Apparatus and methods for adjusting the rotational frequency of a scanning device
First Claim
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1. A method of adjusting a parameter of a pivotally oscillating structure having a functional surface comprising the steps of:
- supporting a functional surface by a pair of torsional hinges extending between said functional surface and an anchor member such that said functional surface pivotally oscillates about said pair of torsional hinges;
mounting said anchor member to a support structure; and
adjusting the stress loading on said pair of torsional hinges to adjust a selected parameter of said pivotally oscillating structure;
wherein said step of adjusting the stress loading comprises the step of mounting a piezoelectrical element separate from an oscillatory drive mechanism for the functional surface and dedicated to applying said one of tension and compression forces to said pair of torsional hinges by providing electrical signals to distort said piezoelectric element.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for adjusting the resonant frequency, scan velocity or other parameters of a pivotally functional surface such as an oscillating mirror used as the scanning engine of a laser printer or projection display. The selected parameter is adjusted by the application of tensional or compression stress to the torsional hinges of the mirror. According to one embodiment, the appropriate stress is generated by a slice of piezoelectric material bonded to the mirror device itself or to other portions of the support structure of the scanning engine.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting a parameter of a pivotally oscillating structure having a functional surface comprising the steps of:
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supporting a functional surface by a pair of torsional hinges extending between said functional surface and an anchor member such that said functional surface pivotally oscillates about said pair of torsional hinges; mounting said anchor member to a support structure; and adjusting the stress loading on said pair of torsional hinges to adjust a selected parameter of said pivotally oscillating structure; wherein said step of adjusting the stress loading comprises the step of mounting a piezoelectrical element separate from an oscillatory drive mechanism for the functional surface and dedicated to applying said one of tension and compression forces to said pair of torsional hinges by providing electrical signals to distort said piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of adjusting a parameter of a pivotally oscillating structure having a functional surface comprising the steps of:
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supporting a functional surface by a pair of torsional hinges extending between said functional surface and an anchor member such that said functional surface pivotally oscillates about said pair of torsional hinges; mounting said anchor member to a support structure, said support structure having a gap therein; and adjusting the stress loading on said pair of torsional hinges by adjusting a size of said gap to adjust a selected parameter of said pivotally oscillating structure; further comprising the step of monitoring a selected parameter as said functional surface pivotally oscillates around said torsional hinges and providing a signal representative of said selected parameter. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method of adjusting a parameter of a pivotally oscillating structure having a functional surface comprising the steps of:
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supporting a functional surface by a pair of torsional hinges extending between said functional surface and an anchor member such that said functional surface pivotally oscillates about said pair of torsional hinges; mounting said anchor member to a support structure; and adjusting the stress loading on said pair of torsional hinges to adjust a selected parameter of said pivotally oscillating structure; monitoring a selected parameter as said functional surface pivotally oscillates around said torsional hinges and providing a signal representative of said selected parameter; wherein said selected parameter is the scan velocity of said functional surface pivotally oscillating around said torsional hinges.
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7. A method of adjusting a parameter of a pivotally oscillating structure having a functional surface comprising the steps of:
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supporting a functional surface by a pair of torsional hinges extending between said functional surface and an anchor member such that said functional surface pivotally oscillates about said pair of torsional hinges; mounting said anchor member to a support structure; and adjusting the stress loading on said pair of torsional hinges to adjust a selected parameter of said pivotally oscillating structure by applying at least one of tension and compressional forces to said pair of torsional hinges, wherein said step of applying comprises the step of mounting a piezoelectrical element for applying said one of tension and compression forces to said pair of torsional hinges by providing electrical signals to distort said piezoelectric element; further comprising the step of sensing a selected parameter as said functional surface pivotally oscillates around said torsional hinges and providing a signal representative of said selected parameter, and the steps of receiving said signal representative of said sensed parameter, and generating said signals applied to said piezoelectric element so as to maintain the selected parameter of said pivotal oscillation of a scanning device between a selected minimum level and a selected maximum level. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification