical system is formed so that the reflection light beams can return back through said optical system, and wherein said detection means detects the reflection light beams returning back through said optical system.

10. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said light source means emits a mixed light beam which is a combination of said plurality of light beams.

11. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said light source means comprises a plurality of light source units respectively emitting said plurality of light beams.

12. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said optical system has a plurality of optical paths in which said plurality of light beams respectively travel to the document.

13. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said detection means comprises a plurality of optical sensors for respectively detecting said plurality of light beams.

14. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said optical system has mixing means for combining said plurality of light beams into a mixed light beam and for outputting said mixed light beam so that the mixed light beam is projected on the document.

15. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said scanning means comprises a polygonal mirror rotated at a predetermined speed, said plurality of light beams, reflected by said polygonal mirror, being swung within a predetermined angle range in synchronism with the rotation of said polygonal mirror so that said plurality of light beams are moved on the document in a predetermined direction.

16. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said scanning means comprises a hologram disk rotated at a predetermined speed, said hologram disk having a plurality of holograms, said plurality of light beams, diffracted by said hologram disk, being swung within a predetermined angle range in synchronism with the rotation of said hologram disk so that said plurality of light beams are moved on the document in a predetermined direction.

17. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein said holograms of said hologram disk include at least first and second holograms, and wherein a first light beam of said plurality of light beams passes through said first hologram, and a second light beam of said plurality of light beams passes through said second hologram.

18. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein said optical system has a hologram plate having a plurality of holograms each hologram having wavelength and aberration correcting characteristics corresponding to those of a respective one of said plurality of light beams, and each of said plurality of light beams passes through a respective hologram so that aberrations of said optical system with respect to said plurality of light beam are corrected.

19. An optical scanner unit for scanning a document comprising:

light source means for emitting a plurality of light beams whose wavelengths differ from each other, said plurality of light beams being used for scanning the document;

an optical system in which said plurality of light beams emitted from said light source means travel to the document, said optical system having scanning means for moving said plurality of light beams which pass through said optical system so that a two dimensional scanning of the document is carried out by said plurality of light beams; and

detection means, coupled to said optical system, for detecting reflection light beams obtained by reflection of said plurality of light beams;

wherein an image formed on the document is read based on results obtained by said detection means; and

wherein said light source means comprises a light source unit for emitting an original light beam having a predetermined wavelength and a light beam generating means for receiving said original light beam and generating said plurality of light beams from said original light beam emitted from said light source unit.

20. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein said light beam generating means has a second harmonic generator (SHG) element for generating a second harmonic of said original light beam.

21. An optical scanner unit for scanning a document comprising:

light source means for emitting a plurality of light beams whose wavelengths differ from each other, said plurality of light beams being used for scanning the document;

an optical system in which said plurality of light beams emitted from said light source means travel to the document, said optical system having scanning means for moving said plurality of light beams which pass through said optical system so that a two dimensional scanning of the document is carried out by said plurality of light beams; and

detection means, coupled to said optical system, for detecting reflection light beams obtained by reflection of said plurality of light beams;

wherein an image formed on the document is read based on results obtained by said detection means; and

wherein said optical system has a plurality of optical paths in which said plurality of light beams respectively travel, and focusing means for focusing said plurality of light beams passing through said optical paths at the same position on said document.

22. An optical scanner unit comprising:

light source means for emitting a first light beam used for scanning a document and a second light beam used for writing images on a recording medium;

scanning means for moving an input light beam in a predetermined direction;

an input optical system in which said first and second light beams emitted from said light source means travel to said scanning means so that each of said first and second light beams is, as an input light, incident to said scanning means;

a first optical system in which said first light beam, moved by said scanning means, travels to the document so that the document is scanned by said first beam;

detection means for detecting a reflection light beam obtained by a reflection of said first light beam on the document, so that an image formed on the document is read based on results obtained by said detection means; and

a second optical system in which said second light beam, moved by said scanning means, travels to the recording medium, so that an image is written on the recording medium.

23. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein said light source means comprises a first light source unit emitting said first light beam and a second light source unit emitting said second light beam.

24. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein said light source means comprises a light source unit for emitting an original light beam having a predetermined wavelength, and light beam generation means for generating said first light beam, which has the same wavelength as the original light beam, and said second light beam, based on said original light beam, said second light beam having a wavelength which is less than that of the original light beam.

25. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first optical system and said input optical system are formed so that the reflection light beam can turn back through said first optical system and said input optical system, and wherein said detection means detects the reflection light beam turning back through said first optical system and said input optical system.

26. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein said scanning means comprises a polygonal mirror rotated at a predetermined speed, said first and second light beams, reflected by said polygonal mirror, being swung within a predetermined angle range in synchronism with the rotation of said polygonal mirror.

27. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein said scanning means comprises a hologram disk rotated at a predetermined speed, said hologram disk having first holograms, each having optical characteristics corresponding to said first light beam, and second holograms, each having optical characteristics corresponding to said second light beam, said first light beam diffracted by said first holograms, and second light beam, diffracted by said second holograms, being swung in a predetermined angle range in synchronism with the rotation of said hologram disk.

28. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first optical system has a hologram having optical characteristics corresponding to said first light beam so that an aberration of said first optical system with respect to said first light beam is corrected.

29. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein said second optical system has a hologram having optical characteristics corresponding to said second light beam so that an aberration of said second optical system with respect to said second light beam is corrected.

30. An optical scanner unit comprising:

light source means for emitting a light beam;

scanning means for moving an input light beam in a predetermined direction;

an input optical system in which said light beam emitted from said light source means travels to said scanning means so that said light beam is, as an input light, incident to said scanning means;

a first optical system in which said light beam moved by said scanning means travels to a document so that the document is scanned by said light beam;

detection means for detecting a reflection light beam obtained by the reflection of said light beam on the document, so that an image formed on the document is read based on results obtained by said detection means;

a second optical system in which said light beam moved by said scanning means travels to a recording medium, so that an image is written on the recording medium; and

selecting means for selecting either said first optical system or said second optical system in accordance with an external controller.

31. An optical scanner unit as claimed in claim 30, wherein said first optical system and said input optical system are formed so that the reflection light beam can turn back through said first optical system and said input optical system, and wherein said detection means detects said reflection light beam turning back through said first optical system and said input optical system.