Optics device dust seal
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorDavid D Bohn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical assembly with having a dust seal incorporated therein is disclosed. The optical assembly has a first portion and a second portion separated by a space wherein at least one optical component is located in the space. The dust seal may be a section of polyolefin tubing or heat shrink tubing that encompasses the space. The dust seal is placed adjacent a section of the first portion and a section of the second portion. Heat is then applied to the dust seal, which causes it to shrink and, thus, conform to the first portion and the second portion. The conforming dust seal seals the optical assembly and prevents contaminants from interfering with the optical components located in the space.
Claims20
A method of reducing the level of contamination entering an optical assembly of a scanning device, said method comprising:
- providing said optical assembly of a scanning device, said optical assembly comprising at least one photodetector, a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is separated from said second portion by a space, and wherein said at least one photodetector is located in said space between said first portion and said second portion;
- providing a sheath capable of transforming from a first state to a second state wherein the area of said sheath in said first state is greater than the area of said sheath in said second state;
- encompassing at least one portion of said sheath in a housing;
- locating said sheath adjacent at least one section of said first portion and at least one section of said second portion;
- encompassing at least one portion of said space between said first portion and said second portion with said sheath in said first state;
- and
- causing said sheath to transform from said first state to said second state.
An optical scanning device comprising:
- a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is separated from said second portion by a space;
- at least one photodetector located in said space between said first portion and said second portion;
- a sheath extending between at least one section of said first portion and at least one section of said second portion;
- and
- a housing substantially encompassing said sheath;
- wherein said sheath is capable of transforming from a first state to a second state, wherein the area of said sheath in said first state is greater than the area of said sheath in said second state.
An optical scanning device comprising:
- a housing;
- an optical device located in said housing, said optical device comprising:
- a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is separated from said second portion by a space;
- at least one optical component located in said space between said first portion and said second portion;
- and
- a sheath extending between at least one section of said first portion and at least one section of said second portion;
- wherein said sheath is capable of transforming from a first state to a second state, wherein the area of said sheath in said first state is greater than the area of said sheath in said second state.
An optical scanning device comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- an optical device located in said housing, said optical device comprising:
- a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is separated from said second portion by a space;
- at least one photodetector located in said space between said first portion and said second portion;
- and
- a sheath extending between at least one section of said first portion and at least one section of said second portion;
- wherein said sheath is capable of transforming from a first state to a second state, wherein the area of said sheath in said first state is greater than the area of said sheath in said second state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.