Optical interlink between an optical transducer and optical data port

• US 6,962,448 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2000
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Kelsay, Curtis Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Kevin D.
• Application Number:
  US09/491,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20020076247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 400/61, 400/691, 400/692, 400/693, 400/703, 400/62, 359/172, 359/173, 359/152, 359/154, 359/159, 385/33, 385/38, 385/61, 385/74, 385/79, 347/108
• US Class Current: 400/62
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/26 characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/268 using optical fibres G01D5/28 - G01D5/38 take precedence

Abstract

An optical interlink made from an optical transducer capable of optically exchanging information. Information to and from the optical transducer passes through a light pipe transducer end and an optical data port end. The optical light pipe consists of separate transmit and receive light pipes. To reduce losses as a result of the light pipe transmission, thereare lenses formed to collimate light between the transducer end of the light pipe and the optical transducer. The collimating lenses are formed in the light pipe. There are also provided additional lenses on the optical data port side of the light port. Transmitted light from the light pipe passes through a lens that increases the illumination angle of the light exiting from the optical data port. Received light passes through a lens that amplifies and collimates the light into the receiving light pipe.

Claims

1. A printer, comprising:

a housing;

a print engine disposed within the housing;

a printed circuit assembly disposed within the housing;

a direct wire port electrically coupled to the printed circuit assembly;

an optical transducer electrically coupled to the printed circuit assembly and configured to transmit and receive information optically;

an optical data port formed in the housing; and

a light pipe assembly optically coupling and providing bi-directional communication between the optical transducer and the optical data port.

2. The printer of claim 1, wherein the light pipe assembly includes a transmit light pipe adapted to optically transmit information from the optical transducer to the optical data port, and a receive light pipe adapted to optically receive information via the optical data port and optically transmit the received information to the optical transducer.

3. The printer of claim 2, wherein the optical data port is arranged to communicate with an open environment, and wherein the transmit light pipe is configured to exit and diverge light from the optical data port to the open environment, and the receive light pipe is configured to converge light from the open environment on the optical transducer.

4. The printer of claim 3, wherein the light pipe assembly further includes a transmit lens configured to increase an angle of illumination of light exiting the optical data port to the open environment, and a receive lens configured to collimate light from the open environment into the receive light pipe.

5. The printer of claim 1,

wherein the housing has a first side and a second side,

wherein the printed circuit assembly, the optical transducer, and the light pipe assembly are disposed within the housing, and

wherein the direct wire port communicates with the first side of the housing and the optical data port communicates with the second side of the housing.

6. The printer of claim 5, wherein the second side of the housing is opposite the first side of the housing.

7. The printer of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source electrically coupled to the printed circuit assembly; and

a light guide optically coupling the light source and the optical data port.

8. A printer, comprising:

a printer housing;

a print engine disposed within the printer housing;

a printed circuit assembly disposed within the printer housing;

a direct wire port electrically coupled to the printed circuit assembly;

an optical transducer electrically coupled to the printed circuit assembly and configured to transmit and receive information optically;

an optical data port formed in the printer housing and arranged to communicate with an open environment;

a transmit light pipe disposed within the printer housing and adapted to optically transmit information from the optical transducer to the optical data port; and

a receive light pipe disposed within the printer housing and adapted to optically receive information via the optical data port and optically transmit the received information to the optical transducer.

9. The printer of claim 8, wherein the transmit light pipe is configured to exit and diverge light from the optical data port to the open environment, and the receive light pipe is configured to converge light from the open environment on the optical transducer.

10. The printer of claim 8, further comprising:

a transmit lens provided at an end of the transmit light pipe, wherein the transmit lens is configured to increase an angle of illumination of light exiting the optical data port to the open environment; and

a receive lens provided at an end of the receive light pipe, wherein the receive lens is configured to collimate light from the open environment into the receive light pipe.

11. The printer of claim 8, further comprising:

a light source electrically coupled to the printed circuit assembly; and

a light guide disposed within the printer housing and extended between the light source and the optical data port, wherein the light guide is adapted to transmit light from the light source to the open environment.