Image forming apparatus having photo sensors capable of detecting objects of different widths using photocouplers of the same configuration
US7619205B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/1892
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A photo sensor of the invention includes a photo coupler having a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged and disposed to be spaced from each other by a specified interval, and a prism capable of being coupled to the photo coupler, having an optical path to guide a light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element, and provided with a slit in the optical path, through which an object to be detected can pass, plural prisms different in width of the slit are provided, and the plural prisms and the photo couplers are combined to enable detection of objects to be detected which are different in detection distance. The photo sensor can be used for an image forming apparatus or the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.