Patent · US Expired

Illumination system having an intensity calibration system

US6188427A · kind A · utility

57Cited by
10References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 20, 1998
Grant dateFeb 13, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 20, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/465
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An illumination system (10) having an automated calibration system (62) for adjusting the light intensity of individual elements (14) of an array of light emitting elements (12). An optical sensor (30) can be positioned in several locations (A,B,C) to sense incident light from a spatial light modulator (20) as the modulator is sequentially actuated one zone (50) at a time. The light output from each zone (50) of the spatial light modulator is characterized and compared to a golden standard, and the light emitting elements of the array associated with illuminating the zones that are deficient in light are ascertained. Adjustment circuitry (62) responsively adjusts and increases the drive current to the associated light emitting elements (14) that are deficient in light output. A look-up table is utilized to determine which LEDs (14) need adjustment to their drive currents to insure uniform illumination in the process and cross-process direction at an image plane. The present invention is ideally suitable for xerographic printers.

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