Single refractive element and segmented mirror multiple beam spacer

• US 6,381,073 B1
• Filed: 12/05/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Wilson, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US09/732,103
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 359/204, 359/209, 359/210, 359/211, 359/618, 359/627, 359/629, 359/636, 359/837, 359/839, 359/850, 359/855, 347/233, 347/238, 358/482, 358/494
• US Class Current: 359/629
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/447 using arrays of radiation sources B41J2/475 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0875 by means of one or more refracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/12 operating by refraction only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces

Abstract

A segmented mirror with alternating reflective and transmissive surfaces and a refractive tilt place which laterally displaces two parallel beams are used as a beam spacer. A first beam is reflected by the segmented mirror and a second beam is transmitted by the segmented mirror. A third beam is refracted and laterally displaced by the tilt plate then reflected by the segmented mirror while a fourth beam is beam is refracted and laterally displaced by the tilt plate then transmitted by the segmented mirror. The segmented mirror and the refractive tilt plate closely space four parallel laser beams.

Claims

1. A beam spacer for closely spacing four light beams comprising:

a first laser source for emitting a first light beam,

a second laser source for emitting a second light beam,

a third laser source for emitting a third light beam, said first light beam and said third light beam being separated by a first spacing, said first light beam and said third light beam being parallel,

a fourth laser source for emitting a fourth light beam, said second light beam and said fourth light beam being separated by said first spacing, said second light beam and said fourth light beam being parallel,

a refractive tilt plate for refracting said third light beam, said refractive tilt plate for refracting said fourth light beam, and

a segmented mirror having a first reflective surface for reflecting said first light beam to a scan line, a first transmissive surface for transmitting said second light beam to said scan line, a second reflective surface for reflecting said third light beam from said refractive tilt plate to said scan line, a second transmissive surface for transmitting said fourth light beam from said refractive tilt plate to said scan line, said reflective surfaces and said transmissive surfaces being alternating on said segmented mirror,

wherein said first light beam, said second light beam, said third light beam and said fourth light beam are parallel at said scan line and have a second spacing less than said first spacing.

2. The beam spacer for closely spacing four light beams of claim 1 wherein said scan line is perpendicular to an optical axis running through said beam spacer, said first and third laser sources are vertically displaced from said optical axis and said second and fourth laser sources are parallel to said optical axis.

3. The beam spacer for closely spacing four light beams of claim 1 further comprising:

said refractive tilt plate having an input surface for refracting said third light beam to an output surface, said output surface for refracting said third light beam to said segmented mirror, said input surface being parallel to said output surface, and

said input surface refracting said fourth light beam to said output surface, said output surface for refracting said fourth light beam to said segmented mirror.

4. A beam spacer for closely spacing four light beams comprising:

a first laser source for emitting a first light beam,

a second laser source for emitting a second light beam,

a third laser source for emitting a third light beam, said first light beam and said third light beam being separated by a first spacing, said first light beam and said third light beam being parallel,

a fourth laser source for emitting a fourth light beam, said second light beam and said fourth light beam being separated by said first spacing, said second light beam and said fourth light beam being parallel,

a first refractive tilt plate for refracting said third light beam,

a second refractive tilt plate for refracting said fourth light beam, and

a segmented mirror having a first reflective surface for reflecting said first light beam to a scan line, a first transmissive surface for transmitting said second light beam to said scan line, a second reflective surface for reflecting said third light beam from said first refractive tilt plate to said scan line, a second transmissive surface for transmitting said fourth light beam from said second refractive tilt plate to said scan line, said reflective surfaces and said transmissive surfaces being alternating on said segmented mirror,

wherein said first light beam, said second light beam, said third light beam and said fourth light beam are parallel at said scan line and have a second spacing less than said first spacing.