Optical sensor for ink jet printing system
US5856833A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 5, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/2135
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An optical sensor module for identifying characteristics of printed ink jet images on printing media residing in a media plane. The module has a chassis and a connected illumination source and detector spaced apart from the media plane. An integral optical element is positioned between the image plane and the illumination source and detector. The optical element has a first portion having a first optical characteristic positioned on a first optical path between the illumination source and a selected region of the media plane, and a second portion having a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic and positioned on a second optical path between the illumination source and the selected region. The optical element may include diffractive optics, fresnel lenses, and conventional lenses formed of transparent plastics to steer, focus and diffuse light onto the selected region and return it efficiently to the detector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.