Temperature control for an imaging laser
AssigneeHP Indigo B.V.
InventorsElad Yaakobi, Haim Vladomirski, Oron Ambar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one example, an imaging system (10) for a laser printer includes: an imaging laser (26) in which, within a range of drive currents, a threshold current of the laser varies with temperature and an efficiency of the laser does not vary with temperature; a power sensor (20) to measure an output power of the laser at a drive current within the range of drive currents; and a temperature control device (32) to change the temperature of the laser based on an output power measured by the power sensor.
Claims15
An imaging system for a laser printer, comprising:
- an imaging laser in which, within a range of drive currents, a threshold current of the laser varies with temperature and an efficiency of the laser does not vary with temperature;
- a power sensor to measure an output power of the laser at a drive current within the range of drive currents;
- and
- a temperature control device to change the temperature of the laser based on an output power measured by the power sensor.
An imaging system for a laser printer, comprising:
- an array of multiple lasers to image a photoconductor;
- a power sensor to sense an output power of each of the lasers individually;
- a thermoelectric cooler to cool the lasers;
- and
- a temperature controller having a processor and a tangible non-transitory processor readable medium with instructions thereon when executed by the processor cause the controller to:
- receive a signal from the power sensor measuring an output power of one of the lasers in the array;
- determine a threshold current for the laser based on the measured output power;
- compare the threshold current to a target;
- if the threshold current is greater than the target, then cause the thermoelectric cooler to increase cooling current to the laser;
- if the threshold current is less than the target, then cause the thermoelectric cooler to decrease cooling current to the laser;
- and
- repeat the receiving, determining, and comparing for each laser in the array.
A process to control the temperature of an imaging laser in an array of multiple imaging lasers, comprising:
- during an imaging sequence, driving one of the lasers individually to emit a beam;
- measuring the output power of the laser emitting the beam;
- changing the temperature of the laser based on the measured output power;
- and
- repeating the driving, measuring and changing for each laser in the array.
A tangible non-transitory processor readable medium having instructions thereon that when executed cause an imaging device to control a temperature of each imaging laser in the device using laser threshold current as a proxy for temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.