Optical configuration for an optical scanner system
First Claim
1. An optical assembly for use in focusing a laser beam along an optical path onto a scanned surface, the optical assembly comprising:
- a first cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a first direction wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path;
a second cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a second direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path, wherein the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path; and
a light absorbing surface, wherein the laser beam includes a scanning portion which passes through the second cylinder lens, and a reflected portion which does not pass through the second cylinder lens, wherein the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is angled relative to the optical path such that the reflected portion is directed to the light absorbing surface.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical assembly for use in focusing a laser beam along an optical path onto a scanned surface. The optical assembly includes a first cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a first direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path. A second cylinder lens is provided having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a second direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path. The second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. An optical assembly for use in focusing a laser beam along an optical path onto a scanned surface, the optical assembly comprising:
-
a first cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a first direction wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path; a second cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a second direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path, wherein the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path; and a light absorbing surface, wherein the laser beam includes a scanning portion which passes through the second cylinder lens, and a reflected portion which does not pass through the second cylinder lens, wherein the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is angled relative to the optical path such that the reflected portion is directed to the light absorbing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. An optical assembly for use in focusing a laser beam along an optical path onto a scanned surface, the optical assembly comprising:
-
a first cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a first direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path; and a second cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a second direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path, and wherein the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path, wherein the second cylinder lens is a plano-convex cylinder lens, and wherein the plano-convex cylinder lens includes a flat surface and a convex surface, and wherein the convex surface faces the scanned surface.
-
-
4. An optical assembly for use in focusing a laser beam along an optical path onto a scanned surface, the optical assembly comprising:
-
a first cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a first direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path; and a second cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a second direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path, wherein the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path, and wherein the focal length of the second cylinder lens is adjusted by rotating the second cylinder lens about the second cylinder lens transverse axis, thereby changing the angle between the longitudinal axis and the optical path. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An optical assembly for use in focusing a laser beam along an optical path onto a scanned surface, the optical assembly comprising:
-
a first cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a first direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path; and a second cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a second direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path; and wherein the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path, and wherein the first cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
10. An optical assembly for use in focusing a laser beam along an optical path onto a scanned surface, the optical assembly comprising:
-
a first cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a first direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path; and a second cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a second direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path; and wherein the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path, and wherein the second cylinder lens includes a first layer and a second layer, wherein the second layer is constructed of a polymeric material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An optical scanner apparatus for exposing an image on a photosensitive film comprising:
-
a laser assembly which produces a laser beam representative of the image exposed on the photosensitive film; a scanning and directing system for scanning and directing the laser beam in an image-wise pattern across the photosensitive film; and a beam shaping system for focusing the laser beam along an optical path onto a scanned surface, the beam shaping system including a first cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a first direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path, a second cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a second direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path and to the first lens transverse axis, and the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path, and further wherein the second cylinder lens is rotatable about its transverse axis, thereby changing the angle between the longitudinal axis and the optical path for adjusting the focal length of the second cylinder lens. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. An optical scanner apparatus for exposing an image on a photosensitive film in an internal drum type scanner system, the optical scanner apparatus comprising:
-
a laser assembly which produces a laser beam representative of the image exposed on the photosensitive film; a scanning and directing system for scanning and directing the laser beam in an image-wise pattern across the photosensitive film, including a scanner mechanism having a two-sided rotating scanner mirror positioned thereon; and a beam shaping system for focusing the laser beam along an optical path onto a scanned surface, the beam shaping system including a first cylinder lens, the first cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a first direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path, a second cylinder lens having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in a second direction, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical path, and a third cylinder lens located along the optical path, wherein the second cylinder lens transverse axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first cylinder lens transverse axis, and the third cylinder lens is located between the scanner mirror and the photosensitive film, wherein the third cylinder lens operates in combination with the first cylinder lens and is located along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam in the first direction, and wherein the second cylinder lens longitudinal axis is not perpendicular to the optical path.
-
Specification