Photoelectric imaging method and apparatus
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorMichael L. Christensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for compensating for temperature-induced scan line drift in a photoelectric imaging apparatus. A scan line drift compensation mechanism may be placed in contact with at least one of the optical components, e.g, a mirror, contained within the optical system of a photoelectric imaging apparatus. The scan line drift compensation mechanism may be formed from two members, each having a different coefficient of thermal expansion. In this manner, the scan line drift compensation mechanism is able to exert a force on the optical component in response to a change in temperature.
Claims21
A photoelectric imaging apparatus for producing machine-readable data representative of an imaged object, comprising:
- (a) a photosensor assembly;
- (b) a light path extending between said object and said photosensor assembly;
- (c) an optical component located along said light path;
- (d) an optical component displacement device in contact with said optical component, wherein said optical component displacement device includes:
- a first member having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
- a second member having a second coefficient of thermal expansion;
- and
- wherein said first coefficient of thermal expansion is different from said second coefficient of thermal expansion.
A photoelectric imaging apparatus for producing machine-readable data representative of an imaged object, comprising:
- a photosensor assembly;
- an optical component located along a light path extending between said object and said photosensor assembly;
- wherein said optical component includes a first surface and an oppositely disposed second surface;
- a first member having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein said first member is in contact with said first surface of said optical component;
- a second member having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein said second member is in contact with said first surface of said optical component;
- and
- wherein said first coefficient of thermal expansion is different from said second coefficient of thermal expansion.
A method for improving the alignment of a beam of light within a photoelectric imaging apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a photosensor array within said photoelectric imaging apparatus;
- providing an imaging subassembly within said photoelectric imaging apparatus;
- providing an optical component within said imaging subassembly;
- providing an optical component displacement device in contact with said optical component;
- directing said beam of light with said imaging subassembly from a portion of an object to be imaged by said photoelectric imaging apparatus to said photosensor array;
- and
- improving the alignment of said beam of light with said photosensor array by applying force to said optical component with said optical component displacement device in response to a change in temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.