Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for scan line skew correction using a gradient index electrooptic prism

US5493326A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
7References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 3, 1994
Grant dateFeb 20, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 3, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B26/127
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical element for the selective scan line skew correction in a raster output scanner (ROS) of an electrostatographic printer. The optical element includes a chamber having a volume defined by parallel surfaces in substantially parallel planes containing a liquid crystal material having a variable index of refraction as a function of voltage applied thereacross. An inhomogenous electric field is generated through the liquid crystal material to produce a refractive index gradient along substantially perpendicular planes in the optical element. The ROS includes a control and feedback system coupled to a variable voltage source for applying a variable biasing voltage across the optical element to control the variable index of refraction of the liquid crystal material for selectively correcting scan line skew.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.